News Summary
The historic Water Tower House in Seal Beach has been put on the market for $5.5 million. Dating back to the 1890s, this unique home combines modern amenities with its rich history. Featuring 2,828 square feet, four bedrooms, and a stunning living area offering 360-degree views, the property is a blend of charm and character, with whimsical elements and a nod to its past. As a popular Airbnb rental, the property invites interested buyers to explore its potential.
Seal Beach – A historic landmark water tower, dating back to the 1890s, has officially hit the market for the asking price of $5.5 million. Known as the Water Tower House, this unique residence has been transformed into a home since the 1980s, showcasing a blend of modern living with rich historical significance.
The property features a spacious layout of 2,828 square feet that includes four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The centerpiece is a rotunda-style living area, providing 360-degree views that capture breathtaking panoramic sights from the ocean to the mountains. Located within the gated Surfside community of Seal Beach, the tower stands as an iconic symbol of the area.
Among the notable features of the home is a charming foyer at the base of the tower, which displays a cascading water feature and a wall adorned with tools unearthed in the 1940s that were utilized by linesmen for the upkeep of the tower. The ground-level guest room holds a secret—a hidden staircase that leads to a cozy bedroom nook, adding an element of surprise and whimsy to the home.
Access to the upper living areas is made easy with an elevator, which also leads to a walk-around deck designed for unobstructed views. The kitchen boasts modern amenities and flows into a dining area, creating a perfect space for entertaining. A nostalgic touch is added with model trains suspended from the ceiling, a tribute to the structure’s historical roots.
As visitors ascend a spiral staircase to the upper levels, they will find two ensuite bedrooms on the fourth floor. One of these bedrooms features a unique rotating water closet and a step-down rainfall shower. The top-level rotunda is open-concept and enhanced by redwood beams and large picture windows, creating an inviting atmosphere. A stained-glass cupola caps the tower, while a compass rose motif decorates the hardwood floor below.
Additional Features
The residence also includes a laundry room and garage parking, making it practical for both living and potential rental purposes. Notably, the Water Tower House could claim the title of the second-tallest single-family residence in the United States, surpassed only by the 124-foot Falcon Nest in Prescott, Arizona.
A point of interest for potential buyers is the tower’s history. Built by the Southern Pacific Railroad around 1892, it originally served as a water supply for steam engines traveling along the coast. By the 1970s, the 75,000-gallon tank had fallen into disuse, prompting a ‘save our water tank’ campaign in the early 1980s that ultimately led to the community’s decision to preserve the structure. Investors converted the landmark into a home in 1984 after it faced potential demolition.
The property witnessed several ownership changes over the decades. It was purchased by retired South Pasadena Fire Chief Gerald Wallace in 1995 for $800,000, after which he made several unsuccessful attempts to sell the property, listing it for as much as $8 million. In 2016, it changed hands once more, selling for $1.5 million to Scott Ostlund and his investment partner, who restored and decorated the tower before listing it for $4.95 million in June 2021. The current owner, Dr. Gregg DeNicola, a historic preservationist and physician, acquired the property in July 2022 for $4.5 million.
Currently, the Water Tower House is also a popular Airbnb rental, with rates for five-night stays costing a bit over $5,000. The property includes whimsical elements, such as a pirate-themed bedroom and a ground-floor guest room cleverly concealed behind a bookshelf, highlighting the unique character of this one-of-a-kind residence.
The listing agent representing this extraordinary property is John Simcoe from Keller Williams Realty.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: Seal Beach’s Water Tower House
- Wikipedia: Water tower
- SFGATE: California Water Tower Home
- Google Search: Seal Beach Water Tower House
- Realtor.com: Water Tower California Home
- Google Scholar: Historic Water Tower California
- NY Post: California’s Historic Water Tower House
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water supply
- Long Beach Post: Seal Beach Water Tower House Listing
- Google News: Water Tower House Seal Beach
