Valley Park isn’t a drive that someone can happen on easily. You must drive down South Lakeshore Drive and then head North on Maple Ridge. When you come to the intersection of Black Point Road, you can turn West to head towards that black point, or you can turn East, and head to Valley Park. Few people turn East. If you went straight a distance, you’d hit the Owl Tavern, and your tragic mistake must be corrected by a U-turn. Once you come to Valley Park, you should take the entrance flanked by red brick pillars, and proceed slowly down the winding drive that leads through the woods towards the lake.
When you get close, you’ll see this modern stone manse directly ahead, the lush gardens offering you your first greeting. The home rests nicely on a 1.25 acre lot, and boasts 150’+ of big, fat, sprawling frontage. The views are to the north, towards Elgin Club, and the views are most important here, as nearly every room puts the lake unavoidably in your gaze. The lakeside deck is large, the front lawn level, the steps to the pier not so many that you’ll have to stop and rest half way back up. The property is wonderful, but the true magic of this home is on the inside.
A long hallway spans the first and second floors, connecting the extreme edges of what is a very large house. The first floor offers comfortable living spaces- a den with fireplace, a great room with another, a dining room with an angled 60′ skylight running both in front of and behind it. The hardwood floors are delightful and recently refinished, the built in cabinetry everywhere, the flow perfect. The kitchen has gourmet touches- new granite counters and appliances from Sub Zero and the like. Entertaining? Why, yes, you’ll find that an easy task here.
Upstairs there are two bedroom suites, each with fireplaces and private baths and great wide lake views. There’s an office here too, or a library if you’re the more casual sort, with a view of its own. The long hallway is illuminated by huge skylights, and that lakeview finds you again on the open staircase that connects the upstairs to the rest of the house. The lower level is exposed, leaving the lake once again the main attraction. There are two more bedrooms down here, with a large rec room and bar area eager to host ping pong championships. Don’t invite me to those competitions, I’ll win. It’s true.
The theme here is refined but casual, with the lake serving as the focal point of all activities at all times. The owner has deployed considerable effort to update and improve this home over recent years, and the results speak for themselves. This is a rare offering on this wide lakefront lot, presenting an opportunity for turn key enjoyment just in time for summer 2020. My newest Lake Geneva lakefront real estate listing, yours for $4,500,000