895 Lundy Rd Wawarsing, NY 12489

Famed and fabled, the Lundy Estate is an enchanting compound nestled amid thousands of acres of the Vernooy Kill State Forest, miles from the nearest neighbor, offering unparalleled privacy. Bounded on one side and accessed by a bridge across the Vernooy Kill itself, the mountainous backdrop of the estate shields a series of residences, outbuildings, allees, vistas and stonework that are unrivaled. The gracious 7500+ square foot main house, clad in French limestone, presents a classically designed facade coupled with a modern floor plan that flows effortlessly from room to room, with gracious proportions, high ceilings, lots of windows and natural light. The dazzling and oversized kitchen opens through French doors to a generous bluestone dining patio and was designed for people who love to cook, with state-of-the art appliances and finishes. Large families or those who love to entertain houseguests will appreciate the eight bedrooms and the many distinct living areas in the home, including a semi-circular library with beamed and vaulted ceilings, living room with antique French stone mantlepiece around the wood-burning fireplace, and billiard/game/media room and adjoining great room with another beautiful stone fireplace that are located in the impressive and sprawling lower level of the home. Many architectural elements and distinctive lighting fixtures were selected during the owners’ travels to Europe, and the railings on the grand staircase were salvaged from New York’s Plaza Hotel. The five-bedroom guesthouse, at 3400+ square feet, shares the same design and finish elements of the main house, providing a consistency in aesthetic and feel. Its own significant kitchen and living spaces allow for hosting guests in the most accommodating and comfortable surroundings, not to mention the tennis and basketball courts, heated gunite pool, and fields of green strewn about the landscape. Heading toward the north end of the property, along roads that are lined with cedars and majestic views, and past a crystal-clear pond and a fantastic treehouse that overlooks it, there’s a pleasant surprise at every turn. The barn, paddocks and chicken coop offer plenty of opportunity to raise livestock and farm animals, and plenty of good, arable land awaits the planting of food crops. Farther along, and nestled in the woods, lies a lone writer’s cabin with a vintage river-rock fireplace, easily repurposed as an artist’s studio or yoga space. And then there’s the lodge, Mr. Lundy’s old hunting cabin, one of the most evocative and romantic buildings this real estate agent has ever seen. A double-colonnade supports symmetrical rows of stucco arches that soar to a cathedral ceiling and frame a set of opposing fireplaces and mirror-image staircases that will take your breath away. There’s serious infrastructure on this property and all is currently looked after by an on-site caretaker, whose own quarters abut a mammoth garage space that’s an ideal spot to store multiple vehicles, snowmobiles and whatever gear one could want or need. The conservation easement on the property, coupled with the state forest preserve that surrounds it, ensure that the estate will remain the private oasis that it is now. Just a short drive will take you to nearby towns for dining, shopping, recreation or theater, but once here at the Lundy Estate, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to leave.