An 1800s Estate with an Instagram-Famous Wedding Venue
Thornbridge Hill Estate balances rustic and elegant.
Image: Courtesy of Costa Christ
After last week’s modern hideaway listing, we’re in a country state of mind. An 1800s-era property in Whitesboro, Texas, Thornbridge Hill Estate comes complete with a 3,782-square-foot main residence and 56 acres, as well as a few potential income streams. These include nine acres of hay-producing pastures, facilities for cows and horses, and a renowned wedding venue with a chapel, reception hall, and a three-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse.
The current owners, Jennifer and Glen Horowitz, designed and built many of the homestead’s buildings, starting in 2017 with the main residence. The goal was to create a traditional farmhouse that effortlessly balances the rustic with the elegant. Think relaxed luxury, or as the owner summed it up, a place to wear jeans and boots, and drink from a crystal glass.
A pool and 56 acres of land will delight anyone who loves the outdoors.
Image: Courtesy of Costa Christ
The exterior of the main house veers classic, with stone and wood cladding, and those country necessities: covered front and back porches, the latter with a fireplace and close to the lap pool. Inside, there’s more classic detailing, like a double-height formal foyer with a curved staircase and custom millwork, which segues into an open great room with vaulted ceilings. Wood beams line the ceiling, and the walls are filled with windows overlooking the property.
The state-of-the-art kitchen features quartz counters and a La Cornue range.
Image: Courtesy of Costa Christ
A soaring limestone chimney anchors the living room at one end of the main space, while at the other, a 10-foot-long island with quartz counters protects the kitchen. A statement, custom-designed hood vent hovers over the La Cornue range; other appliances are hidden behind custom cabinetry for a clean look. A nearby walk-in pantry also conceals clutter. There’s a formal dining room, as well as a cozy breakfast nook tucked into a windowed alcove, with a second fireplace.
The layout includes delightful surprises, like the double-height library with a spiral staircase, and modern conveniences like a laundry room with space for two sets of washers and dryers and built-in kennels.
A spiral staircase is a nice touch in the double-height library.
Image: Courtesy of Costa Christ
The primary suite is on the main floor, with another fireplace in the bedroom and a metal-covered cast-iron soaking tub in the marble bathroom. Upstairs, find three more bedrooms, one serving multipurpose function with four custom bunk beds—each has a light, outlet, and USB port—and living space.
In the past, the property had a church on it, with baptisms performed in the spring-fed creek running through the acreage. In honor of that history, the couple built a new chapel on the same site, with crisp white siding, oversize windows, and 100-year-old pews inside. There’s also the inky-toned Osage Hall, the reception venue also affectionately referred to as the “party barn.” It has plenty of dance space, as well as a custom stone fireplace and 15-foot mantel fashioned from an Osage tree.
The estate features a newly built chapel that can be rented out for wedding ceremonies.
Image: Courtesy of Costa Christ
Once the venue opened, the owners put it on Instagram and garnered a thousands-strong following, becoming popular for private events among influencers, celebrities, and athletes—there’s even a helipad—rented for photo and film shoots, and featured in national magazines. With all that acreage, it would be easy enough for a prospective buyer to continue what’s been started, or dream up something entirely new.
Listing Fast Facts:
Address: 608 Old Center Church Rd, Whitesboro, TX 76273
Size: 5,980 square feet/7 bedroom/5.5 bath
List Date: 2/28/2023
List Price: $5,599,000
Listing Agent: Tracy Tutor and Breah Brown, Douglas Elliman Realty
