A $60M castle or a $2.25M Italian villa? The most extravagant homes for sale in Eastern CT
Properties for sale in Eastern Connecticut are pricier and spend fewer days on the market than in past months, according to the latest report from the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors.
The report, released late last week, highlights a continuing trend in a red hot real estate market that has refused to cool.
Comparing 2021 to 2020, the median price of homes in New London County increased 11.11% from $270,000 to $300,000, and the average number of days on the market went down from 65 to 36. For Windham County, the median price increased by 15.21%, from $235,000 to $270,750, and the average number of days on the market went down from 48 to 25.
With an overall increase in prices, what are some of the most expensive homes in Eastern Connecticut? Using for sale listings on Realtor.com as of Jan. 24, here are the 10 most expensive homes for sale.
450 Brickyard Road, Woodstock
The asking price for 450 Brickyard Road in Woodstock is $60 million. It has nine bedrooms, seven and a half baths, and is 18,777 square feet. The lot is 75 acres.
Every man’s home may be his castle, but this one is a literal castle. The Woodstock Castle, on a 75-acre property overlooking a 30-acre pond, features a moat and towers rising 126 feet into the sky. Inside are nine bedrooms, seven full baths, three half baths, 12 fireplaces, and an elegant entry hall and common spaces. A massive kitchen has the latest kitchen appliances and a large stone fireplace overlooks Potter Pond. The wood inlaid floors, doors and woodwork are built with over 25 species of hardwoods imported from around the world. Period architectural doors and stained glass are found throughout the castle. The walkout lower level is about 4,500 square feet of finished space, which includes a common area with fireplace and circular bar. There is a raised stage and auditorium. Radiant heat keeps the outdoor decks and patios free of snow. Additional features include an in-law or maid’s apartment, hydro-air heat with radiant heat in the floors, central air, pool, dock, back-up generator and a gated entry.
66 Selden Road, Lyme
The asking price for 66 Selden Road in Lyme is $19.9 million. It has six bedrooms, eight and a half bathrooms, and is 15,233 square feet. The lot is 18.75 acres.
"The Point" is a custom-built direct waterfront contemporary estate on a private peninsula, surrounded by 18.75 acres with a 1700s Vermont barn, sandy beach, boathouse, and 100-foot dock, accessing the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. Rebuilt in 2012, the 29-room main house has green energy, six fireplaces, and a geothermal comfort system supporting spacious light-filled rooms with water and garden views. Entertain and relax with friends in the great room, game room and family room with a built-in fish-aquarium. Exercise in the gym, followed by a dip in an indoor spa-pool off the master bedroom. Swim in a heated pool with a verandah-terrace with waterfall and stone firepit overlooking the water. The eat-in kitchen has a separate catering kitchen and butler's pantry for day-to-day living and entertaining. The modern five-bedroom, eight bathroom home has a detached living space in a one-bedroom carriage house. The compound has a stone verandah-terrace and a 40-ft. second floor balcony facing the river, plus rolling lawns nearly the size of a football field sweeping down to the water's edge.
91 Sergio Franchi Drive, Stonington
The asking price for 91 Sergio Franchi Drive in Stonington is 12.6 million. It has seven bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, and is 6,300 square feet. The lot is 201.4 acres.
The 200-acre Stonington, Connecticut estate belonged to world-renowned tenor, Sergio Franchi, who produced 25 albums, sang at the White House for President Reagan, and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show more than 40 times. The outside of the property has mature trees, the rolling fields and open pastures surrounded by hand-stacked stone walls. The beautifully maintained custom-built home is one of several buildings on the property. The main house is 6,300 square feet, a slate-roofed colonial with seven bedrooms and a formal dining room with stained glass windows and hand painted wallpaper by Zuber, the same wallpaper that First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy used when she redecorated the White House. It also has a large country kitchen with a walk-in china closet and black and white checkerboard flooring, a large sunroom with an interior pool and an expansive slate patio perfect for al fresco entertaining.
18 Water St., Stonington
The asking price for 18 Water St. in Stonington is $5.2 million. It has four bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, and is 4,314 square feet. The lot is 8,276 square feet.
Located on Stonington Harbor, this residence has great views of the water. Originally built in 1870, the house was completely taken down and rebuilt with custom design and technology, to offer state-of-the-art living spaces. The home has four bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. The open floor plan encompasses all three living levels. A NanaWall transitions the inside main living area to the outdoor extra large deck transparently. The kitchen is equipped with professional grade appliances. A master suite deck overlooks Long Island Sound. Other features include electrochromic smart glass bathroom windows for privacy, an elevator, backyard waterfall, private dock, whole house generator, Tesla charging station, one-car attached heated garage, hurricane impact windows and doors, FEMA-approved 100 year flood de-watering system, and off street parking for up to six cars.
1 and 3 Neck Road, Old Lyme
The asking price for 1 and 3 Neck Road in Old Lyme is $4.85 million. It has four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and is 4,916 square feet. The lot is 14.6 acres. The asking price is down from $5.5 million in September.
