Sponsored
304 Moonhaw Road, West Shokan. $1,375,000
Waterfront Reverie by Marie Doyon
F
rom the river that gives the region its name to the serpentine network of creeks, brooks, ponds, and lakes that dot the map, water features are a defining characteristic of the Hudson Valley’s lush landscape. Driving upstate, it seems that around every bend there is a winding creek or an expansive reservoir that leaves you in breathless awe. These tranquil bodies of water are the cornerstone of the region’s wilderness and unspoiled beauty, providing habitat to a diverse mix of plants and animals. The wealth of water features throughout the region also provides endless opportunities for recreation—tubing and rafting excursions, canoe and kayak paddles, fishing trips, boating outings, and plain old swimming—you name it, you can do it all in the upstate waters. But our connection to water runs deeper than simple recreation. There’s a primordial pull that draws us to it. “People have this fascination with water—whether it’s a flowing river, the oceanfront, or a pond, they just want to be near it,” says Harris Safier of Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty. Humans seek out water for its beauty, but it also holds an elemental magnetism. Water is the basis of all life, and a connection to its source quenches a deep primal need in us. We’ve selected a handful of gorgeous waterfront properties that will nurture your soul and feed your appetite for beauty. Westwoodrealty.com
36 HOME & GARDEN CHRONOGRAM 4/18
Witten Pond, with its three residences, spring-fed pond, and countless vistas, blends wild mountain rusticity with urban minimalist modernity. When the art collector who owns the 17-acre property first discovered Witten Pond as a summer rental 40 years ago, there was only one livable structure, a hunting-and-fishing lodge built in 1920. The 1920 house is decidedly Adirondack, with a wraparound porch, twig banisters, river-stone fireplace, and hardwood floors on both levels. The collector resided part-time in this space until the mid-1990s, when he began constructing a larger principal house out of the circa-1835 post-and-beam barn. The main house is a stunner, anchored by a great room with a cathedral ceiling and a wall of windows facing the pond. A gatehouse offers guest accommodation and includes a fireplace, spiral staircase, kitchen, and upstairs loft. The three residences plus a Scandinavian wood-fired sauna are all situated around the pond, which features a waterside stone patio perfect for leisurely gatherings. While each structure at Witten Pond is singular in its design, the entirety of the property stands as the creative realization of an integrated artistic vision at the foot of the historic Catskills. Broker: Hayes Clement