More and more budget-minded homebuyers are finding their own paradise in Vermont - like this 345-acre lakeside estate in Ferrisburgh.
At $26.2 million, the 345-acre estate in Ferrisburgh is the most expensive home in Vermont and could be the largest residential real estate transaction ever in Vermont. The magnificent estate, known as Grosse Point, includes five guesthouses, a nine-hole golf course and lakefront with three marinas.
Vermont does have its fair share of luxury estates, but once these estates are built or purchased, they tend to stay in the same family. That's a big reason why this property is a hit on the market.
"There's been a huge influx of visitors to Vermont from Colorado, California, Texas and elsewhere," says Wade Weathers, LandVest's listing agent, who is representing the property with Averill Cook." If you look at other exciting vacation destinations around the world, Vermont is a place where you can get more for less".
The Yard features a stone mansion built in 1906 and covering nearly 10,000 square feet.
"The home," Weathers says, "is one of a kind." It has incredible grandeur and acreage, and sits right on Lake Champlain. This type of estate is unparalleled, especially considering the lakeshore and three concrete docks. The state of Vermont no longer allows anyone to build a dock on a lake.
The 11-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom mansion is nestled in fields and woods, with a beautifully landscaped yard featuring multiple fireplaces - a must for Vermont's long winters.
Original maple floors, pocket doors and detailed molding create an atmosphere of classic American elegance.
The estate was originally designed for banker Walter Scranton and later went to philanthropist Jessica Swift, according to Mansion Global.
The property now belongs to the children of the late Robert Hall and Cynthia Hall. Robert Hoehl, who co-founded IDX Systems with Cynthia Hoehl, purchased the home in 2006 for $8.4 million, according to Mansion Global. The couple's six children grew up spending summer vacations here, but they were ready to part ways with the stately home.
Over the years, the Halls have invested millions of dollars in the home, restoring and updating it while preserving its architectural details.
"The most notable alteration they did," says Withers, "was the $800,000 copper roof, but they completely updated the house and the cottage on site." Thanks to the changes they made, the cottages have modern plumbing and electrical fixtures and historic architectural details."
The original estate encompassed 435 acres, but the Hall children retained about 90 acres of farmland, leaving about 345 acres for the new owners.
The expansive grounds featured multiple guest houses (12 bedrooms total), a caretaker's residence, a farm manager's residence, several hay barns, and a dairy barn.
Boating, fishing and swimming are all possible on the property, thanks to its 1.5 miles of continuous lakeshore and 30 miles of Lake Champlain. The Halls have even added a dock house and renovated two of the three docks on the property.
Much of the property is covered by a Nature Conservancy conservation easement, and the estate sits on a unique corner of Vermont that is dedicated to open space, farmland and other notable estates.
"The setting," says Weathers, "is stunning, with maple trees lining the entrance." Once inside the property, it is completely private territory. Across the lake is Adirondack Park, which is always full of wildlife. You'll see eagles, ospreys, deer, turkeys, and a variety of waterfowl that fly through here every year. There's no substitute for what you'll find here, and this is the second time since 1906 that it's been open to the public.
