Inside Mike Tyson’s $1.1M abandoned Ohio mansion that has now been converted to a place of worship
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Inside the abandoned mansion Mike Tyson was forced to sell
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Mike Tyson seems to be enjoying something of a comeback these days. With his acting career and popular one-man show that tours the country, the former boxing champ finally seems to be getting some positive press.
Of course things were not always so good for Iron Mike, who was jailed in 1992 for rape and went to jail again in 1999 on assault charges, after which he was broke and struggling. Because of his financial problems, Tyson was forced to sell his 19,500-square-foot mansion on 58 acres in Southington, Ohio, where he’d lived since the 1980s. It was purchased by a TV marketer for $1.3 million, but the guy never moved into it (he’s in jail for money laundering). The house sat vacant for years.
Photographer and urban explorer Johnny Joo tells Business Insider he knew about the estate for years, but it wasn’t until 2013 that he attempted to venture inside. First stopped by police, Joo later obtained permission from the new owners who purchased the mansion last year.
What Joo (pronounced “yoo”) found when he finally got inside the house was striking. Tyson’s grand estate lay in disrepair, a shadow of its former ’80s glitz and glamour. Still, it was impressive, and Joo shared his images with us. You can see more on his site or on his Facebook page. A new book of his urban-exploring photography is out now.
Inside Mike Tyson’s $1.1M abandoned Ohio mansion that has now been converted to a place of worship
THE stunning $1.1million mansion once owned by Mike Tyson has been converted to a place of worship after it was given to an Ohio church group five years ago.
Tyson sold the Southington property in 1999 amid financial trouble – and after passing through various hands the mansion was acquired by the Living World Sanctuary who set about a four-year restoration.
All the work on the massive estate was done by the church’s 150 members.
Pastor Nick DeJacimo spoke with WKYC about the estates remodeling, saying: “People were so willing to work. And all labor has been done by 93-94 percent of the people from the church.”
“What you see here is what everybody has come together and done on their own.”
The boxing legend’s former estate was donated to the church by the previous owner leaving Living Word Sanctuary responsible of pay about $50,000 in back-taxes.
According to DeJacimo, the most difficult part of the transformation was turning Tyson’s indoor pool and whirlpool room into a sanctuary.
Next to the sanctuary is a large main entrance area complete with beige-gray walls, dark woodwork, wrought-iron railings and a small fountain.
The area used to be Tyson’s living room.
Painted on the walls are biblical messages welcoming people, including one near the main entrance that reads, “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out,” from the Book of Deuteronomy.
“Just this building alone today would be $7.6million to rebuild. And we remodeled this place for a faction,” DeJacimo told the outlet.
“And to own it and have it paid for, to where we can come in here without any pressure of meeting bills and those types of things is a blessing.”
While all the indoor work at the estate is completed, DeJacimo said landscaping and outdoor work still needs to be done, including a back patio area for weddings and events.
When entering the property, a one-acre lake sits on one side and a two-acre lake sides on the other side, which DeJacimo said adds to the beauty of the estate.
Remnants of the 54-year-old boxer’s time still remains with the basketball court still intact.
The old fireplace where Tyson used to display his titles has been turned into an indoor waterfall, while the four-bay garage is now classrooms and a nursery.
The tall steel cages where Tyson kept his four tigers have been dismantled for an outdoor pavilion.
Trumbull County politician Ted Vannelli built the mansion in 1979 before he was convicted on corruption charges.
Tyson bought the estate, which was near the home of boxing promoter Don King, and lived there after he was released from prison.
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