Land of Dunedin’s razed historic Kellogg mansion lists for $7M

Nearly two years after a historic Dunedin home known as the Kellogg mansion was approved for demolition, the land is back on the market.

The empty waterfront property with a private dock at 129 Buena Vista Drive S. was listed for sale at $7 million, according to real estate firm Coldwell Banker.

The 1-acre lot was once home to a 7,600-square-foot Mediterranean Revival home built in 1925. At one point, it was owned by the founder of the cereal company Kellogg’s. W.K. Kellogg bought it in 1934 and spent two winters at the Gulf Coast home. The house was later used during World War II by the U.S. Marines for housing quarters and base testing Roebling amphibious vehicles, according to newspaper archives.

By 2021, the gaudy home sold for $4 million after its owners struggled for seven years to attract a buyer. But restoring the property could have cost over $1 million. The new owner, Palm Harbor physician David Wenk, filed a permit to demolish the structure.

Since Tampa Bay’s coastal neighborhoods are mostly developed, empty waterfront lots are rare and can fetch a high price.

Now that the historic mansion has been razed, Coldwell Banker listing agent Terry Tillung said, this property made up of three lots is an opportunity for someone to custom-build their own home on this rare site. Plus, it’s in Dunedin, which is known for its small-town charm, and the property faces the sunset.

Overall, it includes 255 feet of waterfront views.

“God’s not making any more waterfront,” Tillung said.