There's an estate for sale about an hour east of New York City that harkens back to the 1920s, when Long Island's Gold Coast was lined with estates built with grandiose staircases and servants' quarters.
The mansion at 95 Piping Rock Road in Locust Valley has "really nice historical significance" for that reason and because of its first owner, said listing agent Kimberly Bancroft of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. The Tudor, known as "Apple Trees," was built in 1916 for the Morgan family of banking fame. J.P. Morgan II had the home constructed for his son Junius Spencer as a wedding gift.
"His sister was given a twin property next door, but that one was demolished at some point," Bancroft said in an interview. "We're lucky this one has stayed intact."
The former Morgan home sits in the Matinecock neighborhood of Locust Valley, where zoning requires homes to sit on a minimum 5-acre lot. Many properties in Matinecock fall into the luxury estate category. It’s hard to find a home here for less than $1.5 million, and prices can climb as high as $12.3 million for an updated estate with extensive acreage and a host of amenities.
Still, many people call Locust Valley and Matinecock home and commute into New York City for work, Bancroft said.
To be sure, the Morgan family no longer lives in the Piping Rock home. Junius Spencer eventually moved to a 48-acre property called "Salutation " on an island near Glen Cove, New York.
The Locust Valley property, priced at $9.9 million, has had many residents since the Morgans. The current owners have lived there for more than 40 years. They are selling because they've raised their family, Bancroft said.
The house last underwent a major renovation in 1975, Bancroft said, but it has been kept in good condition.
The 13,341-square-foot home on 14.5 acres has seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. The property also has a tennis court, putting green, barn and pool. Bancroft said prospective buyers are stunned when they walk the grounds.
"People are first very blown away by the entry hall," she added. "Each room is very impactful, but the rooms that have gotten the most oohs and aahs are the dining room, game room, office and living rooms."
The ideal new owner of 95 Piping Rock is someone looking for a safe, peaceful home without a lot of traffic, but also a person who appreciates nature and loves the property's amenities, Bancroft said.
"This is really a piece of history," she added. "It's an unusual offering because we don't have many parcels like this left in the area."