What's better than a gorgeous, old house nestled deep in the countryside and dripping with rustic elegance?
Eight of them.
Our current real estate obsession has us dreaming of life in Fredericksburg, Texas—a charming, cultural and historical city situated in the heart of hill country. Settlers Crossing, as it's known, is run as a profitable bed-and-breakfast, centered around a Federal-style home dating back to the 1790s and perfectly perched on 35 sprawling acres. The home was fully restored three decades ago, after being moved to the site from its original location on the banks of western Kentucky's Ohio River.
A peek inside reveals a glorious, 13-room home boasting such coveted period features as historical fireplaces (there are six!), wide-board floors and ceilings with exposed, hand-hewn beams.
Behind the main house is a collection of seven guest houses of various ages and styles, though all are outfitted in a stunning array of 18th- and 19th-century antiques and textiles. (Indeed, if we could curate our own version of paradise, this would surely be it.) Some were brought to Fredericksburg from as far away as Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, while others—including a home built as a wedding present for a descendent of the original settlers—are native to the property.
Picking a favorite building on the estate would be akin to picking a favorite child—each is unique and lovely in its own right. Still, we're more than a tad smitten with the Indiana house, a quaint, two-bedroom home dating to 1849 and surrounded by a grove of giant oak trees. There's a circa 1790 log barn next door, too.
Folk art lovers will adore the Von Heinrich Home, which was moved here from Pennsylvania and dates to 1787.
The circa 1850 Kusenberger Log Cabin is known to be the oldest house built by the settlers outside the Fredericksburg city limits. The cabin boasts original stone floors and an exceptionally large fireplace.
See you on the porch swing!
Asking Price: $5,950,000
For more information, contact Justin Cop, Fredericksburg Realty at (830) 998-2895.
Elizabeth Finkelstein and her husband, Ethan Finkelstein, are the brains behind the popular Instagram and newsletter Cheap Old Houses. Together, they restore historic homes in HGTV’s series Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House? Elizabeth grew up in an 1850s home lovingly restored by her parents, so her love for crown molding and peeling wallpaper runs in her gene pool. She holds a master’s degree in historic preservation and has put in years of professional work restoring old houses. While not filming or nurturing the vast and wonderful @cheapoldhouses community, the couple spends time restoring their own cheap old farmhouse — a little slice of heaven they snagged for a cool $70,000.
