Yankee Lake House: Wurtsboro, NY

About The Property

This super inviting cottage is sure to appeal as the perfect city escape for weekends or even longer stays. Or, as the current owners did, you could live here year-round. The property includes deeded lake rights to pristine non-motorboat Yankee Lake for swimming, kayaking and fishing fun – just a short 5-minute walk away! Also included are many amenities, including a hot tub, fire pit, and outdoor shower – all set on a larger than typical lot for this area with great natural rock outcroppings and a beautiful stone staircase on the edge of the property. It is easy to imagine gathering friends and family to this special property that was designed for entertaining. The home has been lovingly renovated and updated in recent years so it truly is a turnkey option you could easily move into in time for summer.

Upon entering the home, you’ll find yourself in a generously sized front porch with a tiled floor and large windows providing loads of natural light and overlooking the very pretty grounds. While the porch was originally not meant for year round use, the current owners have added heat thus extending the living space in the home. The porch is easily large enough to accommodate a sitting area on one end and perhaps a long farmhouse table on the other end to provide a dining alternative on this end of the house.

Continuing beyond the porch, you will enter a large living room with cathedral ceilings and warm wood floors which you will also find throughout the rest of the house. Off of this room are two good-sized bedrooms; one primary with an en-suite full bathroom with a shower and the other bedroom with another full bathroom right next door. The living room also offers a cool and cleverly compact staircase providing access to the finished attic with a bonus space that has been set up as a couple of additional bedrooms.

Back downstairs, the living room flows into a very inviting and well-designed kitchen with a breakfast bar, stylish shelving and ample storage. Amongst the standard kitchen appliances, you also have a washer and dryer available here. On the far end of the kitchen is a generous dining room with a charming wood stove which I’m told has heated the whole house quite well in the colder months. The large windows and paint choice give this room a sunny and warm vibe. Off of the dining room is a mud room that leads out to the back deck with even more space for entertaining with a few tables, a seating area, an outdoor shower and the hot tub just below.

Behind the deck, you’ll find the two-car garage and a couple of good-looking sheds (one even includes a handy outhouse - think summer parties when you don’t want to overload the septic system!) Off to the right there is a chicken coop and, to the left, is a path that leads to your deeded lake access. The Yankee Lake Preservation Association just purchased the vacant lot which includes this path and they will be cleaning it up (removing decaying sheds), putting in a small parking area thus providing permanent easy access, a backyard trail essentially, that takes you down to the lake.

The Yankee Lake community is perfect for those wanting to be part of a quaint lake community with low taxes while being close to all the Catskills has to offer. You are not far from some outstanding walking and hiking options including the historic D&H Canal, the O&W Rail Trail as well as Minnewaska State Park. Bashakill Vineyards is a fun weekend spot to check out as well.

At just 75 minutes away from the George Washington Bridge, this is an easy getaway!

Listing by Heather Quaintance