15 Andrew Ln, Shandaken, NY 12457

The Mountain House is like no property this veteran agent has ever seen. Sited on 26 uber-private acres and surrounded by state land, the home itself is accessed by a quarter-mile driveway through the woods and enjoys sweeping mountain views to the northeast and 800 feet of frontage and a waterfall on the Cold Spring Brook, a tributary of the Esopus Creek. The proportions of the house are grand, with 120 feet of columned porches, 12-foot ceilings and spacious rooms, yet there's no pretense here; this is a humble mountain retreat that offers plenty of relaxed space for family and friends. Many of the first floor walls and ceilings are clad in pressed tin, various ceilings are coffered or adorned with intricate plaster moldings, and original woodwork and floors are in chestnut and Douglas fir. There are multiple places to both gather and seek solitude - morning room, living room, billiard room, casual and formal dining rooms, the rooftop widow's watch, as well as plenty of spots on the rambling property that beckon. Bedrooms are all spacious, and the walk-up attic offers an opportunity to create yet another place to tuck away. The rear, brick portion of the home perhaps predates the construction of the clapboard-clad structure. Extensive renovations were undertaken by the current owners and include new systems, siding and insulation, and it was important to them to retain the aesthetic of the old while installing the new. A separate studio/guest cottage sits across the lawn, and is ripe for an interior renovation. An easy trail from The Mountain House leads to the rear boundary of the property, where the deck over the brook offers the most romantic and serene spot to get even farther away from the world. That said, the Emerson Resort and Spa and Foxfire Mountain House offer dining and recreation within walking distance, and the town of Phoenicia, Bellayre Ski Center and loads of other attractions are nearby.