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$8,350,000

6 Bed · 7 Bath · 6,900 sq. ft.

Circa 1860 · 34.5 Acres

Setting and History

Ulster Landing is a storied and magnificent former Livingston estate established in the early 1800s, perched on 34 acres above the Hudson River with far-reaching views and more than half a mile of river frontage.

The property was sold to the Livingston's at the turn of the 19th century, shortly after which a fire burned down the original house they had constructed. By the mid-1800s, Charles Livingston had a sprawling, exquisitely detailed house built in its stead, which remains the seat of the estate today.

Ulster Landing was the only known 'river estate' of the Livingston family to be on the West side of the Hudson. Its occupants were known to have a particularly close connection to the river and the property's extensive riverbank, where they hosted many soirées and participated in several different types of boating, including sailing, ice yachting, and canoeing.

The Main House

Down a long, winding driveway, bordered by immense Catalpa trees and rippling wildflower meadows, lies the historic main house, which has been remarkably well-preserved down to the scrolling of the woodwork and its distinctive facade.

The home has three entrances - the owner's entry, which opens to a mudroom and the informal entry hall; the 'true front' door and grand hallway, to which guests used to arrive in the 1800s via horse-drawn carriages; and the guest wing entry, which can be discreetly accessed via a stone path along the side of the house.

On the first floor, the formal living and dining rooms have exquisite views of the river and are connected by the original arched doors. French doors line the living spaces, opening to the home's wraparound porch and overlooking the surrounding gardens and bluestone dining terrace. Inside, the deep berry-red kitchen was a painstaking collaboration between a local craftsman and the home's designer, with elaborate millwork, an AGA range, multiple restored historic pieces, and ample pantry and appliance storage.

The family room, originally the home's entertaining space, was envisioned in a moodier, more playful palette of colors and textures, highlighting the historic tin ceilings and the original cabinetry that contains the home's mid-19th-century dumbwaiter system. Off of the family room lies the office and library, with built-in bookshelves and a characterful indigo Antoinette Poisson wallpaper. A full bath/powder room sits tucked away near the owner's entry and is lined with tasteful floral wallpaper and deep red woodwork.

The grand staircase twists around, meeting the second-floor landing and the best view in the house, framed by two large windows, the top of which disappears into the home's 'tower'. There are two distinct wings on the second floor - the owner's wing and the guest wing, each with its own staircase and landing.

The owner's wing is home to the primary suite and a kid's suite. The primary bedroom features tall, vaulted ceilings and large, arched French doors that lead out to a balcony offering exceptional river views. A discreet hallway off the bedroom leads to an expansive dressing room with built-in closets and a fireplace. The location and size of the dressing room lends itself well to hybrid functions, such as a nursery or an upstairs office/reading area. The primary bath has twin original arched windows, a freestanding soaking tub facing the Hudson, and an alcoved toilet and shower. Down the hall from the primary bedroom is the colorful kid's room with striped Swedish wallpaper and a walk-in closet. The two-toned kid's bath has a claw-foot tub with a shower surround. Second-floor laundry and a large linen closet complete the owner's wing.

A long balcony runs along the entire guest wing, offering access via French doors in the double guest suite and the single guest room. The double room features vaulted ceilings, an extra-large walk-in closet, and a full bath. The single room has detailed millwork and playful wallpaper, with its accompanying bathroom down the hall.

The home is not short on functional yet tasteful utility spaces, with the ground-floor rooms converted into a laundry room, gardening mudroom, pantry and walk-in refrigerator, as well as significant storage space. The laundry and flower room is painted a deep ochre color, with ample built-in cabinetry, an XL utility sink, open shelving for vases, and two sets of high-capacity washers and dryers. The gardening mudroom has exposed historic brick walls and access to the surrounding herb and flower gardens, wood storage, and the exterior potting station.

The Land & Additional Structures

Ulster Landing, with its 34+ acres, possesses a particularly dynamic landscape, with several rolling wildflower meadows, centuries-old flowering trees, winding walking trails, and a pebble beach along the Hudson River.

The heated gunite pool, spa, and surrounding bluestone terrace sit perched on top of a hill overlooking the river, with an outdoor shower and a concealed storage room built in below.

The circa 1800s barn, with a long bay currently acting as a garage, still contains much of the property's original maintenance and horse-drawn carriage equipment.

Winding up the driveway towards the property's entrance are the Playhouse and the Gatehouse. The Playhouse is a light-filled mid-century cabin featuring a large living and games space, a kitchenette, a full bath, and a separate room that serves as a gym but could easily be used as a cousins' bunk room, art studio, office, or an overflow guest space. The Gatehouse is original to the property and is currently a charming one-bedroom cottage, ideal for caretakers, staff, or guests.

The Surroundings

Ulster Landing is just minutes from Kingston's historic district, with plenty of beloved restaurants, shops, farm stores, and the city's weekly farmer's market. The property is 15 minutes from Saugerties, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Tivoli, and the Rhinecliff Amtrak train station, a half hour from Hudson, and just over an hour and a half from New York City.

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