Lakewood’s Chateau des Grotteaux opens for bidding this week, carrying nearly a century of Dallas history, hidden gardens and one persistent tunnel legend.
Dallas has grand houses. It has historic houses. Then there is the castle on Gaston Avenue, the one with the turret, moat, grottoes and enough neighborhood lore to make even longtime East Dallas residents slow down for another look.
Chateau des Grotteaux, the storied residence at 6941 Gaston Avenue once owned by former Dallas Mayor R. L. Thornton, is headed to auction. Bidding opens September 17, with the live closing scheduled for September 29 through Concierge Auctions. The property is listed at $5.8 million, while opening bids are expected between $2 million and $3 million.
A Dallas landmark hiding in plain sight
The house has always felt slightly improbable, which is precisely its charm. Built in the late 1920s with Normandy-inspired architecture, it rises beside Gaston Avenue like a fragment of old Europe transplanted to East Dallas. Curving stonework, arched passages, layered gardens and the distinctive tower give the property a presence that newer luxury homes rarely achieve.
Its French name translates loosely to “castle of the grottoes,” a nod to the caves, ponds, bridges and garden rooms that once animated the grounds. The original estate reportedly covered about an acre and a half. Today, the residence sits on approximately 0.99 acre and measures about 7,777 square feet, with six bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths.
The mayor who bought it before it was finished
According to reporting collected by Lakewood Advocate, Thornton first noticed the house in a State Fair souvenir program in 1929 and purchased it before construction was complete. He and his family would make it one of the most memorable private residences in Dallas.
Landscape architect Paul F. Scheibe, who had trained in England, shaped the grounds into a theatrical progression of terraces, paths, ponds and gardens. Family recollections include tulip displays, garden parties, Easter egg hunts, Christmas Eve gatherings and horseback rides toward White Rock Lake. The property also had a swimming pool said to have been among the earliest private pools in Dallas.
And then there is the tunnel story. For years, neighborhood lore has held that a passage or cave once ran toward White Rock Lake and may have been used to move liquor during Prohibition. The tale has never been firmly established, but it has become part of the house’s mythology. A sealed grotto behind a fountain keeps the mystery conveniently alive.
Nearly a century, carefully carried forward
The Thornton family sold the property in 1974. Later owners expanded and updated the residence, including a recent reimagining completed in 2025, while preserving the features that make it instantly recognizable. The result is a four-level home with multiple living and dining areas, two offices, a basement wine room and bar, formal and informal spaces, and outdoor rooms that still invite exploration.
That balance matters. Historic homes can become museums to their own past, or they can lose their identity through renovation. Chateau des Grotteaux appears to have taken the more difficult route: keeping its sense of place while adapting to the expectations of modern life.
What bidders should know
- Address: 6941 Gaston Avenue, Dallas
- Size: Approximately 7,777 square feet
- Bedrooms and baths: Six bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths
- Site: Approximately 0.99 acre
- Listed price: $5.8 million
- Expected opening bids: $2 million to $3 million
- Bidding opens: September 17, 2026
- Live closing: September 29, 2026
The auction listing states that a 12 percent buyer’s premium applies and that prospective bidders must register and complete their own due diligence. Alysee Compton of Stewart-Rose Properties represents the listing.
For Dallas, this sale is more than another luxury transaction. It is a rare chance for one of the city’s most eccentric and beloved private landmarks to begin its next chapter. The winning bid will buy a house. The real acquisition is nearly a century of stories, some documented, some whispered and some still waiting behind the walls.
Property details and auction terms are subject to change. Buyers should verify all information independently with the listing representative and auction house.
