It is big. It is white. It is absolutely soaked in scandal. If you’ve ever driven down Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, you’ve definitely seen the massive gates of Clarendon Court. Most people see the neoclassical limestone and think of the Gilded Age, but they’re usually wrong about when it was built. It actually went up in 1904. That’s late for a "cottage." But the architecture isn't why people stop their cars and stare.
They stop because of Sunny and Claus von Bülow.
Honestly, it’s hard to talk about Clarendon Court Newport RI without talking about the attempted murder trials that gripped the entire world in the 1980s. It’s the house where Sunny von Bülow was found unconscious on the bathroom floor—twice. But if you only focus on the true crime aspect, you’re missing out on one of the most architecturally significant English-style country houses in America. It was designed by Horace Trumbauer. He was basically the go-to guy for the ultra-wealthy who wanted to look like European royalty without actually having a title.
The Architecture of an English Illusion
Trumbauer didn't just wing it. He modeled Clarendon Court after Hedworth House in County Durham, England. It’s a Palladian masterpiece. Think symmetrical wings, a massive courtyard, and a sense of "I have more money than God." The house was originally built for Edward Knight, who was a railroad executive. Back then, Newport was the place to be if you wanted to flex your wealth.
The house sits on over seven acres. That’s a lot of grass to mow. The back of the property rolls right down to the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Cliff Walk. While many of the other mansions like The Breakers or Marble House feel like museums—cold, drafty, and a bit over-the-top—Clarendon Court has always felt more like a home. A very, very expensive home.
Why Trumbauer Matters
Horace Trumbauer was interesting because he was largely self-taught. He didn't go to the fancy schools like the guys who designed the other Newport mansions. Yet, he gave the elite exactly what they wanted: class. At Clarendon Court, he used Indiana limestone to create a facade that looks like it's been there for centuries. The interior features 18th-century English paneling that was literally ripped out of old British estates and shipped across the pond.
The von Bülow Years: Luxury and Tragedy
In 1970, Martha "Sunny" von Bülow and her husband, Claus, bought the estate. This is when the house became legendary for all the wrong reasons. Sunny was an heiress with a fortune estimated at $75 million. That was a staggering amount of money back then. Claus was a Danish-German socialite with a penchant for high living and, allegedly, a wandering eye.
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The 1980s turned Clarendon Court Newport RI into a crime scene.
You’ve probably heard the story or seen the movie Reversal of Fortune. Jeremy Irons played Claus. Glenn Close played Sunny. It’s a wild ride. Sunny fell into a persistent vegetative state in 1980. Her children from her first marriage accused Claus of injecting her with insulin to trigger a fatal hypoglycemic reaction. He was convicted, then acquitted on appeal after hiring Alan Dershowitz.
It changed the way people looked at the house. Suddenly, those limestone walls didn't just represent wealth; they represented secrets.
- The master bathroom where she was found.
- The black medical bag allegedly containing the needle.
- The tension between the European husband and the American heiress.
It was the OJ Simpson trial of its day, just with more Ascot ties and better furniture. Claus eventually moved out, and the house sat as a quiet reminder of a gilded tragedy for years.
Life After the Scandal
People thought the house might be cursed. They were wrong. In 1988, Paul and Bunny Mellon bought it. If you know anything about American equestrian life or the National Gallery of Art, you know the Mellons. Bunny Mellon was a legendary gardener. She’s the one who redesigned the White House Rose Garden for JFK.
She treated Clarendon Court like a private sanctuary.
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Under the Mellons, the house saw a revival. They didn't care about the gossip. They cared about the light, the gardens, and the "bones" of the building. Bunny added her signature touch to the grounds. She was known for "perfect imperfection." She didn't want the hedges to look like they were cut with a ruler. She wanted them to look lived in.
What It’s Like Today
Fast forward to 2021. The estate hit the market and sold for a cool $30 million. That might sound like a lot, but for a 21-bedroom mansion on Bellevue Avenue with a private beach? It’s kind of a bargain in the world of ultra-prime real estate.
