King Of His Castle: Sir Ivan's Hamptons Estate – La-La Land

Dream homes in the Hamptons have it all – big pool, tennis court, home theater, putting green, wine cellar – but only one has a nightclub, drawbridge, and 24-karat gold paint on the tennis court. Party goers flock to the fabled estate all summer long begging entrance to exotic themed parties that go on long after the sun has set. The infamous estate in Water Mill, owned by former banking executive and now philanthropist pop star, Ivan Wilzig, is known simply as “The Castle.”

“Nobody else has 24-karat gold leaf paint on their tennis court, or volleyball court, or on their basketball net,” remarked Sir Ivan as we recently spoke about his 8-bedroom Hamptons manse. “Every guest room has a theme – Asian, Roman, Bali, even King Tut, and a Moroccan loft.”  The nightclub, where he threw a decadent costumed launch party for his “La La Land” single this past summer, features strobe lights, ultra-violet black lights, lava lamps, lasers, and smoke machines.

Sir Ivan, who goes by the moniker, “The Peaceman” when performing, recently renovated the exteriors of the lavish 15,000 square foot medieval-style Hamptons home which he built with his brother Alan Wilzig in the mid-1990s on five prime acres. The brothers each enjoyed a luxuriously-appointed master bedroom suite in one of the castle’s two towers. It was “Alan [and his wife Karin who] did it all” during the initial year-long construction, including “restoring all of the antiques and painting ceiling medallions,” says Sir Ivan.

The estate now boasts according to Sir Ivan the “largest gates in the Hamptons” as well as a moat and drawbridge with seven waterfalls. A recent addition to the infinity pool is an astonishingly realistic, and very nude, dragon goddess sculpture, fashioned after Sir Ivan’s former girlfriend, created by Hampton’s artist, Roby Braun. This dramatic work of art is flanked by a pair of fire cauldrons that shoot flames dramatically over 5-feet in the air.

“The Castle” includes a tennis court, four over-sized fireplaces, eight-car garage, two large spas – one indoor and one outdoor – that can accommodate a party of 10 with ease, 11 bathrooms, wrought iron balconies, a large indoor dry sauna also for a party of 10 that converts to steam, fully equipped gym, two staff bedrooms, dragon and griffin statues, and, of course, a dungeon filled with stuffed bunny rabbits. It sure is good to be the King.

by Nicole B. Brewer