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Fox Business
Fox Business
23 Oct 2023


An old school building in Nevada, Iowa, has been transformed into a Midwestern dream home.

The 22,000-square-foot property — nicknamed the "Prairie Castle" — has just hit the market for $1.75 million.

Friedrich Iowa Realty listing agent Luke Jensen detailed in an interview with Fox News Digital how the original 1923 township school was converted into a private residence.

The school district educated K-12 students in the building until 1991, when it was consolidated into another school.

The property was acquired in 2006 by Jensen’s parents, who were inspired to revamp the deteriorated building creatively into a place where they could live and work.

Iowa schoolhouse

An old school building in Nevada, Iowa, has been transformed into a Midwestern dream home. The 22,000-square-foot property — nicknamed the "Prairie Castle" — has hit the market for a cool $1.75 million. (VHT Studios / Fox News)

"They meticulously went through and reclaimed whatever could be reclaimed and embarked on a really ambitious re-imagination of the school into a residence," he said.

"So, throughout the property … a lot of original materials like hardwood floors, exposed brick, chalkboards, doors, anything that was salvageable found a new and re-purposed life inside the building," he said.

The three-story house is located about five miles away from Iowa State University’s campus and has 360-degree views of rural Iowa.

bedroom in iowa home
bookcase and brick school walls
iowa school house
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A bedroom inside the Iowa home is pictured. | Fox News

The property was designed differently on each level, Jensen noted. 

The first level accommodates various studios for activities like drawing, painting, woodworking, ceramics and metal fabrication — as well as a 5,800-square-foot, five-car garage.

The second floor has private suites for guests, along with a community and catering kitchen and a ballroom.

fireplace in house
iowa kitchen
ballroom in iowa house
iowa school turned mansion
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The interior of the home is shown, including a fireplace. | Fox News

The third level is the private residential area, outfitted with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and "high-end" finishes, Jensen said.

The four-bedroom, six-bath home includes other amenities such as a hot tub, two fireplaces and multiple porches, both enclosed and open.

The listing agent said the ideal buyer would have the same mindset as his parents, who moved into the home in 2012.

iowa school exterior
iowa school building
school building entrance
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The school was occupied from 1923 to 1991. It hosted grades K-12. | Fox News

"Somebody with a vision of how to use all the space, who maybe has an entrepreneurial bent, I think will find success there," he said.

"Even somebody who wants to utilize some of the space for educational purposes — maybe for classes or workshops or retreats … [in] a place that's inspirational, in a great location, [with] room and space to execute on those things."

The space could serve families of several generations, Jensen said.

It has 3.5 acres of legal land in addition to miles of rolling fields around the property.

open porch in house
hot tub inside iowa house
five car garage
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An open porch was built into the Iowa school. | Fox News

The $1.75 million asking price is on the upper end of the market in Nevada, Iowa, Jensen revealed, but it is "priced appropriately" and could possibly go for even more, he said.

"It’s a blend of residential and commercial valuations," he said. 

"A lot of the furnishings and couches … tables, furniture and more, are part of the sale, so it would be pretty turnkey for someone to come in."

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