Win a 50-million-year-old fossil for touring $2M Massachusetts mansion

Just don’t be a dino-sore loser.

The seller of a Massachusetts mansion has added a unique incentive to attract more eyes to his $1.78 million property: All tours come with a chance to win a 50-million-year-old fossil.

The fossil contains over a dozen fossilized fish, including Knightia and Diplomystus from the Eocene Age, the seller told The Post.

The winner of the Eocenic-era raffle will be chosen the day the sale closes, and everyone who tours the property or attends an open house has an equal chance to win.

The home seller and owner of the ancient fossil, Robert Lanza, was on the first team to clone early-stage human embryos in 2001 and conducts stem cell research.

The 65-year-old purchased the fossil mined from Stone, Wyoming at the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, he said.

This photo, exclusively obtained by The Post, shows the fossil up for raffle. It contains over a dozen fossilized fish, including Knightia and Dyphomystus from the Eocene Age, the seller told The Post.
This photo, exclusively obtained by The Post, shows the fossil up for raffle. It contains over a dozen fossilized fish, including Knightia and Diplomystus from the Eocene Age, the seller said.
The Smith Group

"I like that you’re only 30 miles from downtown Boston, yet you’re totally immersed in nature," Lanza told The Post.
“I like that you’re only 30 miles from downtown Boston, yet you’re totally immersed in nature,” Lanza told The Post.
Realtor.com

“Over time the lakes were filled with sediment and ash from volcanic eruptions. Quarry operators in the fossil beds split through flat pieces of rock to find fossils,” Lanza, the head of Astellas Global Regenerative Medicine and Chief Scientific Officer of the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine, told The Post.

His $1.78 million home spans 7,000 square feet with six bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, according to the listing.

Lanza owned the house for 27 years and now plans to downsize as he is “getting ready to retire,” he told The Post.

"In the winter, you can sit under the palm trees when there’s a foot of snow right outside the windows," Lanza told The Post.
“In the winter, you can sit under the palm trees when there’s a foot of snow right outside the windows,” Lanza told The Post.
Realtor.com
In line with its pre-historic branding, the home has a lush conservatory and an indoor grotto with a quarry rock, waterfall and tropical plants.
In line with its prehistoric branding, the home has a lush conservatory and an indoor grotto with quarry rock, a waterfall and tropical plants.
Realtor.com
"I never used the bar, but I've always wanted to give a Caribbean Christmas party," said Lanza.
“I never used the bar, but I’ve always wanted to give a Caribbean Christmas party,” said Lanza.
Realtor.com

“It’s time for someone else to enjoy it,” Lanza told The Post.

Brokers hope that attracting more potential buyers to the property will prompt them to make a compelling offer.

“Buyers respond to the unique irreplaceable beauty of it all. Most have never set foot on a property like this one,” co-listing agent Charity Edwards told The Post. She has the listing with her parents, Helen and Doug Edwards of Sotheby’s International Realty.

"It's time for someone else to enjoy it," Lanza told The Post.
“It’s time for someone else to enjoy it,” Lanza told The Post.
Realtor.com

A bedroom is pictured.
Lanza owned the house for 27 years and now plans to downsize as he is “getting ready to retire,” he told The Post.
Realtor.com

In line with its prehistoric branding, the home has a lush conservatory and an indoor grotto with quarry rock, a waterfall and tropical plants.

“In the winter, you can sit under the palm trees when there’s a foot of snow right outside the windows,” Lanza told The Post. “I never used the bar, but I’ve always wanted to give a Caribbean Christmas party.”

There are over 12 acres of European beech trees, rhododendrons, wisteria, honeysuckle and grapevines, according to the listing.

“The fragrance of the wisteria and honeysuckle in the spring/early summer — it’s unbelievable! And [I loved] having my own forest, complete with a pine grove and Lady Slippers,” Lanza told The Post.

Eagles, blue herons, swans, cranes, ducks “and their babies,” have made homes on the estate, said Lanza.

Lanza told The Post one of his favorite memories was “When a bald eagle built a nest a few years ago only a few dozen feet away from the house,” adding that he also loved “the great blue heron right outside my kitchen window every morning.” 

His $1.78 million home spans 7,000 square feet with six bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, according to the listing.
Lanza’s $1.78 million home spans 7,000 square feet with six bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, according to the listing.
Realtor.com
source: nypost.com