Druid Hills condo at ‘murder mansion’ boasts elegance, history for $769K

For anyone who thrives on dark history and mystery, a piece of Atlanta lore has become available at the Lullwater Estate Mansion in Druid Hills.

If you dare.

A 2,000-square-foot condominium, carved out of the original 1921 mansion formerly known as Rainbow Terrace, includes two bedrooms and three bathrooms. But it’s the condo’s formal living room that’s the center of historical attention.

It was in this room—previously the library—where original owner Henry Heinz was murdered in 1943.

The house had been constructed in 1921 by Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler for his only daughter, Lucy Candler Heinz.

Historical accounts say Henry Heinz was in the library trying to catch a thief who’d repeatedly burglarized his home. As they struggled, shots rang out, and Lucy found her husband dead on the sofa. Three shots to the chest, another in his arm.

Since that time, the original home and grounds have undergone drastic transformations.

After Lucy sold the home, the second owner retained the property for just a short time before selling it.

In the 1960s, it was used as a boarding house before being abandoned in the 1970s.

However, in the 1980s, a developer brought the property and turned it into the Lullwater Estate it is today: six condominiums in the original mansion with 40 townhomes on the gated grounds.

This particular unit retains many elements of the original Italianate-style property designed by architect G. Lloyd Preacher. Those include the 14-foot-plus ceilings with original ornate cast plaster molding, the fireplace with marble surround, and stone walls in the den’s anteroom.

Outside, a large private, gated patio with elevated deck space provides a quiet respite for relaxation. In addition, there are two assigned exterior parking spaces, plus a one-car garage.

Just listed by Engel & Völkers Atlanta for $769,000, the property also entails considerable monthly HOA fees of $677, which cover such amenities as cable TV, trash, water, pest control, and exterior and grounds maintenance.

Although previous residents in the 1960s and 1970s reported several sightings of a strange figure, according to sales reps today, there haven’t been any recent reported encounters. (That could change at any given time, though, so potential homebuyers beware!)

In all seriousness, it raises the question: Could you live with knowing your home, for all its attributes including size and enviable intown location, was the scene of a famous, heinous crime?

Oh, and Atlanta police eventually made an arrest in the Heinz murder, but questions have always lingered—and they might linger for all time—about whether the cops booked the right man.