Cold Spring Minnesota Taxidermy House: 7 Mind-Boggling Facts About the $1.45M Safari Mansion
- Primary Focus Keyword:
Cold Spring Minnesota taxidermy house - Secondary Focus Keywords:
27785 Hidden Cove Road,Stearns County real estate,Chris Hauck Coldwell Banker,Big Fish Lake MN home - Target SEO URL Slug:
cold-spring-minnesota-taxidermy-house - SEO Meta Description: Inside the famous Cold Spring Minnesota taxidermy house at 27785 Hidden Cove Road. Tour the viral $1.45M Big Fish Lake mansion and its wild animal oasis.
Imagine driving down a quiet, heavily wooded driveway in Central Minnesota, expecting to tour a classic lakefront home, only to step through the front doors and find yourself face-to-face with a towering, full-mount African giraffe and a snarling polar bear.
The legendary Cold Spring Minnesota taxidermy house is a property that permanently shattered the quiet expectations of the local real estate market. When the listing photos first hit the public MLS, they immediately went viral, capturing the attention of national media outlets, Reddit’s r/ZillowGoneWild, and stunned house hunters across the country.
Behind the standard cedar-sided exterior of this Stearns County estate sits one of the most extensive, museum-scale private wildlife collections in the United States. Let’s step inside this wild residential safari and discover the incredible engineering, design, and history of this local legend.
Table of Contents
- The Geography: A Private 6.5-Acre Haven on Big Fish Lake
- The Layout: A Tour of the 7,458-Square-Foot Wildlife Sanctuary
- The Safari Showcase: From Giraffes to Hippo Coffee Tables
- The Legacy: Ethical Culling and Museum Donations
- Contrasting Aesthetics: Wood, Glass, and Wild Fur
- The Real Estate Economics: Pricing Stearns County Luxury
- What Lies Ahead: Reimagining the Taxidermy Oasis
1. The Geography: A Private 6.5-Acre Haven on Big Fish Lake
Located at 27785 Hidden Cove Road in Cold Spring, Minnesota, the estate occupies an exceptionally private 6.59-acre lot. This premier geographical footprint offers the homeowners ultimate secluded tranquility along the pristine shoreline of Big Fish Lake.
To see how this unique architectural footprint stands against other distinct structures in our state, explore our curated guide on the most historically rich homes in Minnesota.
[The Layout of 27785 Hidden Cove Road]
Big Fish Lake
┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Sandy West-Facing Beach │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
Big Fish Lake ◄┼───────► 7,458 Sq. Ft. Home ◄─────────┼────► Patios /
Frontage │ (Jumbo Taxidermy Arc) │ Porch Areas
│ ▲ │
│ │ │
│ 4-Car Garage │
│ (Insulated/Heated) │
└─────────────────┬────────────────────┘
▼
Heavily Wooded
Driveway
The property boasts more than 150 feet of west-facing shoreline, complete with an immaculate, sandy swimming beach.
The approach to the house is characterized by heavy tree cover, which beautifully masks the wild interior within. This brilliant setting establishes the Big Fish Lake MN home as a premier destination for luxury buyers seeking privacy.
2. The Layout: A Tour of the 7,458-Square-Foot Wildlife Sanctuary
Constructed in 1985, the custom wood-sided home features four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and an open-concept great room with soaring vaulted ceilings. While the exterior of the house reflects a classic, rustic lodge design, the interior layout was meticulously custom-engineered to support the display of massive animal mounts.
The home’s main level spans over 4,400 square feet, designed with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the home with natural light.
The master suite features a elevated, custom jacuzzi overlooking the lake, while the lower walkout level holds a fully finished family room with a secondary kitchen.
Throughout the home, heavy stone accents, natural wood paneling, and massive structural beams create the perfect natural stage for the owner’s extensive collection.
3. The Safari Showcase: From Giraffes to Hippo Coffee Tables
To truly understand the national fascination with the Cold Spring Minnesota taxidermy house, one must look at the specific contents of the animal collection. Unlike typical Midwestern hunting cabins featuring a few whitetail deer mounts, this estate was turned into a global safari showcase.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The Famous Exotic Wildlife Features of the Home │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • A full-size standing giraffe in the great room │
│ • A standing polar bear pointing toward the bar area │
│ • A glass-top coffee table built around a hippo's jaw │
│ • Rhinoceros leg bar stools lining the wet bar area │
│ • Primate mounts climbing above the kitchen pan racks │
│ • A pool table custom-draped in authentic zebra pelts │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The collection spans nearly every continent, featuring leopards, monkeys, wolves, alligators, and birds in dynamic, lifelike poses.
To explore the viral Zillow photos and read about the public reaction, check out the comprehensive CBS News WCCO Feature on the Cold Spring Listing.
