Lizzie Borden Houses for Sale: What Will New Buyers Do with Them?

The owners of the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, are retiring, which means they’re not only selling the infamous property where “Lizzie Borden took an axe…” but also the home where she lived out the rest of her days, Maplecroft.

What’s going to become of them now, especially the Lizzie Borden House B&B and museum? Will the same buyer purchase both, or will it be two different buyers? We don’t know, but let’s dig into this story a little more.

The Lizzie Borden House Listing

The Lizzie Borden House officially hit the market on Monday, January 10, 2021. Asking price? A cool $2 million dollars.

Here’s what appears in the MLS listing Remarks section:

Lizzie Borden took an axe…or did she? Welcome to the ORIGINAL house where Lizzie Borden was accused (and acquitted) of the brutal double axe murders of her father, Andrew, and stepmother, Abby, that occured on that warm summer day of August 4th,1892. This is an unbelivable opportunity to own and operate one of New England’s top tourist attractions. Entertain visitors from all over the world. This is a turnkey operation, running lucrative day tours and evening events, and as a popular bed and breakfast destination. Picture yourself serving fun hatchet cookies, tiny johnny cakes and a scrumptious breakfast to overnight guests who have just enjoyed an experience of a lifetime! Owner’s retirement is your gain! Sale includes business, trademarks, intellectual rights, and property. Can also be purchased with the Victorian mansion, “Maplecroft”, where Lizzie lived the rest of her life after she was acquitted. See MLS# 72714741

The Maplecroft Listing

Maplecroft has actually been on the market since summer 2020. They’re asking $890,000 for it.

Here’s its description:

What? Own a piece of American history? Preposterous! Except when it’s not……Presenting MAPLECROFT- the Queen Anne Victorian Mansion that once belonged to LIZZIE BORDEN who was accused and acquitted of the brutal ax murders of her Father and Step Mother. This was her final resting place that she lived in until her death, NOT the house where the murders happened. Nestled in the historic Higlands District, this impeccably restored high style victorian art piece will bring you back to a gentler time but with today’s modern conveniences. With just under 4000 thousand square feet of history, a few features you will enjoy are 6 fireplaces, 7 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, tin ceilings in the kitchen, coffered ceilings, walnut wainscoting, inlaid parquet floors, stained glass, and exquisite mantle pieces that some say hold a hidden meaning. Maplecroft is being offered fully furnished with exceptional period pieces that speak to the very special past inhabitants of this home. Serious inquiries only

Questions about the Lizzie Borden House’s Future

There aren’t new buyers yet but there will be. Who will they be and what will they do with the houses?

Will they keep the Lizzie Borden House as a Bed & Breakfast and museum? Will they continue hosting not only paranormal events and investigations but also true crime ones as well? Or will they turn it back into a personal home?

And what will become of Maplecroft? It sometimes also hosts tours and ghost hunting nights, mostly by invite-only, but it also operates as a vacation rental destination. Will that continue?

Time will tell.

You’d almost have to keep at least the Lizzie Borden House accessible to the public though, right? Otherwise, I’d imagine you’re going to hassle with a lot of trespassers.

Will Zak Bagans buy it?

Maplecroft probably wouldn’t interest Zak much I don’t think. But what about the Lizzie Borden House? He does like his true crime, but perhaps this isn’t dark or demon-infested enough for him?

However, he’s not only a showman but also a businessman. He could easily turn the Borden properties into further moneymakers for his brand.

The Lizzie Borden House would make an ideal second Haunted Museum location. I’m not sure what he’d do with Maplecroft, but even keeping it as a rental would surely prove lucrative for him. People would line up for bragging rights alone to say they stayed in a Zak Bagans property.

This is all conjecture, of course. I’ve not heard one peep that Bagans is even considering buying either or both properties. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. What about you?

Check-In

Which would you rather own: Maplecroft or the Lizzie Borden House? Both? Neither?