‘Extraordinary’ 86-Acre Barndominium Estate With Silo Observatory Hits the Market for $7.8 Million on the Shores of Chesapeake Bay

Barndominiums have been lauded for their flexibility, size, and spacious floor plans—but it is rare that one comes to the market and rivals the luxury on offer in only the most extraordinary of mansions.

To find such a property, one must journey to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where a barndominium on 86 acres with a spread of amenities unlike any other dwellings in the area has been listed for the first time in more than 20 years.

Perched on a peninsula parcel bordered by Briary Cove, Harris Creek, and Waterhole Cove, the estate, which is known as Grafton Manour, is accessed via a rural lane from the small village of Wittman and is, according to its listing agent, a property with no real comparison, not least because of its unique location.

"What makes this property amazing is that it’s a peninsula, meaning there’s water on three sides with a vista view from every angle," Tracy Wagner of Meredith Fine Properties explains.

The estate includes roughly 1.5 miles of shoreline, which is a mix of riprap, sandy beach, and natural grasses, plus a deep-water pier that allows for larger vessels to navigate into the bay.

The 7,407-square-foot main house, which was built in 2004, is the very definition of farmhouse chic. 

Having been designed to look like a traditional barn, the property even has a silo, which has been outfitted with an observation deck.

 "The exterior of the home was built to resemble a barn, with a silo at the end," Wagner says.

Atop the silo's third floor, the observatory offers a 360-degree view of the farm and its surrounding tributaries. The first two floors, meanwhile, are home to two bedrooms and a bathroom.

In total, the property boasts four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, and its incredible living spaces are a standout.

The house’s reclaimed materials help to set the tone: exposed beams pulled from an old Baltimore factory and hardwood floors milled from those same beams. 

A "dramatic great room and dining room" feature a "vaulted ceiling, chestnut beams, cedar ceiling, and a raised-hearth stone fireplace," while a spacious kitchen offers top-of-the-line appliances—and direct access to the backyard.

"Every room of the house is filled with character,” says Wagner, noting the abundant natural light and two large, raised-hearth wood-burning fireplaces.

A separate guesthouse mirrors that character, with hardwood floors throughout and two more wood-burning fireplaces. Wagner describes this space as well suited for guests, caretakers, or rental income.

Outbuildings include a heated barn with concrete floors, three overhead doors, and an attached office and hunters' lounge with a full bath. A fenced, irrigated raised-bed garden and a small apple orchard are nearby, along with a second, smaller barn for equipment or livestock.

There is a great deal of potential for expansion, whether a future buyer wishes to expand the existing barndominium or add new structures to the sizable parcel.

Two subdivided waterfront lots come with the sale—a 6-acre property on Briary Cove and a 5.5-acre parcel on Waterhole Cove—both of which were previously approved for four-bedroom homes.

For Wagner, the real appeal of the property lies in what it could become.

"The possibilities for this property are endless. It could be a family compound, a livestock farm, an equine center, or even a gentleman's hunting retreat," she says. "It’s been my complete pleasure to list this property, as I have fallen in love with every inch of it."