Tulip Hill estate in Anne Arundel Co. sells to mystery buyer

An historic Anne Arundel County estate known as Tulip Hill was sold at auction this month to a mystery buyer for more than $2.37 million, according to Concierge Auctions, the New York-based company that handled the sale.

The Colonial mansion in Harwood was listed for sale at one point for $7.5 million but the price dropped to $2.375 million before it was auctioned off on Saturday. Concierge representatives declined to disclose the name of the successful bidder or give the exact sale price, but they said the property sold for more than $2.375 million to a retired "senior military officer" who has restored another historic estate in the area.

The auction drew 17 registered bidders, including prospective buyers from Dubai, England and six U. S. states.

The seller was Citibank, a lender that had purchased the property back from its former owner in 2009. Located in the 4500 block of Muddy Creek Road, the plantation house dates from around 1756, sits on 52 acres, includes water frontage and a pier, and is considered by historians to be one of the finest Pre-Revolutionary War estates in the U.S. The sale is expected to close by May 9.