Field of Dreams: Tour a Spectacular Estate in Ferrisburgh, Vermont

Gloriously remote and enveloped in exquisite scenery, the Grosse Point estate on a peninsula of the shores of Lake Champlain in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, offers tranquility on tap. Accessed via a gated entrance and a mile-long (1.6 km) gravel drive lined with Vermont sugar maple trees, there are no neighbors in sight.

Stone steps in a green, terraced garden lead up to a large stone house in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, with porches and two tall chimneys.

Elevated to maximize the calming views over the water towards the Adirondack Mountains, the main house is a copper-roofed French Colonial Revival-style three-story mansion offering 10,000 square feet (929 sq m) of timeless elegance, and was built of Panton stone quarried from the site.

But it’s the substantial parcel of land, nestled between the Kingsland Bay State Park and open water, that transfixes. The immediate grounds are made up of fragrant woodland and vast lawns dotted with ancient hickory and oak trees. Further out are well-manicured hay and corn farmlands—the property runs to approximately 345 uninterrupted acres (140 ha).

Lakeside Majesty

Yet all this is accessible by a 50-minute drive to Burlington International Airport, approximately 27 miles (43.5 km) away, or a five-hour drive from Manhattan. The contrast between the city and Ferrisburgh, Vermont, couldn’t be greater—the crisp lakeside air and the aroma of fresh-cut grass from the verdant fields are invigorating. Nearby ecologically significant wetlands also help keep the environment clean.

The planting around the main building has been upgraded to emphasize the gentle sweep down to the lake shore, and a stone amphitheater has been added, complementing the formal gardens. It’s a magical place to savor the view and listen to the water lapping against the estate’s 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of shorefront.

A golf course surrounded by green trees and bushes in the foreground

“This is a tremendous wildlife area,” says realtor Wade Weathers of Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate LandVest, Inc. “Just across the lake is the Adirondack Park and a significant habitat for bald eagles. There are also osprey in the area.”

When it comes to leisure pursuits, Grosse Point is unbeatable—its private nine-hole golf course has a tee box on the largest of the property’s three piers. It’s also an ideal spot for equestrian pursuits, swimming, fishing (trout, salmon, perch), and boating. In the winter, skiing and snowshoeing are within easy reach.

Grosse Point is in an incredibly quiet and private location… a destination in and of itself—Wade Weathers

History and Hospitality

Perfect for entertaining, the Ferrisburgh, Vermont, compound has five guesthouses, plus an icehouse, a variety of usable barns, and accommodation for a caretaker and farm manager. All are discreetly placed, so as not to distract from the sense of space and bucolic bounty.

History is palpable here—the house was built in 1906 for the Scranton family, after whom the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was named (George Scranton was an industrialist and member of Congress). In 1915 it was sold to philanthropist Jessica Swift and her husband Charles, who named it after his Michigan hometown.

Arched entrances in a high-ceilinged hallway lead to a dranf room with white alls, a chandelier over a wooden table and chairs, and polished wooden floors

The main residence is distinctive and graceful, its early 20th-century design enduringly appealing. Wooden molding, maple and marble flooring, and grand fireplaces create a dignified atmosphere, and the enfilades have been carefully considered.

“The house is quite original in its form,” says Weathers. A 10-foot-tall (3 m) black walnut front door opens to the main reception area, off which pocket doors give access to a large living room, a refined dining room with brick fireplace, and one of the many deep, sheltered porches from which the view can be appreciated. In the kitchen, glass-fronted cabinetry, an antique cast-iron stove, and a gas cooktop cement the vintage feel.

A sweeping oak staircase reaches up two flights to the many bedrooms and bathrooms. The former are situated on the west side, next to the lake—ideal for catching the lingering sunsets over the mountains. “All of the bedrooms are high-ceilinged and spacious,” Weathers continues. “Two are en suite. And for a stone house, it is surprisingly light as the windows are large.”

A bright living room with large windows, wooden floors and a feature fireplace with a mirror above it. A sofa faces a grand piano and has an antique table backing it, and a chest of drawers has a portrait painting of a couple on top of it.

Downstairs, in the snug, there’s a delightfully quirky surprise. Sylvia Keiser, one of the two owners the property has had over the past hundred years, painted a mural of a historical scene that took place on the lake outside. It’s a depiction of the Battle of Valcour Island—one of the first naval engagements in the Revolutionary War. The fledgling American fleet, commanded by Benedict Arnold, took on the British in October 1776, stalling their plans to reach the upper Hudson Valley.

“Grosse Point in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, is in an incredibly quiet and private location,” continues Weathers. “All you might hear apart from birdsong is the occasional sound of a power boat passing on Lake Champlain. This property is a destination in and of itself, although it’s not far from the historic Basin Harbor Club, or from the towns of Shelburne and Vergennes for services and restaurants. It would make a perfect summer estate for a large family.”

Offering a comforting sense of permanence in a world turning at breakneck speed, this estate is a rare treasure indeed.

Thinking of buying a supremely private home? Find the best properties in the world, and read more from the Fall/Winter 2023 issue of Christie’s International Real Estate magazine here.

Banner image courtesy Grosse Point