Step inside the historic Houston mansion sold by a King Ranch heir
Step inside the historic 1419 Kirby Drive mansion in Houston's River Oaks: John Steen III, a King Ranch descendant and company vice chairman, and his wife Mary sold the 1931 Tudor Revival home in May 2026 at a $6.495 million list price—among the month's priciest deals—to Houston attorney Ryan Pigg.
The transaction puts a spotlight on one of River Oaks' best-preserved prewar estates and on Steen's ties to King Ranch, the 825,000-acre South Texas operation spanning agriculture, ranching, energy and natural resources. For buyers tracking luxury real estate and dream homes, the sale shows how historic character still commands top dollar in Houston.
Key Takeaways
- John and Mary Steen sold 1419 Kirby Drive on May 20, 2026, after listing it for $6,495,000.
- The roughly 7,000-square-foot Tudor Revival home dates to 1931 and was remodeled in 2020.
- HAR data ranked it as Houston's second most expensive residential sale in May 2026.
- Steen is vice chairman of King Ranch Incorporated and traces his lineage to founder Richard King.
- The city once weighed landmark status for the property, but it is not on Houston's official landmark list.
Who sold the historic River Oaks mansion and why does it matter?
John Steen III and Mary Steen were the sellers, according to Houston Chronicle reporting and Harris County deed records cited by industry outlets. Steen serves as vice chairman of King Ranch Incorporated and has energy and midstream sector ties.
Through his mother, Ida Clement, Steen descends from Richard King, who founded King Ranch in 1853. That lineage adds Texas ranching royalty context to a deal that was less about acreage than about a nearly century-old address in one of Houston's most exclusive neighborhoods.
What makes 1419 Kirby Drive worth stepping inside?
The home was designed in the Tudor Revival style and built in 1931 by Katharine Mott, widely described as Houston's first female homebuilder. The Steens earned a 2022 Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston for restoring the property, which public records show they acquired in 2018.
Listing materials and city planning reports describe hand-laid brick, stained-glass and steel windows, and a 2020 renovation that updated mechanical systems while preserving period details. Compass agent Mike Mahlstedt marketed the five-bedroom estate on a half-acre lot; it went under contract about two weeks after hitting the market.
How did the sale rank among Houston's luxury market?
At $6,495,000, the Kirby Drive listing was the second priciest residential sale in Houston during May 2026, according to Houston Association of Realtors data cited by the Chronicle. Only a newly built Memorial Drive estate at $10.5 million ranked higher that month.
The final contract price has not been widely reported, but the ask works out to roughly $1,000 per square foot on a home spanning about 6,300 to nearly 7,000 square feet in published accounts. Buyer Ryan Pigg was represented by Kristina Metoyer of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty.
What is the landmark status of this historic estate?
Houston's Planning and Development Department once considered the residence for landmark protection, a 2021 city report shows, but the property has not been added to the official Houston landmarks list. Prior ownership changes on the Kirby Drive site were recorded in 1988, 2001 and 2018.
For preservation watchers, the handoff from longtime stewards to a new owner will test whether River Oaks' dwindling stock of Katharine Mott-era homes keeps its architectural integrity as Houston's luxury market stays active.