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Known as the Marsh House, it’s a waterfront estate with a main residence, sited at 1 Neck Road. This was originally a sheep barn constructed entirely of stone in 1912, and later renovated with massive floor-to-ceiling, multi-paned arched windows, slate roofing and professionally landscaped grounds with mature gardens and specimen trees, a tennis court and a pool surrounded by naturalistic plantings. Across the lower motor court, a boathouse serves as separate guest quarters, complete with a kitchen, great room and upper level bedroom and bath. The third residence, designated as 3 Neck Road and called the Gate House, is a two-bedroom home, sited on its own .96 acre parcel of land with separate access, as additional guest or caretaker quarters. All structures merge on the expansive 14.6 acre property that fronts directly on the Lieutenant River, with a dock.
274 Joshuatown Road, Lyme
The asking price for 274 Joshuatown Road in Lyme is $4.5 million. It has three bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, and is 5,236 square feet. The lot is 17.57 acres.
The home is sited on a high cliff overlooking the Connecticut River. A long driveway leads up to the estate designed by acclaimed architect Stephen Jacobs and interior designer Andi Pepper. The modern-minimalist “green” home is built with natural stone, wood and oversize triple-glazed windows with brise soleil fins on the exterior that keep the sun in or out depending on the season, making the home nearly net zero. A 10 KW photovoltaic solar system generates much of the electric power while a geothermal system provides heating and cooling. The foyer leads to the living room with a wall of glass and a stone stretching 18 feet from floor to ceiling. A gas fireplace and wet bar make this room ideal for both formal and informal entertaining. The kitchen has high end appliances. Adjacent to the sit-down center island is the 12-seat dining area. The primary suite is on the first level while two bedroom suites are on the second floor accessed by the open staircase or elevator, which also takes you to the third floor to the library lounge and roof deck overlooking the heated salt water pool and views of the Connecticut River.
459 Wolf Den Road, Brooklyn
The asking price for 459 Wolf Den Road in Brooklyn is $2.95 million. It has five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, and is 4,174 square feet. The lot is 97.4 acres.
The Sharefield House Estate has two residences, an in-ground pool, and an event center barn, privately situated on the property. Each location has views of pasture, farmland, trails, brook and hillside woodlands. The 1790 home features four fireplaces, classic built-ins, and wide chestnut floors throughout. The second home, constructed in 2013 in the post and beam style, has an event center with wood ceilings, a large kitchen, office, bedrooms, bar, and balconies. Mechanicals include garages with 12-car capacity, and fully-owned geothermal and solar systems which significantly reduce energy costs on both homes. The land parcels were accumulated over decades by the current owners.
859 Beaumont Highway, Lebanon
The asking price for 859 Beaumont Highway in Lebanon is $2.625 million. It has nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, and is 6,000 square feet. The lot is 40.95 acres.
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An equestrian estate farm, the compound includes a 60-meter by 20-meter professional indoor riding arena with 16 horse stalls, upper level apartment, commercial kitchen for catering events, a boot and bridle room, viewing benches seating up to 45 people, feed room, multiple wash stalls, attached turnouts and more. An additional barn has eight stalls, a feed room and hay loft above with attached turnouts. The outdoor riding arena has a pavilion, power and an outdoor guest bathhouse. There are 12 paddocks at the main barn half an acre each, three paddocks at the second barn about 1 acre each, and three fenced fields at up to 5 acres each. There are four run-in sheds at the main barn, three at the other barn and 33 Nelson waterers inside and outside everywhere. A 10KW diesel generator and solar power sources serve the property. The custom-built main home has a first floor master bedroom, two guest rooms on the main level, an office, kitchen, dining area, huge living room with reclaimed stone fireplace and sunroom. The upper level has one bedroom and a full bath and the lower level has a rec room with a fireplace and storage. There is geo-thermal heat with oil backup. The guest home ranch has two bedrooms, two full baths and central air. This gated property can’t be seen from the street. The driveway is alarmed at the entrance.
43 Cove Road, Lyme
The asking price for 43 Cove Road in Lyme is $2.35 million. It has four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and is 2,910 square feet. The lot is 1.58 acres.
This Hamburg Cove waterfront home, circa 1800, was dismantled in Jewett City and resurrected in 1996 in Lyme, custom-built by local house wrights. It’s an authentic period restoration, down to the nails for the oak flooring, period hardware, custom made windows with old glass, six panel doors, and paneling throughout the period stone or brick fireplaces. The bathrooms have period sinks, tubs and faucets. The home also features a spacious eat-in kitchen, a large family room, handsome library, nicely sized dining room, a full bath and three stone fireplaces. Four bedrooms, two full baths, and three fireplaces complete the upper level. The full basement shows the granite foundation and adds additional living space. The property also has water views and two post and beam barns.
87 Sill Lane, Old Lyme
The asking price for 87 Sill Lane in Old Lyme is $2.25 million. It has five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and is 5,386 square feet. The lot is 5.1 acres.
The house, known as Chuluota, was constructed from 1908 to 1910 and designed to replicate an Italian villa by Boston architects Magee and Rowe. Perched atop of Harding Hill and almost entirely surrounded by Old Lyme Preserve land, this property boasts grandeur and privacy. A massive wraparound porch welcomes guests with its 9-ft. ceiling and four fireplaces. Most of the light fixtures were from Spain. The stone fireplace in the studio has a massive fabricated mantle with lion heads. The music room has hand-stenciled walls, and painted panels in the living room and the upstairs bedroom. A custom kitchen, mudroom area, Koi pond, and marble baths enhance the home. A one-bedroom carriage house over a detached four-car garage and greenhouse sit on the property.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: The 10 priciest homes currently for sale in Eastern Conn.