The new owners are venture capitalist Mark Walter and his wife, Kimbra. Mark is the CEO of Guggenheim Partners and a part-owner of the LA Dodgers. They’ve kept things pretty quiet, which is exactly how you handle a house with this much history. You don't buy Clarendon Court Newport RI to be flashy. You buy it because you want to own a piece of American history that happens to have a 10-car garage and a carriage house.
The Layout You Won’t See on the Tour
Since it's a private residence, you can’t just walk in. But here’s the gist:
The main house is over 12,000 square feet. The entrance hall is massive, leading into a dining room that can seat dozens. There’s a library that smells like old money and leather-bound books. Upstairs, the bedrooms are arranged in a way that suggests the original owners didn't spend a whole lot of time together. It was a different era.
Common Misconceptions About the Estate
1. Is it open to the public?
No. Absolutely not. Unlike The Breakers or Rosecliff, which are run by the Preservation Society of Newport County, Clarendon Court is a private home. If you try to peak over the wall, you'll likely meet a very polite security guard or a very high-tech camera.
2. Was it built during the Gilded Age?
Technically, the Gilded Age ended around 1900, and this was finished in 1904. It’s "Gilded Age Style," but it was actually built during the Progressive Era. Details matter.
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3. Is it haunted?
Newport locals love a good ghost story. Some say they see lights in the windows of the rooms where Sunny spent her final days before being moved to a facility in New York. But honestly? It’s probably just the modern security system or the staff making sure the dust doesn't settle.
The Cultural Impact of Clarendon Court
This house changed Newport. Before the von Bülow trial, Newport was a sleepy summer colony for the old guard. The trial brought the paparazzi. It brought the "new money" voyeurism that eventually paved the way for reality TV. It showed that behind the hedges and the Indiana limestone, these families were just as messy as everyone else.
Architecturally, it’s a masterclass in proportion. Trumbauer understood that a house this big needs to be broken up visually so it doesn't look like a giant block of salt. The use of the courtyard to create a sense of arrival is something modern architects still study. It’s about the "reveal." You turn off Bellevue, go through the gates, and the house opens up to you.
How to Experience the Estate Without Getting Arrested
Since you can't go inside, how do you actually see it?
- The Cliff Walk: This is your best bet. If you walk the public path between Narragansett Avenue and Ledge Road, you get a stunning view of the back of the estate. You’ll see the sweeping lawns and the back terrace. It’s spectacular.
- Bellevue Avenue Drive: You can see the gatehouse and the top of the mansion from the street. The gatehouse itself is bigger than most people’s primary residences.
- Film: Watch Reversal of Fortune. While they didn't film inside the actual house (they used a few different locations including mansions in New Jersey and New York), it captures the vibe of the estate perfectly.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
We love a fall from grace. Clarendon Court represents the pinnacle of the American Dream—wealth, beauty, and status—and the absolute nightmare that can happen when things go wrong. It’s a beautiful shell for a very dark story. But beyond the drama, it remains a testament to American craftsmanship. The stone carvers, the gardeners, and the architects who built this place created something that has lasted over a century.
Newport has plenty of big houses. Some are bigger. Some are older. But none of them have the "it" factor that Clarendon Court Newport RI possesses. It’s the combination of Trumbauer’s genius and the von Bülows' notoriety. It’s a place where the architecture is just as loud as the history.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit to Newport
If you're planning a trip to see the Newport mansions, don't just stick to the tour bus route.
- Start at the International Tennis Hall of Fame: It’s just down the street on Bellevue. It gives you a sense of the social scene that surrounded estates like Clarendon Court.
- Walk the Cliff Walk Early: Go at sunrise. The light hitting the limestone of Clarendon Court from the ocean side is the best photo op you'll get.
- Check Local Real Estate Records: If you're a nerd for details, the Newport historical society has the original plot maps. It’s fascinating to see how the land was carved up before the "cottages" took over.
- Respect the Privacy: Remember, people live here. Keep your distance from the gates and stay on the public paths. The magic of Newport is that these houses are still lived-in pieces of art, not just museum pieces.