When people talk about the late Jim Irsay, they usually picture the guitars. Or the jerseys. Or the massive, sprawling Carmel estate that basically served as a private museum for the Jack Kerouac scroll and various Beatles memorabilia. But there was another side to the Indianapolis Colts owner—a quieter, albeit still wildly expensive, side.
Tucked away in the tiny town of Culver, Indiana, sits the Jim Irsay lake house, a property that recently hit the market with a price tag that made even the most seasoned Midwest realtors do a double-take. We’re talking nearly $20 million. For Indiana.
Honestly, calling it a "lake house" is kinda like calling the Colts a "neighborhood football team." It’s an understatement. This isn't some cedar-shingled cottage where you go to get mosquito bites and drink lukewarm beer on a plastic dock. It is a 35,000-square-foot compound on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee, a body of water often dubbed the "Cape Cod of the Midwest."
Why the Jim Irsay Lake House is Actually a Compound
The property is technically split across two parcels, but they’re linked by a 350-foot underground tunnel. Yeah. A tunnel.
The story goes that Irsay wanted the mechanical systems—the loud, humming stuff that keeps a 14,000-square-foot main house running—tucked away. So, he built a tunnel to house the "guts" of the estate, keeping the lakeside vibe completely serene. It’s that level of detail that defined his lifestyle.
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The main residence at 944 S. Shore Drive is a European-inspired behemoth.
- 8 bedrooms.
- 12 bathrooms.
- Timber-framed ceilings that look like they were ripped out of a 16th-century lodge.
- Hand-painted details everywhere.
The layout is intentional. While most people would just build one big box, Irsay’s family built six different structures over two decades. There’s the main house (built in 2001), a guest house, a pool house, and even a dedicated "entertainment building."
The Toys You Won't Find Anywhere Else
If you’ve ever followed Irsay’s Twitter (X) feed, you know the man didn't do "minimalism." The Jim Irsay lake house is a playground.
The entertainment building is where things get weirdly cool. It features a professional-grade four-lane bowling alley. Not a "home version"—the real deal. Next to it? A full arcade and a shooting range. And because no Irsay property would be complete without a place to toast a victory, there’s a club-style bar that looks like it belongs in a high-end Chicago speakeasy rather than a rural Indiana lake town.
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Then there's the pool house. Built around 2018, it’s a masterclass in "indoor-outdoor" living. The lake-facing doors are motorized and retractable. You can swim in the heated pool while looking directly out at the water, or hit the hot yoga room if the Indiana humidity isn't doing enough for your pores.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
- Asking Price: $19.9 million.
- Total Square Footage: ~35,000 across all buildings.
- Lake Frontage: 250 feet of private shoreline.
- Dock Space: 4,000 square feet (the largest private dock on the lake).
The "Secret" Second Property Nearby
Here is what most people get wrong about the Irsay real estate portfolio in Culver: it wasn't just the lakefront.
Just a mile and a half down the road at 17052 State Road 110, Irsay owned another 72-acre slice of heaven. This one was listed for a cool $6.95 million. It’s basically a private park. It has its own 3-acre fish-stocked lake, a hunting cabin, and a "tennis barn."
But it wasn’t just a barn. It had 60-foot ceilings, a full-size indoor court, and a mezzanine fitness center. Oh, and a twisted slide that takes you from the workout area straight down to the court.
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Irsay used to fly his helicopter from his primary home in Carmel (about a 98-mile trip) and land on the helipad at the tennis barn property. From there, he’d hop in a car for the two-minute drive down to the Jim Irsay lake house on the shore. Talk about an easy commute.
What This Sale Means for Indiana Real Estate
If the main property sells for anything close to its $19.9 million asking price, it will be the most expensive home sale in the history of the state of Indiana.
Usually, the record-holders are in Zionsville or Carmel. But Culver is a different beast. It’s the kind of place where the "upper echelon" goes to disappear. It’s private. It’s quiet. And for someone like Irsay, who lived a life under the constant microscope of NFL media and public scrutiny, that privacy was clearly worth the premium.
The local real estate agents call it a "legacy estate." That’s a fancy way of saying you’re not just buying a house; you’re buying a piece of history. Following Irsay’s death in May 2024, his daughters—who now run the Colts—have been meticulously offloading his massive real estate holdings. The Carmel estate sold quickly for $11.75 million. The Culver properties, however, are for a very specific type of buyer.
Actionable Insights for High-End Real Estate Enthusiasts
If you’re looking into properties like the Jim Irsay lake house, or just curious about the ultra-luxury market in the Midwest, keep these factors in mind:
- Check the "Compound" Tax: High-end estates often have multiple parcels. Be sure to clarify if the asking price includes all structures or just the primary residence. In Irsay's case, the $19.9 million gets you the whole tunnel-connected setup.
- Verify Shoreline Rights: Lake Maxinkuckee is highly regulated. Having the "largest private dock" is a massive value add that can't easily be replicated by a new builder due to modern zoning laws.
- Appraisal Realities: Midwest luxury doesn't scale like Malibu or NYC. A $20 million house in Indiana is an anomaly. If you're an investor, look at the historical "ceiling" of the area before diving in.
- Maintenance Logistics: A 350-foot underground tunnel and a pool house with retractable walls require specialized contractors. Budgeting for "legacy" maintenance is often 2-3% of the home's value annually.
The Jim Irsay lake house stands as a testament to a man who lived large, loved his privacy, and had a penchant for the slightly eccentric. It’s a fascinating look at how one of the NFL’s most colorful owners spent his downtime, far away from the roar of Lucas Oil Stadium.