Stone Chateau in Northern N.J. Sells for US$17.7 Million, the State’s Biggest Home Sale in Three Years

A Versailles-style chateau in Alpine, New Jersey, has just been sold for US$17.7 million, the state’s highest home sale in the past three years.

The sale of the custom megamansion, which closed Tuesday, is also the highest-priced in the affluent town and in the Rio Vista neighbourhood since January 2022.

David and Mindy Kwon bought the vacant Bergen County land in 2011 for $3.95 million, according to records on Property Shark. They declined to comment on the sale.

The Kwons spent four years building their dream house, which they christened Chateau de la Roche for the boulder that had to be blasted out of the ground before the project could commence.

Designed by Zampolin & Associates Architects, the cast stone, limestone and travertine residence presides over 2 acres.

The interiors are by Denise Albanese, who, in her dual role as realtor associate at the Christie’s Mahwah-Saddle River Sales Gallery, also represented the Kwons in the sale.

“Among the luxury homes in Rio Vista, Chateau de la Roche is the cream of the crop,” she said. “It’s one of the most elegant—there’s a general feeling of grandeur and luxury.”

The seven-bedroom, 10.5-bath house, which was completed in 2017, is palatial enough to suit royalty.

The 25,700-square-foot house, which is about a half hour from Manhattan, has a 15-seat theatre, an elevator, a gas fireplace, a billiards room, two bars, a wine cellar, two indoor plunge pools, a sauna, a steam room, a conservatory and a central-vacuuming system.

Other features include a grand central staircase illuminated by a massive crystal chandelier, a great room warmed by a mammoth fireplace, a conservatory, a mezzanine and an ornately wood-panelled library with a fireplace. The garage can accommodate four vehicles.

Outside, there’s a resort-style swimming pool and a spa.

It’s the details, Albanese said, that set the chateau apart.

“It has soaring ceilings, custom fireplaces and bridal staircases,” she said. “In one of the powder rooms, there is glass-beaded wallpaper.”

Mansion Global could not immediately confirm the identity of the buyer, who was represented by Richard Orlando and Jason Pierce of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty and Taylor Lucyk of Christie’s International Real Estate Group

Albanese said that the Kwons, who own several other homes, are downsizing.

The transaction, she said, was a “full-circle moment for me as an interior designer and real estate agent. It’s a little sad to see the chateau go, but I’m already working with the sellers on their next interior design and real estate venture.”

Kwon is the corporate vice president and chief legal officer of ADP (Automatic Data Processing), a Roseland, New Jersey., company that provides human resources management software services. And he’s a trustee on the board of SEEDS, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that helps high-achieving students from low-income families.

Chateau de la Roche was originally put up for sale in 2021 for $25 million. Since 2023, the asking price has been $22.49 million.