Huge blaze engulfs Stakis Hotels tycoon's abandoned Scottish mansion as fire crews tackle the flames | 03I801X | 2024-04-27 06:08:01
FIREFIGHTERS are battling a huge blaze at an abandoned Scottish mansion.
Mercy crews were scrambled to the derelict estate in Dunblane, Stirling, at around 4.45pm tonight and are still in attendance.
Shocking footage from the scene show dark smoke plumes filling the sky.
The locus of the fire is understood to be the late Stakis Hotels business tycoon Sir Reo Stakis's luxurious lost Scottish mansion.
He spent 50 years of his life with his family living in area around the abandoned mansion, before passing away in 2001 at the age of 88.
A local told the Scottish Sun how the site had been a target for squatters over the recent years.
They said: "The house is still full of old belongings from the family.
"It was flooded out and a small fire a while ago – and people say it has been used for parties and is a beacon for kids breaking in."
We previously told how the walls and floors of the mansion might be rotting away, but surprisingly, there are some well-preserved personal pictures of the family that remain seemingly untouched.
Even with broken beds and vandalised furniture, the charm of this once-luxurious mansion is unmistakable.
A huge kitchen area, a personal bar, and grandiose bathrooms speak volumes about the wealth and prestige of the family.
Sir Reo Stakis had become one of Scotland's most wealthy expatriates through his creation of the UK hotel and leisure group that bore his name.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> He went on to sell his group for £1.2 billion to Hilton Hotels in 1999 – with his family's stake worth reportedly £78 million after the sale.
The sale of his group to Hilton Hotels in 1999 for £1.2bn left Stakis a very wealthy man. His family's stake was reportedly worth £78m after the sale.
He was also a benefactor of the Cypriot community in the UK and in Cyprus, where he paid for electricity to be installed in his village.
Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed they are still at the scene.
Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
More to follow
More >> https://ift.tt/zFNn8vy Source: MAG NEWS