Historic Hudson River Mansion 'Niederhurst' On The Market

PALISADES, NY — A rare, historic Victorian gothic mansion in the secluded enclave called Snedens Landing is on the market for $28.5 million with Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty.

Built in 1874 and named Niederhurst, the home is perched on a scenic bluff overlooking the Hudson River.

The home’s Victorian Gothic exterior is characterized by its combination of gable and hip roofs, six-panel shutters and polychrome brickwork, an architectural feature consisting of multicolor bricks arranged in an intricate pattern.

The home, with eight bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, two half baths and six fireplaces, was completely renovated by leading interior designer Sara Story, named as one of Architectural Digest’s leading designers.

The property is owned by Story, who acquired the estate in 2011 and launched a multimillion-dollar renovation to restore the 8,000-plus-square-foot mansion to its former glory. Story teamed up with Chicago-based architect Dirk Denison for the project, which included a preservation-quality restoration of the home’s brick exterior.

She added a cellar, lounge, a limestone-paved, in-ground pool surrounded by tiered garden beds and a sauna.

The interior reflects the well-traveled designer’s aesthetic, pairing historic details with modern elements. Highlights include original plaster medallions, brickwork and moldings infused with the addition of hand-troweled Venetian plaster walls, oak millwork and wide-plank, light oak flooring to brighten the interior.

Materials include Nero Marquina with Blue de Savoie and Calcutta marbles in the gallery floor, creating a grand yet inviting space, and Paonazzo marble from Italy in the master bath.

According to Story, the renovation was a “labor of love” which lasted four years. In 2024, Story was named to Architectural Digest’s coveted AD100 list that celebrates the top names in design. She tells the story of her firm’s first two decades in the book, The Art of Home, published by Rizzoli in September 2023.

“It’s a luxury to live in a gorgeously built home but it means you are really obligated to pay attention to its original intention,” said Story, who had been looking for a home that felt right for more than a decade before finding Niederhurst. “I wanted to create a home that was warm and inviting, a place to gather with family and friends. I hope the next caretaker will cherish it in the same way.”

The home was constructed by Winthrop Gilman Jr., a notable New York City banker and architect who built the historic community’s first one-room schoolhouse, now a community center, and the Palisades Presbyterian Church in 1863, still in use today. Gilman also served as a historian for Snedens Landing, chronicling accounts of many of the area’s early residents.

“Niederhurst is one of the great estate houses along the Hudson River,” said listing agent Richard Ellis. “The home’s renovation exemplifies how thoughtful design can breathe new life into a historic gem, preserving its essence while adapting it for modern living. In addition to the timeless elegance of the home characteristic of a European estate overlooking the Rhine River, what resonates is the historic and humanitarian contributions to the community of Snedens Landing by Winthrop Gilman Jr., a true Renaissance man.

The estate’s park-like grounds feature imported copper beech trees from England planted by Gilman in the 1870s. The estate’s Fern Lodge, built in 1866, offers 5,700 square feet of additional residential space in combination with its converted stables and barn, including eight bedrooms and four bathrooms. Also of note are a cote converted from a small observatory where Gilman observed meteors, a concrete pergola and a stone shed, Ellis said.

The listing consists of three separate contiguous lots being sold together for the first time since the home was built: Niederhurst on 6.29 acres at 23 Ludlow Lane; Fern Lodge on 1.86 acres at 31 Ludlow Lane; and a 4.5-acre vacant lot at 35 Ludlow Lane, which can be accessed directly from the other lots.

Ellis also sold the home to Story in 2011, which previously only had been inhabited by three other families.

Snedens Landing is known for its rustic seclusion, proximity to Manhattan and notable residents. The neighborhood is just 20 minutes north of the George Washington Bridge and a short walk to the Hudson River and Snedens Landing Association Tennis Courts for residents. Nearby points of interest include a farmer’s market and 3,000 acres of parkland. The historic riverfront village of Piermont, with its many restaurants, shops and marinas, is five minutes away.

Snedens Landing has been home to past and present celebrities and artists, including Laurence Olivier, John Steinbeck, Katharine Hepburn, Al Pacino, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray and Diane Sawyer.

Check out the details, listing link and photos.