One of Destin's most prestigious waterfront estates, Torretta of Waterford at Kelly Plantation, will be sold at absolute auction with no minimum reserve on June 12.
"The national and international exposure is going to find the right buyer for this home," said John Paul Somers, broker at John Paul Somers & Company.
Listed at $9,950,000, Torretta is a 17,567-square foot masterpiece that was designed by owner Ron Adams and his wife, Joy. After three years of design work and another three years of construction, Torretta took its place as one of the grandest estates in Destin, situated on a 1.8-acre parcel overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay.
"We really started with a blank page," Adams told The Sun. "I drew the plans by hand."
From that vision, Torretta was custom built with the finest materials available and the latest technology, and stands as the epitome of elegance and sophistication.
The home features 31 heated and cooled rooms; an eight-car garage; climate-controlled doggie rooms; a swim-up grotto bar and eight-person hot tub; 410 feet of water frontage; a private dock and boat slip; a $750,000 climate control, geothermal system; and a $500,000 audio/video/security smart-house technology system.
With a $100,000-plus floor-to-ceiling aquarium, a theater with stadium seating and a 113-inch HD screen, eight private bedroom retreats and seven baths, it's no wonder the home is featured on an episode of HGTV's "Extreme Homes." Somers, who pitched the idea to the cable network, brought in a helicopter for the feature to showcase the home and capture all of its grandeur.
"This happens to be the finest waterfront estate that Destin has to offer," Somers said.
Ahead of the auction, Torretta can be viewed June 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 9 from 1-4 p.m., June 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and June 12 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The auction starts promptly at 2 p.m. on June 12.
Live, on-site bidding will be held at Torretta, 4300 Breakwater Drive. A $150,000 fee is required to register a bid.
For more information on the auction, or to register for the auction, call John Paul Somers & Company at (850) 259-9732 or visit www.johnpaulsomers.com.
With the auction upcoming, Adams told The Sun he will be sad to see his home sell, but it was too big for just two people.
"I'm gonna miss it. It's one-of-a-kind and in a category all to itself," he said. "I have faith in the house that I built."
Looking at Torretta, Somers told The Sun that he definitely sees a market for a home of this caliber. He said all market signs point to tremendous amounts of wealth "migrating to this area."
"The buyer who is looking at the South Florida or West Coast markets is going to look at this price and say 'are you kidding me?' " he said. "I think the use and enjoyment factor of a property like this will be too much to resist for the wealthy who are looking for a place to diversify their cash."