Our friends took us to see a very unique place, The Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie in Chandler. The mansion was built in 1984 by Phil and Billy Lee Erickson and features elegant stained glass, ornate wooden carvings, and stunning murals. The ongoing maintenance costs brought the family to part with the manor in 2002 and in 2010, the property had fallen into disrepair after a mysterious owner painted over a number of the original murals. The tour guide was very vague about the period of the mansion’s history.
In 2010, Shelly and Nick Goodman rescued the property from foreclosure. Since then they have worked to restore and preserve the this unusual and exquisite showplace. The grounds around the property have been developed into a lavender farm which seems to generate a profit through the many products sold in the gift store, products such as soaps and candles.
The interior was absolutely stunning.
We also visited the Goldfield Ghost Town and had a return visit to the Granite Reef.
Leave it to a midwestern traveller to introduce me to new places to visit in this metropolis where I’ve spent the last 3 decades…on my list now!