Date Published: October 6, 2025, 12:44h.
Updated on: October 6, 2025, 12:44h.
- A remarkable private island in Maryland is on the market
- The estate includes a distinctive brick mansion with a fascinating background
St. Helena Island, located on the Severn River in Maryland, is available for purchase. Specifically, part of the island is on offer.
Brad Kappel from TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in Annapolis is the listing agent for the property located at 1002 St. Helena Island in Crownsville, MD. The historic home spans over 7,100 square feet, featuring five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, set on a 6.5-acre lot.
Valued at just under $3 million, this luxurious property is crowned as a “magnificent private island sanctuary,” boasting over 1,600 linear feet of pristine deep-water frontage on Round Bay. The main residence showcases imported Belgian marble and mahogany, noted for its exceptional craftsmanship.
The island’s intriguing history adds to its allure. Established by prominent Baltimore lawyer Paul Burnett in the late 1920s, the estate originally functioned as Burnett Hospital for Crippled Children until 1942, shortly before his passing.
However, the mansion’s story took a different turn in its later years.
Unlawful Casino Activities
After Burnett’s death, the mansion was acquired by Eugene Raney, who made his fortune from managing bowling alleys and a beer distribution network in Maryland. Raney teamed up with restaurateur John Emory to create an upscale club on the island.
By the late 1940s, the St. Helena establishment featured several slot machines, attracting a wealthy clientele from Washington, D.C., including Congress members, judges, and Maryland legislators. However, this illicit operation ended in 1951 when law enforcement conducted a raid, confiscating numerous illegal slot machines. Both Raney and Emory were convicted for operating an unlawful gambling establishment.
Maryland did not legalize slot machines until 2008, following a statewide vote, with table games subsequently legalized in 2012.
Later in the 1950s, Raney sold the island to Maryland Appellate Judge Stedman Prescott Jr., and after Prescott’s death in February 1989, the property was sold to a wedding and event company that divided the island into two separate lots.
Currently, these two properties are privately owned, with the northern segment last sold in 2019 for $2.6 million.
Exclusive Residence
The St. Helena Island listing indicates that annual property taxes approximate $22,000. The island lacks traditional roads, but there are trails and a golf cart-accessible pathway.
Alongside the mansion, a former water tower has been transformed into an office providing stunning 360-degree views. Unlike many private islands within the Chesapeake, St. Helena has access to utilities via submerged lines connecting it to Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE).
Kappel mentioned in his listing that “initial bids” will be accepted until October 21, with the auction set to conclude on October 30. All offers must be made without financing contingencies, and a Proof of Funds is required to arrange a viewing.
Since 1999, St. Helena Island has not been utilized for any commercial purposes due to an ordinance passed by the Severn River Association prohibiting such activities.