"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This resort- like Phoenix house will be auctioned off with an opening bid of $5.9 million. No, it’s not another foreclosure auction. The owner, a Las Vegas developer is selling the 13-bedroom home via auction and taking advantage of its celebrity history.
You see, this lavish 2.1 acre estate in North Central Phoenix is the former home of U.S. Sen. and former presidential candidate John McCain and wife Cindy. It was a place that I had the opportunity, as a reporter, to visit throughout the years..
And it’s the place the McCains held several charity functions and political fundraisers. Some were outdoors poolside, others allowed guests to mingle throughtout the home.
The McCains lived there for 20 years before selling the sprawling property in 2006 to developer Jane Popple for $3.2 million. She changed the ambiance of the vintage southwestern décor into a Mediterranean villa.
The multi- million dollar renovation that included a 7-car air-conditioned garage, a wine-tasting room and theatre, to note a few of the several additions.
Yet the 15,000 sq. ft. home with 14.5 baths and guest homes- still retains some of its storied history. A concrete slab near a secondary front entrance, for example, still showcases the McCains’ names which they signed in the wet concrete. Meghan and Jack’s tiny hand and footprints are also there. And the custom fireplace mantel in the master bedroom bears the letters “McC”, engraved on its corner. Cindy’s parents built the home on Central Avenue in North Phoenix in 1951.
Higgenbotham Auctioneers International will be conducting the auction of the luxurious estate which they have appraised at more than $12 million.
Check out the master bedroom above. The furnishings and décor of the home and two guest homes will also be auctioned, separately. That includes the flat screen plasma TVs which are throughout the home in each full bedroom and bath.
And the estate boasts dozens of old world style Italian statues, delightful fountains and more than $1 million in Tuscan accented furnishings, oil paintings and accessories. Another one of the McCain touches left over in the renovated home is in the kitchen.
A prominent feature in the gourmet kitchen is a hanging pot rack. Representative of the Senator’s naval career are two large anchors at its ends. Also.. along the middle or the racks are three whimsical elephant heads that proclaim McCain’s Republican political roots. Real estate viewings will be available by appointment only.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
