Luxurious party mansion left abandoned for 30 years by homeowner with a dark secret

A mysterious mansion perched high on a hill above a small town in Tennessee was abandoned for many years following multiple scandals involving homeowner Billy Hull

The opulent property in Chattanooga took many years to build and was finally completed in 1972, with adult entertainment tycoon Billy Hull moving in to continue his life of luxury.

Mr Hunt had a clear vision for his home, choosing architect Ed Ball to design the interior which boasted luxury marble bathrooms, mirrored lounges and a huge swimming pool alongside three large bedrooms.

The 5,600 square foot property took 14 months to build, and Mr Hunt celebrated its completion in style with an extravagant house party.

During a period of 12 months, the entertainment business owner held many soirées at his home. But sadly, there are no images of the home in its heyday.

Following multiple gatherings throughout the year, the impressive mansion was soon abandoned by its owner following a scandal that shocked the southern town.

Three decades later, Leland Kent from Abandoned Southeast captured an array of images at the former strip club owner’s home in all its derelict glory.

In 2017, the photographer snapped the vacant Polynesian-inspired property, with images showing off the former grandeur of the home.

A picture of the entrance shows two large wall-mounted tiki figures which have become worn due to uninvited visitors over the years.

It also shows the once-regal glass-panelled doors which have been smashed, with the entrance blocked by chipboard.

Time has ravaged the interior of the property, with images of the living room revealing a shabby red carpet littered with broken glass, old magazines and forgotten possessions.

Despite this, the decadent marble-topped bar still remains, but it’s now scratched and covered in rubbish.

After the mansion was abandoned, letters from the past were found, with one baring a glimpse at the lives of two friends of Mr Hunt who frequently attended his house parties.

The note reads: “Tootie, may your magic never end. So glad you’re home and feeling better. I miss you, Rocky.”

The playboy pool, which made a public appearance in an electrical trade publication in 1972, particularly stood out in Mr Kent’s images.

The huge, 20-by-40-foot pool features undulating sides, a faux rock waterfall and a diving board.

Now, its glory days are over as it is covered in graffiti from intruding guests, following the home’s abandonment. It has a broken sofa placed on the floor of the unfilled pool, transforming it into a hollow shell.

The iconic Playboy emblem on the floor of the pool has undeniably stood the test of time and stands proud amongst the debris.

The wood-panelled room in which the pool lies features a chandelier holding on by a thread, with a bar covered in graffiti that matches the walls of the former swimming pool.

The master bedroom of the home, which was once shared by Mr Hull and his wife Gloria, looks out onto the pool.

The room was decorated with pastel pink paint and mirrored cabinets that have since strayed from the art deco vibe, due to vandals smashing the mirrors and graffitiing on the walls.

All of the bedrooms in the home featured CCTV monitors with feeds from the pool room.

Presumably, this was so Mr Hunt could keep an eye on his guests inside his home.

Despite its luxury interior, the master bedroom also hides a dark secret.

A year after the property’s completion, a man named Roland Hargis was shot and killed as he left the Tradewinds Night Club in Chattanooga.

It is understood that the man in question was having an illicit affair with Mr Hunt’s wife.

He was tragically murdered by one of Mr Hunt’s close friends, Larry Parker, who alleged that the business owner had contracted him to carry out the murder.

Mr Hunt was then sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement.

However, this was the first in a string of allegations against Mr Hunt and led him to file for bankruptcy in the 1980s after a conviction for tax evasion.

According to loveproperty.com, documents revealed that the seemingly wealthy nightclub mogul attempted to fight the tax evasion charges by claiming that his lifestyle was funded by his grandmother’s bootleg whiskey business.

This was later dismissed by the courts.

Following the businessman’s incarceration, the mansion was placed on the market before it was seized due to unpaid taxes.

The property was then raided by vandals and demolished 45 years after it was built, with little known about the whereabouts of Mr Hunt and his wife.