I was up in the Forest Hill neighborhood of DC again today for the third (and probably final) time, so decided to go a little deeper in my exploration there. I was actually looking for a park/playground I saw on the map, but instead I stumbled on this ginormous “mystery mansion.”

What is it? Who lives there?  It had the look of an embassy: with iron gates, and cars with diplomatic plates parked in the circular drive. But there was no signage, no flag, no nothing.  I thought vaguely about ringing the bell and asking the driver in the courtyard, but my discretion got the better of me, so I just snooped, a bit on foot around the premises, and then on Google.

You can find everything on Google! Turns out there was some mystery around the house’s sale, but the house is now probably owned by the Embassy of Kuwait, though not used as their formal embassy. It also has some renown as the second-most expensive house ever sold in DC (a chill 18 mill), and was built by the cofounder of the Giant food store chain. Groceries. That’s where it’s at people.

In the meantime, here’s an article about the house with pictures (since I only got a few of the outside, and I certainly didn’t get invited into that scrumptious looking pool).

Also, just want to note a trend in my New Place project—often when I go looking for one New Place, I find another, unintended (but also cool) New Place. I wonder if there is a life lesson there?