Our lakeside location has always had a nostalgic charm, allowing you to swim, waterski, or fish right outside your back door, take in the tranquil scenery, and relax close to nature.
However, if the thought of making do with limited services and being shabby overall has crossed your mind, think again.
The north end of South Carolina's Lake Keowee raises the bar with upscale lifestyle amenities and luxury homes. One of his four contiguous communities, Keowee Lake Preserve is a gated master-planned development with a 200-slip marina, championship golf course, fitness center, tennis, swimming pool, dining, and market.
With no restrictions on boaters and top-notch fishing, Lake Keowee spans more than 18,000 acres and is 37 miles long. Despite this size and 300 miles of coastline, finding waterfront housing can be difficult.
“The lake opened in 1972, so it has been developed for over 50 years, and there is very little undeveloped land left for purchase,” says Justin of Justin Winter & Associates/Forbes Global Properties. Winter says. “Currently, the inventory of waterfront homes and residential land is near record lows.”
Representing the top end of the preserve's real estate market is a European-style property that Winter listed for $5.95 million. This isn't your grandparents' lakeside cottage.
Built in 2015, this 2.5-story home sits on nearly an acre of forested property. 50 feet of shoreline includes a sandy beach and a covered dock with a boat lift.
Reached through a contoured driveway with a motor court, this polygamous stone home was designed by architect Brad Wright to maximize lake views and privacy. Over 6,000 square feet of interior space combines old world and modern sensibilities. Architectural details include nickel gap panels, Venetian plaster walls, and beamed ceilings.
Wide stone arches outline the main level rooms, which include a wide staircase, a great room with a 6-foot vaulted ceiling, an open den with a coffered ceiling, a dining room, and a primary suite.
The vaulted kitchen includes two islands, custom cabinetry, and a farmhouse-style apron sink. Some of the high-end appliances include Sub-Zero wine chillers, plumbed Miele coffee stations, and the dual-fuel Thermador series.
A terrace and covered patio with stone fireplace and seating provide nearly year-round outdoor living space.
The lower level has a game room, family room, stone wine cellar, office, and two bedrooms with private bathrooms.
There are a total of four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and a powder room, including an en suite apartment above the three-car garage. The property, located at 408 Palmer Way in Sunset, is currently under contract pending unforeseen circumstances.
Buyers looking for homes near the lake typically fall into two groups, Winter said. “Full-time residents retiring to the area and second-home owners buying weekend or vacation homes,” he said.
Most are American, and while retirees tend to be from the Midwest, Northeast, California and Texas, second home owners may be from within the state, from Georgia to North Carolina to Florida, he said. .
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is approximately 72 miles from the home. Casual restaurants and grocery stores are about a 15-20 minute drive. Nearby lakeside restaurants can be accessed by boat.
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