Highover Estate
in Lyme, Connecticut
Dramatic views surround Highover, a one-of-a-kind, majestic estate situated atop a hillside on 30-plus gated private acres fronting idyllic Whalebone Cove and Creek and the Connecticut River.
Main House: 6,224 Square Feet | Guest House: 2,415 Square Feet | 30+ Acres | 3,200 Feet of Water Frontage
Offered at $15,000,000
The History
Completed in 1917 for insurance magnate Edgerton Parsons and his family as a summer home and sold to the current owners in 2015, Highover’s main residence exudes a timeless elegance in a scenic setting surrounded by water, wildlife and Conservancy land as far as the eye can see.
Designed by Alfred Hopkins, a renowned estate architect whose work includes Laurelton Hall for Louis Comfort Tiffany and Hyde Park Farm for Frederick Vanderbilt, the home was built to the highest standards of the period, including full 100ac electrification.
Over the decades, Highover has attracted many notable visitors, including Albert Einstein and neighbors Dominick Dunne and Shakespearean actor William Gillette. Katharine Hepburn, too, is said to have arrived once with a satchel of cash in the hope of purchasing Highover.
The current owners of Highover have lavishly and 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. Much of the infrastructure and interior elements were custom designed for 21st century lifestyle yet retaining the character of the original architecture.
The entry hall and cloak room feature random-sized honed Jerusalem stone, and three-quarter solid white oak flooring is found throughout most of the house. Old servants’ quarters have wide pine boards milled from a tree in the front yard.
The modified interior of Highover deliberately offers dramatic water views from every room. This is especially emphasized in the primary bedroom suite in the west wing. The former portico is now enclosed and seamlessly connects the great room to the west wing. The original stone walls remain and are accentuated by splendid custom woodworking.
The great room is the perfect blend of elegance and comfort. The eye is drawn to its majestic 20-foot barrel ceiling while the walls are flanked by ten sets of French doors that open to the rear terrace and pool on the south and to the river and lush hills to the north.
There are two woodburning fireplaces, one in the seating area and the other on the dining side. A high end gourmet kitchen with quartzite counters and island, Sub-Zero and 8 burner Wolf stove was designed for entertaining large numbers of guests.
Down below is a home theater featuring a Sony 4k projector and 200-watt Sony Surround Sound system, a wine cellar which holds 800 bottles and full butler’s pantry. A second primary bedroom suite and library/game room are amply sized but comfortably melded into the design.
The east wing features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a sitting room and its own porte cochère.
The Grounds
Highover’s timeless charm is evident throughout its expansive grounds, which feature an ipe floating dock, a beach, an orchard, tobacco barn and detached 3-car garage with usable second floor space. A deep water mooring with riparian rights is located in nearby Hamburg Cove. Irrigation for the orchard, back lawn and putting green is timer controlled.
During renovations, a hill that rose up to the rear of the main house was removed, exposing the granite ledge upon which Highover sits. Dramatic patios and stairs are carved into this rock leading down to the infinity pool, hot tub and pavilion. The property has helicopter pad/tennis court potential.
The winding driveway leading to the estate is bordered by stone walls and flowering rose bushes. The front of Highover is graced by lush garden terraces. The home’s exterior boasts durable, custom-milled Azek exterior trim, extensive dentil moldings, the original, restored Vermont slate roof and polished chrome downspouts. Indoor and out, beauty is in the details: the original front door reveals an overhead engraving.
Merecote: The Guest House
Situated below the main house is Merecote, an updated, 1820s Federal style guest house listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story house features a country kitchen with sitting and dining areas, three ensuite bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a front parlor with half bath, formal dining room with rear staircase to upper level and living room with fireplace and walk-in pantry with laundry. Partial views of the Connecticut River are visible from Merecote, which also has a three-bay garage.
153 Ferry Road | Lyme, Connecticut 06439
Book a Private Tour
This unique opportunity is best experienced by scheduling a private tour.