There aren't many Hudson Valley estates in laid-back Ulster County and it's exceptionally rare for one to come to market. Ashokan House is perched in the foothills of the Catskills with panoramic views of the reservoir that lends its name. Sited amid towering pines & dramatic rock outcroppings, the 11,000 square foot mansion was designed for entertaining, yet offers intimate spaces, allowing it to function as a nurturing family home. The grand living, dining & game rooms flow effortlessly into each other, featuring soaring 14-foot ceilings, rich woods, fireplaces & sophisticated architectural detail. A sprawling stainless steel kitchen, scaled for preparing for a crowd, is complemented by a cozier family kitchen & adjacent breakfast room for casual gatherings & weeknight meals. A first-floor bedroom suite opens to a private porch, one of many dreamy, romantic outdoor spaces dotted throughout the property. Part way up to the guest wing, the stairway veers to a classic, mahogany-paneled study/library with a dazzling view of the reservoir, one of many perches within the home from which it's visible. The guest wing houses a suite of rooms, including a bedroom with sitting area, office space, lavish bathroom, sauna & access to a large elevated patio with a view. The grand staircase leads to a skylit atrium, a sitting room of sorts, from which 3 bedroom suites are accessed, including the opulent master, a luxe space that's made for relaxing, pampering or dreaming. The space is huge, incorporating a cherry-paneled sitting room, 2 fireplaces, private outdoor space facing the reservoir, all-white bathroom w/ sunken whirlpool tub, sauna, separate facilities & lots of closet space. Each bedroom has its own bath & most have fireplaces; there are 11 fireplaces in all. With such beautiful grounds, mature landscaping & bountiful nature, it's no surprise that there are plenty of doors to the outside, porches and patios galore, and paths leading to private, secluded spaces throughout the property. The lodge-like carriage house incorporates a 6-car garage, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, great room with stone fireplace, office/sitting room & spiral staircase to an observation tower that's one of the most magical spots from which to gaze at the reservoir below & the sky above. The studio building, down a path past the carriage hose, sits on its own 5-acre parcel and is currently set up as a gym, though potential uses are many. Short drive to Woodstock, Kingston or Rhinebeck.
