Property Description

Virtually Staged. The Fortress returns to the market as one of Central Florida’s most extraordinary private estates, now offered with an independent appraisal available to qualified buyers. Privately walled on nearly 12 acres, this one-of-a-kind architectural compound embodies luxury built to endure for generations. Designed by renowned firm HHCP and constructed over seven years for Harold Mertz, founder of Publishers Clearing House, the nearly 20,000-square-foot compound has welcomed presidents, global dignitaries, private concerts, and philanthropic gatherings. A quarter-mile, tree-lined driveway leads to a private, spring-fed, 5-acre lake surrounded by museum-quality grounds with imported European fountains, life-size bronze sculptures, curated statuary, and ornamental koi ponds. The 14,623-square-foot main residence is built of solid poured concrete and offers 7 bedrooms, each with a private full bathroom, plus a foyer powder room. A monumental custom bronze door opens to hand-plastered walls, polished marble and terrazzo flooring, soaring 25-foot ceilings, graceful arches, bulletproof glass, and signature fluted textures across sculptural, nonlinear walls. Brand-new flooring enhances the main living room and kitchen. Formal living and dining rooms, a breakfast room, a main kitchen, and a separate staff kitchen provide an exceptional setting for both intimate living and large-scale entertaining. The lakefront kitchen features panoramic views, an oversized island, expansive pantry, private service entrance, and fully equipped staff kitchen with its own dining area. Four bedrooms are located upstairs, capturing some of the estate’s most impressive lake views, while three bedrooms are positioned on the main level. At the heart of the residence, a dramatic round atrium crowns a sculptural marble staircase that required two years to complete. Highlights include a magnificent two-story library that converts into a home theater, a glass conservatory illuminated by a Murano chandelier and designed to showcase a grand piano, an elevator near the foyer, two authentic wood-burning fireplaces, custom Sherle Wagner bathrooms, concealed closets, and a private bar near the piano room. The West Wing principal suite opens to an Italian-inspired alfresco patio and connects to a private gym with a full bathroom, sauna, and walk-in closet, creating a private wellness retreat. The East Wing suite has its own Italian-inspired patio, adding privacy and symmetry to the thoughtful layout. Beyond the main residence, the compound includes an approximately 2,500-square-foot guest and pool house with 2 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms, approximately 1,000 square feet of staff quarters, and a 2,300-square-foot, 8-car garage with a full bathroom, laundry area, and storage. Resort-style amenities include a pool and spa, a professional court lined for tennis and pickleball, a hot tub, private sandy beach access, and multiple alfresco entertaining spaces overlooking the lake and gardens. Located approximately two miles from Wekiwa Springs State Park and convenient to highly regarded schools, The Fortress represents an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire a true legacy estate with architecture, acreage, privacy, provenance, and craftsmanship that could not be recreated today. Built to stand for the next century and beyond, this is more than a residence. It is an irreplaceable piece of architectural history. Private appointments are available.