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In his more than three decades living at this Queens landmark, Roy Fox has never paid a penny on rent. 

That’s right — in calling Jamaica’s King Manor House home, the 84-year-old former radio host hasn’t needed to pay those high, and annoying, monthly costs that New Yorkers always complain about. It’s because he’s the 11-acre site’s caretaker. 

The responsibility, moreover, is much less work than most jobs, Fox told The Post back in 2020

“[I just] open and close the place,” he explained of his museum of a residence, portions of which date to 1700. “Work hardly comes to mind.”

The warden recently re-caught the internet’s attention after his unique housing arrangement was profiled on YouTuber Cash Jordan’s channel, where a 14-minute clip featuring a tour of Fox’s “apartment” has racked up more than 341,000 views since posting earlier this month. 


  Fox in his quarters. Tamara Beckwith Fox in his quarters. Tamara Beckwith

  The stately exterior Kings Manor, whose keeper lives there for free. Tamara Beckwith The stately exterior Kings Manor, whose keeper lives there for free. Tamara Beckwith

The tour includes a walk-through of the 22,000-square-foot, 29-room space, including a portion of it that was once a two-story cottage. There’s also a trek through the formal living room, the kitchen and a dining area lined with recently installed historic wallpaper. It even heads to Fox’s own quarters, which include a dining room-cum-kitchen, an office, a bathroom, two bedrooms and an extensive collection of literature — larger even than the manor’s own 3,200-book inventory.

The custodian found the plush set-up (which is unsalaried) back in the late 1980s, through his then-wife, who learned that the parks commissioner was seeking a new steward of King Manor.


  The property measures in at 22,000 square feet. CASH JORDAN / YOUTUBE The property measures in at 22,000 square feet. CASH JORDAN / YOUTUBE

  A bedroom at the manor. Tamara Beckwith A bedroom at the manor. Tamara Beckwith


  The property is both a museum and Fox’s residence. Tamara Beckwith The property is both a museum and Fox’s residence. Tamara Beckwith

  Fox’s enviable living situation recently went viral thanks to a new YouTube profile of his home. CASH JORDAN / YOUTUBE Fox’s enviable living situation recently went viral thanks to a new YouTube profile of his home. CASH JORDAN / YOUTUBE

Fox got the gig, and has since become a core part of the property, which is named for Rufus King, an abolitionist who was also one of the US Constitution’s five framers. 

“Fox is the heart of King Manor,” King Manor executive director Kelsey Brow previously told The Post. “Years pass, and the Fox is still in the house. He always says, ‘King Manor, like no other museum.’ Well, there’s no other caretaker like our Fox!”

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