Birchwood Mountain Estate

Hunter, New York 12427 United States

Arguably the most spectacular mountain property in New York State, this totally private 76–acre estate, surrounded by seven of the highest peaks in the Catskills, gazes straight up into its most dramatic mountain gaps, and fronts ¾ of a mile of rapids on the Schoharie Creek. Just over the Greene County border, this gorgeous spot with no other house in sight and absolutely breathtaking views of Indian Head, Sugarloaf, Twin, Plateau and Hunter Mountains, feels like Wyoming or Colorado yet is only 20 minutes from Woodstock and less than two hours from midtown Manhattan.

The 18th century post-and-beam 6,000-square-foot 5 BR Adirondack-style main house, reconstructed beam-by-beam from a Canadian barn, features 25 ft vaulted mushroom-wood ceilings, reclaimed wood floors, custom-built French doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, wrap-around views of spectacular mountain peaks, and the highest level of spare-no-expense architecture north of the Hamptons – all executed in the most restrained and sophisticated taste. Distinctive features include gorgeous stucco wall plastering by Jean Michel Basquiat’s assistant, and beautiful hand–forged door and window hardware.

The property, surrounded by lush gardens, birch forests, and wild flower meadows, forms one of the state’s most beautiful settings strictly on its own. There is also an old horse barn with discreetly placed solar panels, and a large vegetable garden with raised beds, hinged greenhouse tops, and self-watering systems. Other features include a well-appointed guest house with spectacular views, an observation tower and deck with a view of the entire valley, a 12-ft. deep swimming pond, and an exercise pavilion/yoga studio perched on top of a 20-ft. waterfall (also with drop-dead mountain views.

Yet downhill is an entirely different second environment, centered on a unique cherry-and-mahogany Japanese tea/guest house hanging over the roaring Schoharie Creek. Sliding glass walls open the entire front of the house to Plateau Mountain downstream, and upstream to a long series of rock- laden ripples. Surrounded by a broad lawn, the tea house is the start of a ¾-mile private walkway along the banks of the trout stream itself featuring groomed nature trails where no other human being can be found for miles.

With air-tight thick-walled construction, radiant heat in all structures, and a magnificent stone fireplace, the property is as pleasurable, beautiful, and remarkable in winter as it is in spring, summer or fall.

Seeing is believing in this one-of-a-kind natural retreat.