Crazy Real Estate Stories
Lubbock's 'Jody's Folly' mansion is back on the market
The mansion known as Jody's Folly, at 4509 14th Street in Lubbock's Rush neighborhood, is back on the market after renovations. It is about 15,000 square feet, and Kylee Garcia with McDougal Realtors is handling the sale.
By Michael O'Neal, Broker and REALTOR®, Keller Williams Realty Northeast
Published November 12, 2026
What is back on the market
The address is 4509 14th St., in the Rush neighborhood of Lubbock. The house is known as Jody's Folly. It is back on the market after renovations. Kylee Garcia with McDougal Realtors is handling the sale. Brittany Crittenden reported for KCBD, in a story published November 11, 2026, that the mansion is back on the market. That story does not give an asking price.
How the house was built
Jody Nelson built the mansion. In 2006 he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for embezzling nearly $78 million from his former employer, Patterson UTI. Investigators said he forged checks to buy a personal plane and stocks, and to tear down a home on the property. He then spent about $4 million building the mansion. The house later sold at auction for $742,000. That auction figure is a past sale, not a current price.
The work since 2022
The property changed hands in 2022 and has been upgraded since. Derek Cooper Construction redesigned it. Collected Design and Renewed Interiors by Connie Lee worked on the interiors.
What is inside
The house is about 15,000 square feet. The entry has a motorized chandelier and a grand staircase. The kitchen island is cristallo quartzite. One room has marble floors, a chandelier and a full bar.
The basement has a theater with surround sound, a bar, and a basketball court with a viewing area. There is a sauna. Every bedroom has an en suite bath and a walk-in closet. A loft has four built-in beds. An elevator runs between the first and second floors. Another room has an upper loft reached by a spiral staircase.
Outside, the pool and spa have been remodeled, with a fire pit and seating. Garcia said the property previously had two pools.
What I would tell a Houston buyer or seller
This house is in Lubbock. I work with buyers and sellers in the Houston area, including Kingwood, Lake Houston, Humble, The Woodlands, West University Place and Bellaire. I am not going to use the Lubbock auction price, or what it cost to build the mansion, as the price for a home in those neighborhoods.
What does carry over is how a storied house actually sells. A home's backstory can make headlines. Buyers still pay for condition, updates and comparable sales. When a unique or storied home comes up, pricing and disclosure matter. The history belongs in the conversation with the buyer. So does the house as it is now: it changed hands in 2022, Derek Cooper Construction redesigned it, and Collected Design and Renewed Interiors by Connie Lee did the interiors.
If you are buying or selling a one-of-a-kind home around Houston, or a home whose past buyers will ask about, call or text me at 832-797-3780. See my Kingwood guide and my Lake Houston guide.
Sources: KCBD, “'Jody's Folly' mansion back on the market in Lubbock,” by Brittany Crittenden, published Nov. 11, 2026. This home is not listed by The Michael O'Neal Group.
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