You’ve probably seen the grainy photos of that decaying indoor pool or the rusty iron gates with "Mike Tyson" welded into the metal. For years, the internet has been obsessed with the Mike Tyson abandoned home in Southington, Ohio. It became a sort of holy grail for urban explorers and true crime fans alike. People would sneak onto the property just to stand where a man once kept Bengal tigers in his backyard. Honestly, the real story is way weirder than just "rich guy loses house."
This wasn’t just a house. It was a 25,000-square-foot monument to 1980s excess, located in a quiet, rural corner of Trumbull County. Why Ohio? Because Iron Mike wanted to be close to Don King’s training camp in nearby Orwell. He bought the place at a sheriff's sale in 1989 for a "measly" $300,000. For a guy pulling in tens of millions per fight, that was basically pocket change.
What Really Happened Inside the Mike Tyson Abandoned Home
Walking through the house back when it was rotting was like stepping into a time capsule of 1991. Everything was garish. We’re talking gold-plated everything, crystal chandeliers that looked like they belonged in a palace, and enough tiger-print carpet to make Joe Exotic blush. The master suite was particularly wild—mirrors covered every inch of the walls and the ceiling. You can imagine the parties.
But it wasn't all just flash.
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Tyson actually spent a lot of time here during his comeback years in the mid-90s after he got out of prison. Locals used to see him running on the country roads. He even let the high school basketball team practice on his private court. But by 1999, the money was drying up, and the legal troubles were mounting. He sold the estate for $1.3 million to a guy named Paul Monea.
That’s where things got truly sketch.
Monea was an infomercial king—the guy behind the Tae-Bo exercise videos. He never actually moved in. Instead, the house sat empty for a decade while he got tangled up in a federal money laundering sting involving a $20 million diamond called the "Golden Eye." The FBI eventually got him, and the mansion fell into a state of total neglect.
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From Decay to Divinity: The Living Word Sanctuary
If you go to 3737 State Route 534 today, you won’t find a ruin. You’ll find a church.
In 2014, the property was donated to the Living Word Sanctuary. The church members didn't hire a massive construction crew; they did the work themselves. It took years. They had to haul out literal tons of debris. The grass was so tall that Pastor Nick DeJacimo said they could have sold it for hay.
The most impressive part of the renovation is what happened to the legendary pool.
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That massive indoor swimming area—the one you see in all those "creepy abandoned house" YouTube videos—is now the main sanctuary. They filled the pool with sand, poured a concrete floor over it, and set up pews. The tiger cages? Those were dismantled to build a outdoor pavilion. It's a complete 180-degree turn from the house's original vibe.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With It
People still pull over on the side of the road to take pictures. The pastor says bikers and tourists stop by constantly. There's something about the Mike Tyson abandoned home that captures the imagination. It represents the height of celebrity culture and the inevitability of change.
The house is basically a metaphor for Tyson himself. It was flashy, then it was broken and "abandoned," and now it has been completely repurposed into something else. It survived the 80s excess, the 90s legal drama, and the 2000s decay.
If you're planning to visit, keep in mind it's a functioning place of worship now, not a tourist trap or a set for a horror movie. The "Iron Mike" gates are gone, replaced by a much more welcoming entrance.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Explorers
- Respect the Change: If you visit Southington, remember that this is a private church. Don't go looking for "ghosts" or trying to sneak into the basement.
- Support Local History: The Trumbull County area has a lot of boxing history tied to the Don King era; if you're a sports fan, it's worth checking out the local markers.
- Virtual Tours: If you want to see the "abandoned" version, look up photographer Johnny Joo. He was one of the last people to document the decay before the church started the renovation.
- Check the Schedule: If you actually want to see the inside legally, the best way is to attend a service at the Living Word Sanctuary. They’ve kept some original details, like the fireplace where Tyson kept his belts.
The era of the "abandoned" mansion is over. The building has moved on, and honestly, it’s probably better off as a community center than a rotting shell of a boxer's bank account.