Idyllic 235-Year-Old Vermont Farm With a Dairy Barn and Sugar House for Maple Syrup Is Listed for $6.1 Million

A picturesque 352-acre farm in Vermont with its very own sugar house for making maple syrup has hit the market for $6.1 million—more than 230 years after its Federal-style residence was constructed on the lush landscape.

Known as Hawk Gate Farm, the Pomfret, VT, property was once home to five independent farmsteads and now "embodies the evolution of rural New England from its earliest post-colonial roots to the present day," according to the listing.

At its heart stands a 1790 brick home built by a man named Isaac Newton, for whom the home is now named. Newton was one of the first settlers on the land, where he lived with his wife, Betsey, and their 10 children.

Today, the historical home has long since been joined by other structures, including a 1900 dairy barn, a two-bedroom carriage house, and a sugar house, where the current owner produces maple syrup.

The farm has been in the care of the same owners for the past 20 years, having been purchased from the late Curtis Blake, co-founder of the Friendly's Ice Cream chain, who had some rather unique requirements of the property, according to listing agent Story Jenks, of LandVest in Woodstock.

"Curt designed the property so he could drive his Bentley and bring his family for a picnic on the meadow," says Jenks.

"The land itself is beautifully maintained and managed. Pomfret has these rolling hills and meadows, so the view from the top is just spectacular. There are a lot of meadows on the property, so you can see for miles without actually seeing anyone else."

While the rolling landscapes can't fail to draw the eye, history buffs will undoubtedly be intrigued by the property's primary residence, which still features many original features.

Highlights include original window and door moldings, wide-plank wood flooring, hand-forged hardware, and a fireplace with a beehive oven.

Beyond the home itself are other fascinating structures, including a "rare high-drive dairy barn" that "still conveys Vermont's early 20th-century dairy legacy with striking form and integrity."

Much like the main home, the dairy barn retains many original details. However, it was given a new purpose while the farm was in the care of Blake.

"The barn has a wing that Curt Blake added for Jersey cows," Jenks notes. "There is also a caretaker's apartment in the carriage house located above a 5-acre pond."

Any homebuyers with a hankering for something sweet may want to point their feet in the direction of the on-site sugar house, which is currently being used for maple syrup production by the current owners.

"The family has a trademark on the brand Syrupology, and they sell some of their syrups," Jenks adds. "They have even had a number of bottles designed and made by Simon Pearce."

Eight miles of carriage roads, including one dubbed "Kings Highway," a stone-lined pathway believed to date to the 18th century, can also be found on the sprawling lot surrounded by towering maples, birch groves, and stone walls.

"It could also be an equestrian property or agricultural use," he says. "Between the property, the sugaring, and the outdoor activities, there is a large range of recreational uses available."

The picture-perfect property with multiple barns and equipment sheds borders the Appalachian Trail to the north.

"The next buyer will be someone who will focus on the land as the value," Jenks says. "The last two owners had ideas to put up a new home on a higher elevation, but decided not to do it. They didn't want to spoil the land."

While the property could be used as a legacy compound, Jenks believes it will likely be used as a secondary retreat for the next owner.

As it turns out, that new owner could be moving in a lot sooner than some might have expected, with the listing for the property now showing that it is under "contingent" offer, meaning that the sellers have accepted—but with certain conditions in place between the two parties.