Lakeside locations have long had their nostalgic appeal: swimming, water skiing and fishing outside the back door, tranquil views and lazy days spent close to nature.
If the idea of making do with limited services and generally roughing it also comes to mind, however, think again.
The north end of South Carolina’s Lake Keowee has raised the bar with high-end lifestyle amenities and luxury dwellings. The Reserve at Lake Keowee, one of four neighboring communities, is a gated master-planned development offering a 200-slip marina, championship golf course, fitness center, tennis, swimming pool, dining and market.
With no boating restrictions and first-rate fishing, Lake Keowee covers more than 18,000 acres and is 26 miles long. Despite the size and 300 miles of shoreline, waterfront dwellings are hard to come by.
“The lake opened in 1972, so we’ve had over 50 years of development that accounts for very little unimproved land left to purchase,” says Justin Winter of Justin Winter & Associates/Forbes Global Properties. “Presently, we’re close to an all-time low inventory for waterfront homes and home sites.”
Representing the top end of the real estate market within the Reserve is a European-inspired estate that Winter has listed at $5.95 million. This is not your grandparents’ cottage at the lake.
Built in 2015, the 2.5-story home sits on a wooded lot of nearly an acre. The 180 feet of shoreline includes a sandy beach and covered dock with a boat lift.
Reached by a contoured driveway with a motor court, the multigabled, stone-clad house was designed by architect Brad Wright to maximize lake views and privacy. The more than 6,000 square feet of interiors wed Old-World and modern sensibilities. Architectural details include nickel-gap paneling, Venetian plaster walls and beamed ceilings.
Wide stone arches delineate the rooms on the main level, which includes a broad staircase, great room with 20-foot vaulted ceilings, open den with coffered ceiling, dining room and primary suite.
The vaulted ceiling kitchen contains two islands, custom cabinetry and a farmhouse-style apron sink. Among high-end appliances are a Sub-Zero wine chiller, plumbed Miele coffee station and dual-fuel Thermador range.
Terraces and a covered patio with a stone fireplace and seating expand the living space outdoors nearly year-round.
A game room, family room, stone wine cellar, office and two en suite bedrooms make up the lower level.
Including the en suite apartment above the three-car garage there are a total of four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and a powder room.The property, at 408 Palmer Way in Sunset, is currently under contract pending contingencies.
Buyers looking for homes around the lake generally fall into two groups, Winter says: “Full-time residents who are retiring to the area and second home owners who are purchasing weekend or vacation homes.”
Mostly Americans, he says the retirees tend to hail from the Midwest, Northeast, California and Texas while the second home owners may come from in-state, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida.
The Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport is about 45 miles away from the home. Casual dining and grocery stores are about a 15- to 20-minute drive. Nearby restaurants on the lake can also be reached by boat.