KCK’s favorite haunted mansion is getting a makeover. Take a peek at the changes
Visitors cruising down Shawnee Road in Kansas City, Kansas, might not know that the looming, 1800s-era mansion — nestled in a neighborhood on the city’s southeast side — has undergone dramatic changes since it gained new ownership two years ago.
But longtime Wyandotte County residents know the Sauer Castle that stands today is a far cry from what it was even last fall.
The Italianate home reputed as the city’s haunted mansion of choice is undergoing major renovations and is scheduled to be available for public use and private events within the next 18 months, according to its owners.
Kansas-based couple Mike and Susan Heitmann purchased the property back in 2023 with the intent of saving it from the extreme disrepair it fell into over the course of several generations.
Their vision for it? Something that can be enjoyed by Wyandotte County residents and others who have long watched the property decay from the other side of its wrought-iron fence.
Come completion, the Heitmanns envision the castle serving as an event venue with a bar, cafe and short-term lodging to be used for parties, weddings and more.
They want to build an addition in place of a former annex that collapsed years ago, revive a smokehouse that rests behind the property. The property also has remnants of a flourishing vineyard that hasn’t served a drink in generations.
And although they intend to bring wiring and infrastructure up to 21st century standards, the Heitmanns want to accomplish all of this while staying true to the home’s historic roots and old-world flair.
The Heitmanns during a steamy July afternoon stroll updated The Star on how progress is coming along and what’s to come.
In the works
The home, despite its grandeur, has been an eyesore and origin for local ghost stories for decades.
Mike Heitmann had no idea what he wanted to do with the property when he first walked its 28-acre grounds. But, as an engineer with a lifetime of construction experience and a few previous home renovations in his rearview, he knew it was something worth saving.
Sauer Castle was crumbling. It wasn’t structurally sound, was damaged by water and had become a favorite canvas for graffiti artists.
Before the Heitmann’s purchased the property, signs reading that it was an unfit place to live plastered its front windows. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK for years tried to rip the property from its longtime owner, Carl Lopp, due to surmounting tax delinquency and violation fees.
Then, Mike Heitmann came in. He, over the course of several conversations, convinced Lopp to sell him the property.
“Mike can see a long term vision,” Susan Heitmann said. “He’s not really intimidated by something that desperately needs a lot of work.”
And so, the work began.
About a year-and-a-half ago, Mike Heitmann set off on stabilizing the property and preparing it for winter. This included strengthening the foundation, reinforcing the floors, roof and the building’s main tower, installing a new gutter system and windows — something he said was a time-consuming but vital phase in bringing the building back to life.
Heitmann’s team is now preparing the home’s three porches for a rebuild. Passersby can see that wood framing for those porches are in place. They will soon be wrapped in mahogany using pieces currently being fabricated at a shop off site. Workers have also poured in the foundation for the addition, which will connect to the back side of the building and offer ADA access to the building’s first first and second floors.
County commissioners earlier this summer approved plans to make the property available for public use. They will soon review a building permit that, if approved, would greenlight construction on the addition and build out the event space on the inside.
A team
The Heitmanns tend to work together on their renovation projects. Mike oversees the preliminary construction, and Susan offers her interior design expertise when it comes time to make a project feel like home.
Susan Heitmann told The Star that she’s enjoyed learning about the preservation of the home and is excited to see its progress. She’s happy to play a role in bringing a historical home back to its community.
“It’s really nice,” she said of neighbors’ investment in the project. “And sometimes, they’ll comment, ‘oh, this restores my faith in humanity.’”
Sauer Castle is going to feel like an old Italian home when people wander its halls, Mike Heitmann said. He said that although the construction and approval process on projects like this can be slow, the local government and residents have been overwhelmingly supportive.
“I just love the architecture of the home. I love the materials and the craftsmanship and just the beauty of it,” he said. “And, like I said, it’s been very heartwarming to see the community support and the number of people that are cheering us on.”
This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
