In the York River Bluffs neighborhood, riverfront properties don’t come on the market often. Homeowners tend to stay for about twenty years, says local resident Carolyn Wilkinson.
The neighborhood, located on the York River in Barhamsville, has seven waterfront lots. Carolyn and her husband moved to theirs, which is the largest lot of the seven, about twenty years ago when a job opportunity came up.
“The view sold us the house,” Carolyn said, who noted the house was not aesthetically in very good shape when she made the offer. “I didn’t have to look at any other part of the house once I saw the view. I said to my husband if I can see through the house to the water, I’ll take it.”
The property, tucked back from the street off an extra-long driveway, totals about nine acres. While much of the land is wooded, the backyard features about 500 feet of river frontage. The couple renovated the whole home and added on a Florida room to capitalize on the views.
Carolyn says the location is the best of both worlds.
“I grew up in the country,” Carolyn said. “This gave me country but you can be in downtown Richmond in 45 minutes.”
For entertainment closer than Richmond, Carolyn says, New Kent is home to five golf courses, four wineries and a garden club. It’s a quick twenty minutes to Williamsburg for movie theaters, shopping and restaurants. A grocery store, pharmacy and even a Starbucks are all within fifteen minutes of the home.
While to some the property may seem secluded, Carolyn says the neighborhood is very social, in part due to their active neighborhood association.
“It’s very social even though it seems isolated,” Carolyn said. “If you need anything the neighbors take care of you.” The association throws two big parties a year and the neighbors often either walk through the woods to each other’s houses to visit or kayak on the river from house to house.
The best part of course, Carolyn says, is the waterfront living. By boat, it’s a 45-minute trip to the Chesapeake Bay. It’s such an easy trip, according to Carolyn, people often boat to Yorktown to eat breakfast – Sarah’s Creek is a local favorite – and come back.
And nothing can beat the view from the end of the property’s 827-foot dock.
“It’s fun to go down there and sit,” Carolyn said. “There’s just water all around you. It’s so peaceful.”
To learn more about this home, click here.
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