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Historic Sauer Castle Approved for $11M Redevelopment

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City approved $11.5 million in bonds for the redevelopment of Sauer Castle. Photo credit: Shutterstock (sculpies).

Posted July 1, 2025

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City approved over $11 million in bonds for the renovation and redevelopment of the historic Sauer Castle.

Located at 935 Shawnee Road, the Sauer Castle is a historic Kansas City, Kansas landmark that has been closed to the public due to the property’s unsafe condition. The Sauer Castle was originally built in 1871 by German immigrant Anton Philip Sauer and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original land was purchased by Sauer for 63 acres. 

In 2023, the castle was purchased by Mike Heitmann.

During the Full Commission meeting on Thursday, Heitmann presented his plans to turn the historic property into an event space. The County Commission approved a zoning change and some special permits for Sauer Castle. Industrial Revenue Bonds for Sauer Castle were also approved for the amount of $11.5 million.

The redevelopment project will include three sections of land located at 911, 935, and 945 Shawnee Drive as part of the redevelopment. The project will feature renovations to the interior and exterior of existing structures, as well as an expansion to the property, such as an event and lawn space and parking.

The estimated date for operations to begin is 2027, according to city documents.