43-Acre Estate Of Pilgrim’s Pride Founder Lonnie Pilgrim Goes To Auction Next Month

The sprawling Pittsburg, Texas estate built for the late Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim who founded Pilgrim’s Pride, one of the country’s largest chicken producers in the U.S., is set for a no-reserve auction staring October 15th with Concierge Auctions (previous Forbes coverage of Pilgrim’s Pride and its return from bankruptcy can be found here). Sometimes referred to as Chateau de Pilgrim or “Cluckingham Palace”, the six-bedroom, 11-bathroom, 18,000 square foot main house was custom built for Lonnie and his wife Patricia in a French baroque style with ornate fixtures in every room. Reps for the auction state the property has a listing investment of $15 million, which includes several additional buildings such as a greenhouse and three outbuilding shops. This auction is being reported exclusively here in advance of the a public announcement later today, so here’s an early look at some of the interiors.

The formal dining room has dentil molding with fleur de lis ceiling details that are similar to the design of the chandelier.

One of the living rooms shows more of the baroque style in a slightly less formal setting, with a gilded fireplace mantle and matching wall mirrors that follow the same profile as the nearby French doors with arch top windows.

A view of the outdoors shows some of the professionally landscaped gardens that lead to the front of the house.

A more casual eating area with vaulted ceiling opens directly to the outside porch. The dark-stained wood floors found throughout the house are made from aged red oak.

The home also comes with an indoor pool, accessed by a spiral staircase from the upper floor. A bar at the far end has an awning-style overhang to simulate an outdoor eating area.

Additional features that come with the property are a glass elevator, multiple gas fireplaces, wet and dry sauna, a spa modeled after the illustrious Greenbriar Resort, several ponds and a stream, a deep well for self-sufficient water and acres of gardens. The auction runs from October 15th to 18th on the Concierge Auctions website in conjunction with local agents Kyle Crews and Sanders Avrea of Allie Beth Allman & Associates and Clayton Pilgrim of Century 21 Farm and Ranch.