Late Fantasy Author’s $6.5 Million Legacy Estate in Oregon’s Wine Country Heads to Auction—4 Years After Her Death

World famous fantasy author Melissa McPhail was a celebrated master of building exciting worlds on the page—a skill that she extended to her extraordinary custom estate in Oregon, which is now set to be sold at auction, four years after the writer's tragic death.

McPhail, who was best known for her critically acclaimed five-book series "A Pattern of Shadow & Light," poured a staggering $11 million into creating her perfect abode on the 7-acre parcel of land in the
Willamette Valley.

The sizable estate, which is known as Silverado Villa, was designed to serve as far more than just a private residence, offering a wide variety of family living spaces, as well as areas designated for wellness, media, work, play, and large-scale entertaining.

Unfortunately, McPhail did not live to see the realization of that vision; the mother of two died in February 2022 at age 50, just weeks after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

However, work continued on her dream dwelling—which was completed in 2023 and carries McPhail's influence in almost every corner.

Now, that legacy is set to go under the hammer at a May 21 auction, where it will be offered by DeCaro
Auctions with just a $2.5 million reserve, despite having been listed for the much higher price of $6.5 million in late April.

But anyone hoping to secure a serious bargain should think again, according to Kennedey Martinek, who is representing the property for DeCaro Auctions. The decision to auction off the home was not made because of a lack of confidence in its ability to sell, Martinek noted, but rather because it was deemed the best way to introduce it to a wider audience.

"The $2.5 million reserve is part of the auction strategy," explained Martinek. "It’s intentionally set to create a clear entry point that encourages serious buyers to engage, rather than starting high and waiting for price reductions.

"The objective is to open the door to the market, bring multiple qualified buyers into a defined window, and let competitive bidding determine where the property trades.

"In short, the list price reflects the scope and quality of the finished product, while the reserve is designed to activate real-time market participation and drive a definitive sale."

What eager buyers should expect, however, is a truly one-of-a-kind home that stands as a living testament to McPhail's creativity and imagination.

McPhail brought the same imagination, detail, and sense of wonder to her home that she brought to her writing.

There was an existing 5,000-square-foot home on the land when the family purchased the property. The truly transformative, $11 million renovation began in 2019 and resulted in a stunning 13,575-square-foot French Country mansion with eight bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms.

“The transformation was inspired by Melissa’s travels. Italy, Turkey, and Greece,” Martinek explained. "She brought many elements from architecture in those countries and ancient cities she visited.”

That inspiration shows up in hand-painted arabesque dome ceilings, custom finishes, and ornate timber-framing scale and whimsical surprises throughout. The result is less a conventional estate than a lived-in fantasy setting, shaped by global influence and creativity.

Led by Michelle Workman Interiors and Buck Bailey Design, the home is a master class in Old World craftsmanship, featuring 26-foot timber framed cathedral ceilings and groin vaulted libraries.

The home’s most memorable details are the ones that feel pulled from a movie. There is a hidden witch’s hat truss office accessed by a spiral staircase through the new primary suite addition.

There is also a dedicated game room with screens for gaming, arts and crafts, and casual hanging out that could have been in a set for a film about a galaxy far, far away.

Other standout features include an entire wellness wing with a Harvia sauna, a fully equipped gym and a 102-degree hot yoga studio, along with massage and various other fitness amenities.

In addition, there are two expansive terrace levels overlooking a private pond and rolling hills that could accommodate hundreds of guests.

“The vision was to create a space where everyone from artists to executives could have a space to create,” Martinek said.

The estate's appeal extends beyond the architecture. Martinek noted that it's brimming with priceless, more etherial assets.

"The sunsets, the seasons, the privacy, the amenities, nature, the memories created,” she said. “It’s a place where laughter and love of life happen with family and friends.”

She also noted that the home has been the site of weddings, business beginnings, and years of family gatherings. “It is a space that was filled with love and continued to be filled with love every day for years,” she added.

The property sits on just over seven pastoral acres in the verdant Willamette Valley, which has a prestigious reputation as Oregon’s premier wine region, located between Portland and Eugene.

The area is world-renowned for its pinot noir, and is home to over 700 wineries. The valley's lush, scenic farmland offers a laid-back, rural experience featuring farm-to-table culture and charming small towns, making it one of the Pacific Northwest’s most appealing lifestyle destinations.

The relatively mild climate is also attractive—the temperatures are often described as Mediterranean, but a little cooler, more humid, and with a longer rainy season. Winters are relatively mild. This, plus the volcanic soil, makes for exceptional agricultural conditions that are particularly advantageous for winemaking.

Silverado Villa is situated in the heart of the Willamette Valley, just minutes from county seat McMinnville, which identifies as the capital of Oregon's wine country and has all the comforts and amenities of most U.S. towns.

It's also an aviation advocate's delight, and is the current home of the Spruce Goose, the world's largest propeller-driven seaplane that was built by Howard Hughes and is housed at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.