- Bedrooms: 9
- Bathrooms: 10
- Parking: 8
- Size: 650.32 m²
- Price: $14,000,000
Presiding over a glorious 68-acre lake in the Catskill Mountains, Lake Delaware Farm offers a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of true American heritage, continuously in use by the same notable family since the 18th century. The Lake House allows a glimpse into the lifestyle of one of our nation's most notable founding aristocratic families. In 1686, the English crown granted 160,000 acres to Robert Livingston. Livingston Manor and the family seat at Clermont, comprised much of what is today Dutchess and Columbia counties along the Hudson River.
The family prospered there for centuries. With the Hardenbergh patent of 1708, Queen Anne granted 2,000,000 acres in the Catskill Mountains to seven loyal subjects. By 1740, the Livingstons of Clermont had acquired one-fifth of the Hardenberg Patent, which was distributed to the children of Robert Livingston, "The Judge." Gertrude Livingston received 20,000 acres the year she married Morgan Lewis, who served in Washington's army during the Revolution and was Governor of New York.
He was an intimate friend of such figures as Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, and General Washington, to whom his brother-in-law, Chancellor Robert Livingston, gave possession as President. The centerpiece of Gertrude's acreage was the magnificent Lake Delaware, where she and Lewis built the original Lake House circa 1787. The landscape of this 1600+ acre property is exquisite, with rolling hills, meadows, old-growth forests, and open vistas. The valley is elevated well above sea level, providing a refreshingly cool climate.
The Lake House is approached by a long, winding drive flanked by fine, historic stone walls, punctuated by delicate iron gates. The Lewises styled their home after classical architecture. The house's entry portico, with its four massive Doric columns, spans the entire length of the front facade. Inside the central hall, there is an unusual carved spiral staircase, with two sun-filled 18th-century parlors on either side.
From the central hall, rooms spread out into later 19th-century additions with elegant detailing throughout – fine paneling and ceiling fretwork in the dining room, marble fireplaces, and intricate inlaid floors. There are 8 bedrooms in total, all with en-suite bathrooms, plus a bunk room in the attic with its own bath with double showers and sinks. Additionally, there is a large eat-in kitchen, a rear main staircase with arched side openings, family room, butler's pantry, service wing, laundry room, and bar on the main floor, plus an elevator.
The house has the welcoming feel of a grand country inn – impressive in its scale, yet comfortable by contemporary standards. One can feel the presence of generations of distinguished family members – the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the decorated military men, the Senators, Judges, and Gilded Age barons who called this place home over the centuries. As impressive as the house is, it is the Lake itself that casts a spell over all who visit.
Cool, refreshing, and crystal clear, the lake invites you to swim or to choose your craft from the historic boathouse and row at your leisure. On the grounds, are the ruins of elaborate formal gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Fletcher Steele, with extraordinary views over the valley. Romantic structural elements and a beautiful statue of a seated Diana, invite you to imagine the gardens in their original splendor.
Surrounded by charming towns, farms, and an inspiring natural landscape, the estate in its heyday encompassed thousands of acres, with a manor house, working farms, stables, and even a private chapel, evoking the romance of an English country estate. The property holds the secrets of the history of the Hudson Valley, of New York State, and of the Revolution that gave birth to the Constitution of the United States. Rich in history and character, Lake Delaware remains a captivating echo of aristocratic country living, ideal for a bucolic compound or a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity.
9 bedrooms in nearby cities
- 9 Bedroom Home for Sale in Tarrytown - New York - USA Tarrytown $3,999,000
- 9 Bedroom Home for Sale in Staten Island - New York - USA Staten Island $869,000
- 9-Bedroom Home for Sale in Suffern - New York - USA Suffern $2,200,000
- 9 Bedroom Home for Sale in Suffern - New York - USA Suffern $2,699,000
- 9 Bedroom Home for Sale in Pawling - New York - USA Pawling $39,000,000
- 9 Bedroom Waterfront Home for Sale in Hampton Bays - New York - USA Hampton Bays $7,495,000