Property Description

923 East Scenic Drive has a richly documented social history throughout the years. After its initial construction for the for the Soria and Soulé families of New Orleans, it later served in the 1950s and 1960s as the main campus of  the Kern School, a private school for many Coastians. The house has been home to four rulers of Carnival, and has hosted two Senate Majority Leaders, a presidential candidate, and many senators, governors, and other celebrities. 

Start your tour by coming through the massive wrought-iron gates, up the curved and cobblestoned drive, and stepping onto the wraparound front porch through the semicircular, Tuscan-columned portico. Originally built in 1920, the main residence features a concrete stucco exterior, terra cotta hip roof, and steel understructure, with a stucco-and-wrought-iron fence surrounding much of the property. Upstairs, three full bedrooms include recently refreshed en suite baths, while downstairs includes the wood-paneled library, airy sitting room, formal dining room, cheery sunroom, spacious utility room, and two half baths. The newly-remodeled kitchen centers around the enormous stone-topped island, complete with prep sink, overlooking the poolside.

Luxury finishings include include flooring of inlaid marble and clear (top-grade) heart pine timber, plaster mouldings, beautiful staircase woodwork, and exquisite hardware throughout, such as leaded glass doors. The main chandelier and front gates are said to come from to the king of New Orleans hotels, the St. Charles, which stood in the Crescent City for nearly 140 years. Underneath the home, built into the Scenic bluff itself, the wine cellar can hold more than 1,200 bottles of wine in chilled comfort. On the west side of the home, a chlorinated, plaster-sided pool is the perfect relaxation spot with views of the beach. 

The property comes with not one but FOUR outbuildings in the backyard, plus a storage shed. Just north of the main home, the gorgeous guest house offers understated luxury throughout, starting with an array of premium kitchen appliances from Delta-based manufacturer Viking: refrigerator, gas range, ice machine, dishwasher, microwave, and trash compactor. A pot-filler, an undermount double sink, and stone countertops complete the kitchen complement. The rest of the tiled ground level includes dining space, living space, and a three-quarter bathroom including handicap-accessible shower and washer/dryer hookups. 

Upstairs, the guest house features two bedrooms plus a kitchenette with sink and room for a fridge, with hardwood flooring throughout. One tiled bathroom includes a double vanity with stone countertops and a terrific view overlooking the pool, plus a balcony. 

Across the yard, the two-story apartment building features a 3BD/2BA apartment upstairs with all-new windows, plus a workshop downstairs with two single-entry garage doors and plenty of storage. 

Meanwhile, the pool building offers a perfect studio-style guest space, featuring a kitchenette, slate flooring, and three-quarter bathroom. 

Lastly, the large workshop features three roll-up doors, a half bath, electrical power, water, and plenty of room for all your toys.

Beyond the buildings, the main property parcel stretches from Scenic Drive to the back of the large workshop. It features lush, mature oak trees and plenty of sunny lawns, as does the front median (included with sale) that sweeps down to Highway 90 and the white-sand beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Purchasers of the home have the option to buy another two acres separately.

The sellers upgraded the terra cotta roof and copper gutters following minor damage from Hurricane Katrina. After removing the existing terra cotta roof tiles from the roof substrate decking, they installed a membrane shield roof underlayment (both a new 30-pound felt and a new 43-pound felt, along with peel-and-stick waterproofing membrane), and resecured the tiles. Additionally, they updated all gutters and downspouts with copper replacements, including leaf guard covers over the gutters. No other known or documented damage to the house occurred during Hurricane Katrina.