Grow Op Mansion
The Abandoned Grow Op Mansion in King City, Ontario was posted to Ontario Abandoned Places in September of 2015 by a member of Ontario Abandoned Places named Drifting Pablo. A fire had taken place earlier in the year at the house.
The whereabouts of the King City Grow Op Mansion were kept a closely guarded secret until it was mentioned on social media that the property had been used as a marijuana grow operation. This was enough information to allow other people to Google the address. The mansion was located at 14740 Keele Street in King City, Ontario. From there it was all downhill. Of course it’s difficult to keep properties secret because someone, somewhere will recognize one.
The $1,700,000 mansion was situated on five acres of land with an outdoor pool, patio and tennis court. Inside the house was a designer kitchen, six bathrooms, large recreation room, sauna, spiral staircase, water fall rock wall and skylights.
An SUV was parked on the property which looked to be in working condition. I could find no visible issue with it. It would later be vandalized by people in the future.
The way inside the mansion was from an unlocked door in the garage. Unlike homes stripped of copper and vandalized, this one retained all of it’s elegance.
Evidence of Marijuana Growing
While I was exploring the abandoned mansion, it was obvious that the home had been used as a marijuana growing operation. The upstairs tub had been fitted with a plastic liner and filled in with potting soil. Hoses were connected to the bathroom sink. In the dusty hallway upstairs I could make out where rows of flower pots had been placed on the floor.
Two packages of unopened electrical fuses were left upstairs. Some doors were sealed, windows boarded and draft areas covered with insulating tape.
Children’s toy cars were left behind in the living room. They stood out in contrast to the purpose of the house. The washer, dryer, stove and fridge appeared to be brand new.
Drug Dealers
When word of the mansion inevitably spread on social media, people’s imaginations ran wild. Lazy people not wanting to research the house, claimed this was an “illegal grow op house” while others claimed that it was owned by “drug dealers”.
Some people claimed that it had been owned by a lady suffering cancer who grew her own medicinal marijuana. Despite the catchy stories attached to the house – the reality is somewhat less dramatic.
The grow op mansion was originally owned by the Fejer family. It was built in 1995 for businessman George Fejer. Fejer founded “Canadian All-Terrain Vehicle Manufacturing” which sold parts for kit cars. George’s son Robert was also part operator of the business. The business closed in 2004.
In 2008 the home was purchased by the Green family. Research indicates that Jeff Green lived in the home with his four children who ranged from 8 to 17 years of age (three sons and a daughter). The family resided here for approximately four years. The home was then listed for sale with Martin Sheikhan Realty.
The tiled wall you see above had a water falls at each end where water was circulated down the tiles.
The well known clam shell bath – you either loved it or hated it.
The above photos came from a real estate advertisement for the house, taken during a time when it was occupied. The photos below were taken after the house became vacant.
Jeff and Cherri Green had a Florida based moving company named America’s Big Little Moving Company registered to the address in 2012. Whether the home was sold again is not known.
Speculation is that the home was purchased by two real estate investors who in turn began using the property as a grow operation. This information may not be entirely accurate, possibly confused with this story. What is known is that a grow operation began operating in the home, which was reported to be legitimate in origin.
Children’s toys in the living room contrast with the drug paraphernalia found upstairs.
Unused kitchen appliances left behind. That’s my reflection in the centre. The kitchen has remained untouched by vandals or thieves.
Note the fire damage at the bottom of the stairs as the result of an arson.
A package of planting soil in the bedroom next to the clam shell tub
Bathtub lined with plastic and filled with planting soil.
Before:
After photo of bedroom:
The house had been adapted to become a grow operation. Windows were boarded, doors sealed shut and insulation tape placed over areas in which the smell might escape.
Fuses, as modification to the hydro would have been necessary
Entrance to the master bedroom. Note the soil on the floor and soot from the fire on the doors.
The grow operation was met with concern by surrounding neighbours concerned about the risk of fire and the “undesirable” people that the property might attract.
A public township meeting was held on February 11, 2015 for residents to discuss their concerns.
The day following the meeting a fire was reported at the house which was deemed to be suspicious in nature. Police said that the house was not currently being used as a grow operation but that they’d removed grow op equipment from the property. The fire was started in the entrance to the home and did not appear to be as a result of “bypassing” the hydro. [Link to story]
After the fire the house was abandoned and used neither for residency or growing plants. The township of King City went out to secure the property but vandals kept creating new entrances.
The basement:
Toronto skyline as found behind the bar
The bar area
Vandalism or theft, you just know this television won’t remain here very long.
Swimming pool
New washer and dryer (photo: LivingGhost)
And so the vandalism begins…
The windows on the Yukon are now smashed – November 2016 (Photo: Timo Explorer)
December 2016 – Couch tossed down the staircase, Trump graffiti (photo: Kat666G)
Some no-talent garbage – December 2016
December 2016 (photo: Kat666G)
The kitchen a year after my visit:
And so the story of the marijuana grow-op house ends in an all too often way.
The property was destroyed by vandals as is often the case with anything posted to social media.
I’m certain that the outcome would’ve been the same regardless of whether we ever posted it to social media. Social media may have expedited the process though 🙁
The Grow Op Mansion was demolished in March 2017. Young adults will have to find a new place to trash.
Photo Credits: OAP, Motleykiwi, Living Ghost, KatG666, Timo Explorer
The house was owned by my grandfather’s brother George. They had a very well respected company that built race-cars in the 60/70s but George was an ostentatious asshole and they never spoke again. This house is the perfect representation of his ego.
I can tell you that it indeed get sold again before it was demolished