Frank and Dolores Mennella have added another serious trophy to their Palm Beach County collection, closing this week on a never-lived-in, ocean-to-lake spec mansion in Manalapan for roughly $51.7 million. The 1.5-acre property, finished in 2024, couples Atlantic frontage with Intracoastal access and a laundry list of resort-style perks, keeping the couple firmly in the ultra-luxury spotlight.
The deal
According to The Real Deal, property records show the sale closed at about $51.7 million, with developer Vivian Dimond of Bayshore Grove Capital listed as the seller. The listing was handled by Gary Pohrer of Serhant and Christopher Leavitt of Douglas Elliman, and sources say Philip Lyle Smith brought the buyers. On paper, the number shakes out to roughly $34.5 million per acre and about $2,624 per square foot, the kind of math that reminds everyone this is Manalapan, not the bargain bin.
About the house
The main residence clocks in at nearly 20,000 square feet and packs in six bedrooms and 13 bathrooms in total, eight full and five half, according to the MLS listing on Zillow. A dedicated wellness wing includes an indoor pool, and there is also an outdoor pool, a tennis court and a subterranean garage sized for 16 cars.
The estate spans roughly 1.5 acres, with about 172 feet of frontage on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. That sea-to-lake setup delivers a private dock on the west side and direct beach access on the east, a combo that keeps demand high among buyers who want waterfront options and privacy without leaving their own driveway.
Price history and marketing
Before the closing, the property cycled through multiple ownership and asking-price changes. Marketing materials and listing pages show the house offered at various high-seven-figure levels before being adjusted to a lower ask. The Serhant-run brochure for the address details the finishes and amenities and showcases the full pre-sale push at 1460soceanblvd.com.
That pattern, developers stepping in to complete stalled spec projects and then trimming the price to land a buyer, is familiar territory in the high-end South Florida market, and it is exactly what unfolded here.
Where this fits in Manalapan
The Mennellas are not new names in the neighborhood. Earlier this year, they sold 1940 South Ocean Boulevard to WeatherTech founder David MacNeil, in a deal recorded in February for about $68.3 million, according to public listings on Redfin. Coverage by Mansion Global and other market reports underscores that Manalapan’s sea-to-lake estates tend to trade within a tight circle of buyers looking for turnkey, fully loaded waterfront compounds…