153 Ferry Road in Lyme, Connecticut, is currently listed at $15,000,000 by William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

Welcome to Highover, a hilltop estate that features dramatic views of the Connecticut River and beyond. Completed in 1917 for a New York City insurance magnate and his family as a summer cottage, Highover’s main residence exudes a timeless elegance and fronts Whalebone Cove in a scenic setting surrounded by water, wildlife, and conservancy land.

The home was designed by architect Alfred Hopkins, who also built estates for Louis Comfort Tiffany and Frederick Vanderbilt. Situated below the main house is Merecote, an updated three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom 1820s guest house listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The current owners of Highover have lovingly restored, renovated, and reconfigured the main residence’s interior, taking the entire structure back to its original stone walls sourced from the property’s quarry while incorporating state-of-the-art materials and construction throughout. While much of it was designed for modern living, it retains the character of the original architecture.

The home, which sits on 30-plus acres of gated land, offers dramatic water views from every room. This is especially emphasized in the primary suite in the west wing. The former portico is now enclosed and connects the great room to the west wing. The original stone walls remain and are accentuated by custom millwork.

The great room is the perfect blend of elegance and comfort with an eye-catching 20-foot barrel ceiling, while the walls are flanked by ten sets of French doors that open to the rear terrace, pool to the south, and expansive river views to the north.

Those who love to entertain will appreciate the amenities like a gourmet kitchen, an in-home theater with a Sony projector and surround sound, an 800-bottle wine cellar and butler’s pantry, a library, and a game room. A second primary suite and four additional bedrooms in the old servant’s quarters–with a separate entrance and porte-cochere—provides plenty of space for overnight guests.

There are six fireplaces in the main house, radiant heat, central air, and a Control4 smart home system. Other features include a dock, a beach, an orchard, tobacco barn, and detached three-car garage with usable second floor space. Irrigation for the orchard, back lawn and putting green is timer-controlled. Plus, there’s deep-water mooring in nearby Hamburg Cove with riparian rights.

Dramatic stone terraces and stairs are carved into the natural ledge that leads to the pool, hot tub, and pavilion. The property even has helicopter pad and/or tennis court potential. (The property is 45 minutes to New York by helicopter.)

The private, winding drive leading to the estate is bordered by stone walls and flowering rose bushes, while the front is marked by lush garden terraces and the original front door with an overhead engraving. The home’s facade is covered in a custom-milled exterior trim, extensive dentil moldings, and a restoration of the original Vermont slate roof.

Listing Details

Bedrooms: 5

Baths: 4 full, 4 partial

Year Built: 1917

Square Feet: 4,853

Plot Size: 30.7 acres