4. The Legacy: Ethical Culling and Museum Donations
The mind-boggling collection was compiled over decades by a passionate big-game hunter who built the home to showcase his lifetime of global adventures. While big-game hunting naturally sparks intense ethical conversations, the history of this collection holds a distinct ecological narrative.
According to listing records, the majority of the exotic animals displayed in the home were ethically culled from wildlife reserves in Africa and Asia. These efforts were implemented by reserve officials to manage herd populations and fund regional conservation programs.
When the home went up for sale, the owner chose to donate the vast majority of the mounts to educational museums.
This decision allowed the home to transition back into a standard lakeside retreat while preserving the specimens for academic and public display. For a detailed review of the home’s features and its initial public offering, review the Racket MN Cold Spring Taxidermy Feature.
5. Contrasting Aesthetics: Wood, Glass, and Wild Fur
From an interior design perspective, the Cold Spring estate is a fascinating study of contrasts. The warmth of the traditional wood paneling, cedar cabinets, and flagstone fireplaces clashes dramatically with the raw, wild textures of the taxidermy.
[The Interior Design Contrast Dynamic]
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Traditional Lodge Architecture │
│ • Warm wood paneling & flagstone fireplaces │
│ • Vaulted wood ceilings & rustic lighting │
└───────────────────┬────────────────────────────┘
│
▼ Combined Effect
│
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Museum-Grade Wildlife Exhibits │
│ • Full-mount predators frozen in active poses │
│ • High-end display lighting & custom cases │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Every room in the house invites the viewer to look closer. A walk down the hallway is set off by the gaze of mountain goats, while the wet bar area features rhinoceros-leg bar stools that push the boundaries of conventional furniture design.
For design enthusiasts planning a unique decor theme of their own, get inspired by our ultimate fall guide to North Metro Minnesota for local, natural design influences.
6. The Real Estate Economics: Pricing Stearns County Luxury
The marketing of 27785 Hidden Cove Road represents a landmark study for Stearns County real estate. Originally listed in 2018 for $1.3 million, the property’s pricing was adjusted over the years, eventually peaking at $1.45 million during the height of the regional suburban expansion.
This transaction highlights a broader trend of buyers looking for premier waterfront properties outside the traditional Twin Cities metro.
$$P_{\text{sqft}} = \frac{\text{Sale Price}}{\text{Square Footage}} = \frac{\$1,350,000}{7,458 \text{ sq. ft.}} \approx \$181 \text{ per sq. ft.}$$
With a finalized sale price of $1,350,000 in early 2022, the buyer secured an incredibly competitive price per square foot of just over $181.
If you are planning to invest in unique regional properties or are starting your own search journey, utilize our step-by-step guide to buying a home in Minnesota to secure the best market deals.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The Economic Profile of the Big Fish Lake Sale │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Initial MLS Listing Price (April 2021): $1,299,000 │
│ • Adjusted MLS List Price (July 2021): $1,449,000 │
│ • Finalized Sale Price (Feb 2022): $1,350,000 │
│ • Annual Property Tax Levy (Stearns County): $12,686 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The home was listed and negotiated by Chris Hauck Coldwell Banker Realty, demonstrating that even the most eccentric properties can find the perfect buyer with the right market positioning.
7. What Lies Ahead: Reimagining the Taxidermy Oasis
Today, the famous Cold Spring estate stands as a testament to personal passion and architectural versatility. The home’s open, grand layout and Big Fish Lake frontage make it a premier property regardless of the animal collection.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The Future Options for the Waterfront Estate │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Returning to a traditional, open-concept home │
│ • Using the grand space as a private corporate │
│ retreat or event center │
│ • Creating an educational wildlife facility │
│ • Maintaining the custom log-cabin legacy │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
By blending world-class lakefront amenities with a layout designed for grand scale entertaining, the property has secured its place in regional history.
To explore the official listing documents and full historical sales record, check out the Zillow Listing Profile for 27785 Hidden Cove Road.
Whether you view the home as a shocking museum exhibit or a masterpiece of custom waterfront design, its legacy remains a bold, unforgettable beacon on the Minnesota real estate landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are the animals in the Cold Spring taxidermy house real?
Yes. The home contained a massive collection of genuine, museum-grade taxidermy mounts, including a polar bear, a giraffe, a hippopotamus head, and a wide variety of African and North American wildlife.
Did the animal mounts come with the purchase of the home?
No. While the listing photos showcased the full collection, the listing agent confirmed that the seller planned to donate the vast majority of the animal mounts to various museums upon the sale of the property.
Where is the famous Minnesota taxidermy house located?
The home is located at 27785 Hidden Cove Road in Cold Spring, Minnesota, situated on a private 6.59-acre lot with direct, sandy frontage on Big Fish Lake.