Constructed in the 1970s, this unusual castle is located in Birmingham, Alabama. While it was built with care by a local family, the property was later abandoned and quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Now ready to start a new chapter, the house was recently bought by a reality TV star who is planning to bring it back from the brink. Thanks to photographer Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast, we can take a tour of the castle and find out what's in store for this unusual home. Click or scroll on to find out more...

Known as Roebuck Castle, the remarkable home was constructed in the 1970s on a large corner lot in the South Roebuck neighbourhood of Birmingham. It was originally built by the local Khalaf family, who owned Salem’s Pharmacy. "My mother sold the house in the 1990s," Nancy Bird Khalaf told a local news outlet. "The house was full of life as they had many parties and events for the community and family.” Since then, the property has changed hands numerous times, before it was vacated and left to languish.

A grand, sloping driveway takes you up to a set of crumbling steps, which lead to the front door. Losing the fight with Mother Nature, the building was partially consumed by strangling vines and weeds when Leland Kent explored the estate. By that time, it had sat empty for around 15 years. But it isn't difficult to see how impressive this modern castle once was, so it's really no wonder a celebrated TV renovation star spotted the home's potential right away...

In 2021, the abandoned castle caught the attention of Paul Mielke, former star of A&E TV show Flipping Down South, who now works with Monroe Park Properties flipping and selling on neglected homes. Paul was no doubt drawn in by the building's unique brick façade, which is finished with a soaring tower, impressive faux battlements and oversized arched windows. Plus, there's plenty of space to play with—5,000 square feet, to be exact.

Thanks to Abandoned Southeast, we get the chance to see exactly how the castle looked when Paul first discovered it. According to local news platform Bham Now, the reality TV star heard about Roebuck Castle in 2021 and was instantly interested in rescuing it. “I walked in, floors were falling in and it was literally raining inside. But I just immediately fell in love with it and knew I had to have it," he said.

After gathering together the finances, Paul and his team bought the place. Crumbling both inside and out, this extreme fixer-upper wouldn't have been suitable for your average renovator. “I do know that I was not the first person to look at it," he said. "I was just the first person that was up for the challenge." The ceilings in every room were rotting or falling down, while litter and personal belongings were strewn across all the rooms. “I’m pretty thrilled about it. It’s the biggest remodel I've ever done," he said.

As well as spacious living rooms, a retro kitchen, five bedrooms and three bathrooms, the property also boasts plenty of unique features. "It’s just a cool house—it’s got a library and an in-law suite downstairs. You walk into a foyer that has a fountain. It’s a spectacular home," Paul told Bham Now. As for architectural elements, every room enjoys six-over-six sash windows, high ceilings, full-height brick fireplaces and original built-in cabinetry. However, many of the elements aren't salvageable. “It’s the worst condition house I’ve ever bought," Paul admitted.

Paul is documenting the ambitious project on his Instagram channel, giving us a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse at a major home renovation. After buying the place, Paul and his team immediately ran into issues with getting permits approved for the renovations. To make matters worse, the work crews they hired would often fail to turn up, which led to further delays. In May 2022, Paul decided it was time to prioritise the project. He hoped to complete the job in just three months and had a $250,000 (£211k) budget for the work.

In July 2022, Paul took to Instagram to share a video of the first day of the renovation, posting this snap to highlight just how degraded the abandoned castle was. "This is going to be a huge project," he said. "The entire left wing of the house has caved in, including the roof and floors. It’s going to take a special crew to get in there and take the house apart, then put it back together piece by piece so the house is stable and safe.”

He also hired the Dearborn Drone Co to capture aerial footage of the castle. This still from the video highlights the progress the team made in just a matter of weeks. They started by taking out the entire top floor and roof, and stripping everything back. They had to remove more of the home's structure than originally planned, due to both rain and termite damage. In fact, around 90% of the property has been removed and reframed. 

As for his approach, Paul is retaining the unusual appearance of the castle. "On the outside, we’re going to keep the look," he said. "We’re going to wash it and have some iron work done to bring back the original pieces, like the plating on the side of the house. We’re going to try to get some reproductions made for the pieces that are missing." With its grand proportions and triple sash windows, this space was likely the home's master bedroom, however, it'll be unrecognizable once Paul completes the project.

The castle is still a work in progress—Paul sadly didn't manage to finish the job within three months as planned, mainly due to permit and structural setbacks. While he was originally planning to sell the property on, Paul has fallen in love with the place and is now reportedly planning to make Roebuck Castle his personal residence, according to Bham Now. Once it’s ready, he’s going to organise a neighbourhood viewing party at the house. 

The outside spaces will be receiving a dramatic makeover too. While Paul initially opted for the budget-friendly route of filling in the languishing swimming pool and creating a backyard, he's had a change of heart since deciding to call the castle his home. Instead, he plans to restore the pool and channel a "bohemian kind of vibe" across the property. We can't wait to see the end result. Keep your eyes on Paul's Instagram and watch this space for updates!

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