Spectacular Waterfront Retreat Now Available in Easton, Maryland

May 11, 2018
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Normandie Estate

Rare opportunity to own Normandie estate on the Eastern Shore

With the elegance and splendor of a French country estate, this Easton, Maryland, home is the perfect waterside retreat for family gatherings and entertaining. Normandie is not just an extraordinary estate; it is an entire peninsula, landscaped by an engineer and connoisseur of vintage cars, who lavished as much exact detail on the visual impact of the 61-acre property, as he did on his Bentleys and Bugattis.

Located at 6561 Hopkins Neck Road, the main home includes five bedrooms, six full and two half bathrooms. It is listed by Rob Lacaze in the Easton/St. Michaels Road office of Long & Foster | Christie’s International Real Estate for $6.5 million.  Situated between Easton and St. Michaels, Maryland, the home is close to shopping and restaurants in both towns.

“This is a rare opportunity to own not just a grand Eastern Shore estate, but an entire peninsula with something for everyone,” said Lacaze. “I encourage all interested buyers to visit this extraordinary property to experience Normandie first hand.”

This majestic estate was the summer home of world-renowned antique car collector, Henry Petronis. An auto-expert and well-known member of numerous car clubs throughout the country, Petronis also was a boater and restorer of historic homes. A problem solver with a brilliant engineer’s mind, Petronis loved all things mechanical and even created parts for his vintage cars that were no longer made.

Driving down the three-quarter mile, tree-lined driveway, you’ll first notice the property’s well-kept grounds and secluded, park-like setting. A first glimpse of the home is breathtaking and resembles a French castle. Its white brick exterior, long expanse and fairy tale-like turrets on each end is truly an architectural jewel against the backdrop of the picturesque Tred Avon River.

Famed Philadelphia architect Frank J. Forster designed the home in 1927. Forster was known for building castle-like homes in old world style. Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany is said to be Forster’s inspiration for Normandie. Forster positioned the home well on the peninsula to optimize water views on three sides.

Entering the home through the thick, medieval style front door with custom hardware, you enter into another world. The great room is stately with wooden cathedral ceilings, two enormous black wrought-iron chandeliers, oversized windows, a fireplace and flagstone floor. This room can easily accommodate a large cocktail party and provides stunning views of the pool and river.

If you like water views, this property is for you.  Cleverly designed and strategically situated on the peninsula, the home has panoramic views of the Tred Avon River from every vantage point – bringing the beauty of the Eastern Shore into every room.

It will be easy to cook for a crowd or have your catering team prepare a meal in the kitchen with commercial grade appliances, including a Viking professional refrigerator, two ovens, two warming drawers, a griddle, two dishwashers and three sinks. The kitchen is adjoined by an informal dining and sitting area with stone fireplace.

On this level, you’ll also find an office, family room, mud room, two powder rooms, two sunrooms and a bar. The large owner’s suite is located at one end of the first floor and has two full bathrooms. A gorgeous stained-glass window in one of the bathrooms brings in natural sunlight and a multitude of colors, while providing privacy as you prepare for your day.

At the opposite end of the home, there are two comfortable ensuite bedrooms on this level – one with three-sided water views. A spiral staircase inside one of the home’s turrets leads to an additional upstairs ensuite guest room, also featuring fantastic views of the river from three sides.

In addition to the home’s attached three-car garage, the estate includes a multi-vehicle collector’s space known as the auto barn. This structure includes a small kitchen, one and a half bathrooms, as well as a woodworking and metal shop, where the unique parts of Petronis’s vintage autos could be replicated. A car collector’s dream come true, this 10,000 square foot auto barn accommodates 55 vehicles and is equipped with a lift for car maintenance. For the equestrian, this building could be converted into a horse stable, and there is plenty of land on the estate for a riding rink.

The impeccably landscaped outdoor spaces include a large patio and classically designed gunite pool overlooking the river. Brick and stone paths lead to an arbor near the water for quiet reflection or to a brick patio at the crest of the peninsula to enjoy morning coffee or yoga in solitude.

If you enjoy boating, the deep-water dock includes running water and electricity. The protected, 3,200 feet of shoreline has bulkhead and riprap to prevent erosion.

An apartment over the home’s garage is perfect as an au pair suite. Some of the other features of this estate include geo-thermal heating, a two bedroom, two and a half bathroom property manager’s home and a utility barn for maintenance equipment.

The exceptional staff at Normandie is available to stay for the future owner. The family plans to sell the vintage car collection and welcomes inquiries.

This beautiful estate is convenient to Washington, D.C., New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia and is just minutes from the Easton Airport.

Learn more about 6561 Hopkins Neck Road by contacting Rob Lacaze at 410-310-7835 or by email at lacazerob@gmail.com.

For more information about Long & Foster, visit LongandFoster.com.

For downloadable, high-resolution images of this home, click here.