A MAN from the US reveals how he bought an entire village in Spain – with plans to ditch his home in California.
Jason Lee, 54, was born in New York but said he “fell in love” with Spain after visiting.
American Jason Lee revealed how he bought an entire village for less than the price of a UK house[/caption]
The village was built in the 1950s only to be abandoned 30 years later[/caption]
The village is home to 44 houses as well as a guesthouse[/caption]
So much so, that he has since bought an entire abandoned village, with grand plans to do it up.
Salto de Castro, in north-western Spain, went up for sale for as much as €6.5million (£5.4million) in 2019.
It dropped in price again to £500,000 in 2023 – only for Jason to buy it for €310,000 (£260,00).
The village was built in the 1950s as a place for workers from an electricity company to live, only for it to be abandoned in the 1980s.
It is currently home to 44 houses, as well as a guesthouse, bar, church and a former swimming pool – and even a police barracks.
Speaking to local media, he revealed his plans to turn it into a tourist resort after “falling in love” with the town after visiting, when he read it was for sale online.
He explained: “It’s going to be a kind of vacation center, a place where people can come to rest and relax.
“It will be like a rural tourist complex with a hotel, a hostel, a swimming pool, a pelota court, and numerous rural apartments aimed at all types of visitors.”
This includes chalet-style homes as well as a hotel, restaurants and shops.
He reiterated it wouldn’t be a “luxury resort” but instead families and digital nomads, adding: “We’re not building Disneyland.”
The renovations come with a cost, which he said could be as much as €6million (£5million).
This includes adding electricity, water supplies and waste systems.
And the initial plans include restoring the church to host events as well as restoring the swimming pool.
While he is still living in the US, he said he eventually plans to move there himself.
One of the first projects will be restoring the church[/caption]
Jason hopes to turn it into a tourist resort[/caption]
Works could cost up to £5million[/caption]
Jason said his plans include investors wanting to support the scheme that “Spanish people will benefit from”.
Jason has also launched a GoFundMe for people to support the restoration with aims for $300,000 (£231,000).
He hopes to open by the end of 2026, although admits it could be early 2027 depending on investment.
A family from the UK also bought an entire village, this time in France.
Liz and David Murphy moved to France four years ago, although still kept their Manchester home.
However, the pair decided to sell it to buy the rural hamlet which comes with six houses, two barns and three acres of land.
And two Brits have bought an abandoned village in France for just £22,000 in Normandy with plans to make it a holiday destination.
It could open by 2027[/caption]
