Halloween is here and while the thrill of festivities hangs in the air, we’ve set our sights on a truly unique property. Nestled in the storybook village of Millbrook in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley, the storied estate of 45 Hitchcock Lane feels like a place of mystique and intrigue – even outside of the haunted season.
It could take the prize for the East Coast’s equivalent to the infamous Witch House, with the main house’s steep turrets, spires and towers, evoking an air of eerie grandeur. And while it may look a little less ghoulish these days, following an extensive, multi-year renovation, there’s still a peculiar charm to 45 Hitchcock Lane, which for over a century, has piqued the curiosity of locals and visitors alike.
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Today, this historic estate arrives on the market through Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty with an asking price of $65m. We’re keen to delve into the home’s storied (and hypnotic) past and uncover what has made this estate so enigmatic.
The property’s origins date back to 1889 when it was first purchased by Charles F. Dieterich, who consolidated five farms to create the expansive estate, that today totals 2078 acres. The four-story Victorian main house was originally designed by James E. Ware in the late 1800s and was expanded during Dieterich’s ownership to almost 15,000 sq-ft.
Today, many of the original details can still be admired and Dieterich’s vision still resonates in the home’s asymmetrical façade, wrap-around porch and whimsical turrets. Simailrally inside, the public rooms retain their high ceilings, ornate fireplaces and intricate wood paneling. Among 45 Hitchcock Lane’s ten bedrooms is a luxurious two-room suite connected by a shared sitting room, offering ample space and privacy. There are also staff quarters, thoughtfully integrated into the property to ensure the utmost convenience.
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Following Dieterich, the estate came into the hands of the Hitchcock family, heirs to the Mellon fortune, who left an indelible mark and lent the family name to the property. The 1960s brought a new chapter to the estate’s story when the Mellon siblings invited the notorious psychedelic advocate Dr. Timothy Leary and his associates to take up residence. For five years, Leary transformed the estate into a haven for countercultural figures, hosting luminaries like philosopher Alan Watts, poet Allen Ginsberg, jazz musician Charles Mingus and a host of Ivy League intellectuals.
What transpired during these gatherings is left mostly to speculation, but reports of the time paint a vivid picture. As the New York Times reported at the time, the estate was home to “a period filled with endless parties, epiphanies and breakdowns, emotional dramas of all sizes, and numerous raids and arrests,” – sounds like most Halloween parties. Although some claimed that the activities were strictly research-based, frequent FBI raids would eventually drive Leary and his entourage away from the estate.
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While this means for a period of time, this property was arguably the state’s strangest, if it sells close to its asking price of $65m, it will certainly be the state’s most expensive.
And since 45 Hitchcock Lane sits on 2078 acres, it will take its owner some time to discover all the details of the property’s past. Other buildings sprinkled around the property include a bowling alley; several Bavarian-style structures that include a gatehouse; a three-bedroom caretaker’s cottage; a carriage house with two apartments for guests or staff; and an extensive stone-built equestrian and farm complex.
$65m, sothebysrealty.com/45-hitchcock-lane
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