Property Details

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the discriminating buyer who appreciates the History of Kentucky just 45 minutes from downtown Louisville. Welcome to Colonial Hill, a Circa 1840 solid brick 6400+ Sq. Ft. Historic Mansion situated on 15 rolling, partially cleared and partially treed acres in New Castle, Kentucky of which approximately 10 acres is zoned Agricultural and can be used for horses, chickens, gardens, etc. This grand home is a showstopper and has been in the seller's family since 1933. The home has been used as a single-family residence to raise numerous generations of families and its most recent use has been an owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast and then Airbnb rooms. Most all of the original rooms measure 20' X 20' (view attached floor plan for more accurate dimensions) Originally built by Daniel P Brannin when the property was in Shelby County, prior to the establishment of Henry County. It is believed that many notable people were hosted in this home including presidential candidate James G. Blaine. The house was purchased by General Edmund Kirby Smith in 1867. Believed Historical Facts of the property are available upon request. The home is a classic Greek Revival style. All of the brick used to build the house were supposedly fired on the property. The four front columns are original to the home and are fluted with Iconic capital. The door casings in the front hall are replicas of the "Porch of Maidens" of the Erechtheum which stands on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. There are also many architectural features involving the number 13 which commemorates the thirteen original colonies. The exterior as well as the interior walls are 13 inches thick, which is actually 3 bricks thick covered with horse hair plaster. There are 13 steps to the first landing of the front staircase, hallways are 13 feet wide, all ceilings are 13 feet high and the panes of the glass in the windows are 13" wide. There are 31 windows measuring 4' X 8', most with original panes of glass. The windows have been protected with the addition of custom-made low-profile storm windows and the original shutters have been restored and are all in place. From the grand front porch, you will enter the immense entry foyer that runs from the front to rear of the home with the exquisite original main staircase still intact. At the rear of the foyer under the staircase is a doorway that leads to the 646 Sq. Ft. covered rear porch overlooking the beautiful grounds. There are two formal front parlors flanking the foyer, both with fireplaces w/gas logs to simulate the original ambience of working fireplaces and offer period lighting fixtures. Behind the front right parlor is another 20' X 20' room which would make a glorious formal dining room that also offers a fireplace with gas log insert and another period chandelier. Behind the left front parlor, a custom kitchen has been created with white cabinetry, granite counter tops, a center island with breakfast bar along with a built-in corner banquet (with storage under the built-in seating) for informal dining and a decorative original fireplace. The kitchen offers white appliances including double convection ovens, Jenn-Air down draft gas cooktop, double door refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave cubby and drop-down recipe cady. The cabinetry has pull out drawers, a pantry, under & over mounted lighting and a lazy susan. Behind the kitchen is the entrance to the basement and a quaint inn-keepers' bedroom (with original brick fireplace) and a full bath with pedestal sink and walk-in shower. This bedroom opens to the covered 1st floor porch as well. Up the grand original staircase to the 2nd floor where you will find the expansive 2nd floor landing with 4 additional bedrooms (3 of which boast decorative original fireplace mantels). There is the "Lilac room", the "Ivy room" & the "Rose room", all decorated with tastefully appropriate colors. At the rear of the 2nd floor landing you will find an additional wing which offers 2 full baths, a laundry room, an office and another generous bedroom. The center hall of the 2nd floor & the rear most bedroom open to the 2nd floor covered porch (646 Sq. Ft.) that overlooks the beautiful natural rolling landscape with mature trees and pasture land that's perfect for morning coffee or evening nightcaps. That's not all though, there is a 3rd floor accessed by a ship ladder staircase that offers additional living space for the young at heart and has unlimited uses with 3 different grouping areas totaling an additional 710 Sq. Ft. Most of the home displays original poplar flooring, plaster crown molding and picture rails. The foyer displays one of the most incredible aspects of this home being the scenic, block printed wall paper, entitled the "Eldorado" which is a mural made by the Zuber wallpaper company of Paris. This paper was imported for the home by the Ellis family over 100 years ago, and was designed in the late 1800's by 3 French artists depicting scenes influenced by Egypt, Babylon and Byzantine. The design was hand printed using over 1500 wooden blocks, as a separate block was used for each color. This paper was meticulously restored by a professional historic wallpaper conservator in 2004. The home has hard wired, interconnected smoke alarms with centralized battery backup for maximum safety. This magical home also offers a basement with interior and exterior entrances with approximately 1280 Sq. Ft. that houses an additional laundry facility and a "mudroom" shower for the outdoor lovers plus two additional rooms with concrete floors that could accommodate recreational, hobby or workout rooms. A detached garage that has short overhead height could accommodate 1-2 cars (depending on size) plus an additional enclosed room that's perfect for storage or tac gear. There is also a massive pole barn on the property for your equestrian or storage needs. The possibilities of this one-of-a-kind property are endless. Close proximity to interstate I-71 & I-64, with tourist attractions of Smith-Berry Vineyard &Winery, The Wendell Berry Center, & The Little Kentucky River Winery. Gas & Electric average $500 per month, Water/Sewer averages $110 per month, seller pays extra $80 per year for recycling.