Mike Tyson's Mansion Near Cleveland Sat Abandoned Since 1999 Before It Became A Church
By Nikki Rhoades|Updated on October 10, 2023(Originally published January 25, 2023)
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
If you’ve never heard about it, you might be surprised to learn that Mike Tyson once had a mansion here in Ohio. However, he and his pet tigers once enjoyed the luxury of the Northeast Ohio landscape surrounded by exquisite architecture and an opulent lifestyle. Following 1999, however, his once gorgeous home, the Mike Tyson Ohio mansion, entered a new era as an abandoned Ohio mansion. Today, it has been given a second chance at life, but its former decade as an abandoned building in total disrepair is still in local memories. Check it out:
Once upon a time, Mike Tyson left his Southington Township mansion in Ohio (about an hour away from Cleveland) and never returned.
Don't worry, it's not as sinister as it sounds. The story starts years ago. The home was originally built for a local politician in 1979, though he was eventually convicted on corruption charges. Interestingly, Mike Tyson purchased the house in Ohio following his 1995 release from prison. Something about this unique property spoke to him.
While it was once the pinnacle of ‘90s luxury, this home eventually fell into disrepair. It's heart-wrenching to see such a beautiful property slowly deteriorate.
Some rooms fared well, essentially transforming into a time capsule. Others were largely destroyed. The photos pictured here depict the mansion as it appeared about a decade into its abandonment. It's fascinating to see how the state of decay contrasts with the once lavish and glamorous surroundings.
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Can you imagine getting married here? As it looks in this image you might say no way Jose, but the Living Word Sanctuary Church spent years breathing new life into the once run-down property.
You can see how beautiful this space could be in the hands of a larger organization. For years, volunteers spent their Saturdays and any free time transforming the Mike Tyson abandoned mansion into a holy space. Their work finally paid off in late 2019 when it quietly opened. An official grand opening was held when the finishing touches were put on the lush and beautiful landscape work.
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This swimming pool, though once green and grody, is now a sanctuary that could seat up to 300 people.
While the home may have fallen into disrepair, the surrounds of the estate remained beautiful. Today, over three total acres of pond water add a certain sort of enchantment to the landscape. In its newly repaired state, you can understand what attracted Mike Tyson to the property in the first place.
While it formerly was in a state of disrepair, its 27,000 square feet of space enjoyed a beautiful transformation since its purchase in 2010. The tiger print is now gone, and the tigers that Tyson used to house at the site? They’ve been gone for decades, and their cages have since been disassembled. We won't lie, when Mike Tyson owned the house and it was in its heyday, it was an extremely cool mansion. But it's also beautiful to see the extraordinary property take on a new life with the church and the church community.
The church now occupying this space formerly gathered in the local YMCA. This is a huge upgrade for them and allows them to provide so many more community services. Mike Tyson is now retired and living in another fabulous house, and many members of the community have eagerly watched as this church has slowly transformed over the past few years.
The building would have been more than $7 million to build today… so this local non-denominational church really got a deal when they snagged it for $50,000! That's the perk of renovating an abandoned building. Plus you get to tailor it to your needs and specifications.
If you were given a home like this, how would you breathe new life into it? If you want to check out the church’s transformation, you can go and see it in person and imagine what a different place it is from when Mike Tyson and his pet lions roamed the property. Book a Vrbo and stay a night or two and check out more of the area while you're there!
Can't wait to see it in person? Take a virtual tour to experience the home in its former state of disrepair.
This YouTube video by Michael Sulowski shows the home as it appeared before major renovations:
There really is a magical beauty in this property, even before it was renovated.
This formerly abandoned Mike Tyson Ohio mansion is an interesting piece of Ohio History. Did you know it was one of the abandoned places in Ohio? Did you have a chance to see the property before it was reborn?
This isn’t the only Ohio landmark to enjoy a second life. The formerly abandoned Joseph and Feiss Clothcraft Shops warehouse is now a school! For more abandoned places, you can also connect with photographer Rob Vaughn (whose gorgeous work is featured in the article above) on Instagram.
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More to Explore
Abandoned Places In Ohio
CC|January 30, 2023
What are other cool abandoned places in Ohio?
Although Mike Tyson’s house has been renovated and repurposed, there are many other interesting abandoned places in Ohio to visit. Proceed with caution! Not all of these places have been rated as safe for exploration.
