Paula Deen Looking to Sell Sprawling Savannah Estate, Shaves $4M Off Asking Price

Paula Deen’s luxurious waterfront home (which she dubbed Riverbend) is located in the marshes of Savannah, Georgia. Originally listed in May 2015 for $12.5 million, the asking price has since dropped by nearly $4 million to $8.75 million – a pretty precipitous drop no matter how you look at it.

Riverbend isn’t so much a house as it is a compound, with several structures situated on a 5.5-acre lot that has been meticulously landscaped.

The backyard pool features a “dive-in theatre” and its own pool house, while other outdoor amenities include an outdoor kitchen, a fish-stocked pond and a croquet court.

R&R is the order of the day in this expansive covered patio area overlooking the pool.

You can’t have too many kitchens when you’re a celebrity chef, and this fully equipped outdoor poolside kitchen includes three grills, four refrigerators and a wood-burning smoker.

The Riverbend estate also features two separate guest cottages, along with a 10,000-square-foot barn that includes an eight-car garage and a three-bedroom apartment.

A view of Riverbend from the rear of the home, which backs right onto the Wilmington River. When you include the guest cottages and other structures, Riverbend boasts a grand total of 28,000 square feet of living space.

Boasting 300 feet of water frontage on Wilmington River, the home also includes this private boat dock with a spacious dock house. The panoramic river views inspired the home’s Riverbend moniker.

The custom-built main house boasts 14,500 square feet of interior living space, with the style described as French-Caribbean.

“The secluded estate is accessed through a secured gated entrance with a beautiful drive that features lush landscaping,” declares the listing.

The French Caribbean style is instantly evident within the custom-built home, which features meticulous detailing throughout, from the unique patterned flooring to the trim and mouldings.

The living room is described as “dramatic,” boasting high ceilings, a spectacular chandelier and truly unique wood flooring.

As a bonus, the living room overlooks the covered terraces and beyond to that gorgeous river view.

Viewers of Paula Deen’s former TV shows may recall seeing her in this state-of-the-art, fully customized kitchen with commercial-grade appliances, featuring dual ovens topped by a dramatic copper vent.

The kitchen also includes this English-style dish pantry, with a library-style ladder allowing access to elevated shelves that make the most of the home’s dramatic high ceilings.

The listing describes Riverbend as its own “private resort,” and rooms like this one are indicative of the attention to detail throughout.

The home’s master bedroom is the most spectacular of Riverbend’s eight bedrooms, with its own fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the river view.