Castle rock
Stone fortress offers royal lifestyle upstate
IT’S no Balmoral Castle in the heart of Scotland, but it’s the closest you’ll get to a royal estate an hour outside New York City. This fairy-tale castle comes complete with dreamy panoramic views of the countryside and all the trappings of medieval living: like merlons and crenels along the battlements.
It’s asking $675,000 in the upstate town of Lake Peekskill, NY, in the Putnam Valley region.
The 2-acre property features four bedrooms and 1½ bathrooms and is just a 10-minute walk from the area’s namesake lake.
“It’s a custom-built castle in an area where there are no castles,” listing agent Ken Wile told Realtor.com. “At the time [it was built], the area was a bunch of summer homes, like small bungalows. Nobody lived here yearround.”
The home was built in 1932, but a second story that looks like a traditional house was later added to expand the structure. Inside, the rooms are built with red oak floors, stained-glass windows and wooden beams.
The property is now surrounded by neighbors who live in the area full-time, but “it looks nothing like the other homes, and that’s what makes it so cool,” Wile said.
Prior to being on the market, the castle was listed as a “superhost” rental on Airbnb and raked in between $10,000 and $12,000 a month.
“We spent a weekend here for our daughter’s 5th birthday so she could experience a castle.” one Airbnb guest wrote in a review. “She absolutely loved it, as did we. It will be a special memory for us,”
“5 out of 5 recommended,” wrote another awed Airbnb guest. “This is such a unique and beautiful space, I can’t recommend it enough. Plus there’s a sizable backyard area and sooo many reading nooks. Truly a special place.”
So, who is up for the throne?