An English manor-style estate on a lake just outside of Minneapolis needs its next lord or lady—perhaps someone who agrees that it is not a mansion.
Timothy Lovett , of Coldwell Banker Realty , listed the 3.5-acre property along Lake Minnetonka in Woodland, MN , (pop. 391!) for $12,495,000. Only one other listing in the state is priced higher, and it’s this older one on more acreage. Avoid the m-word
The nearly 20,000-square-foot spread, dubbed Woodland Glen, has six bedrooms, 12 baths, and 12 fireplaces.
And despite the home’s the cavernous square footage, Lovett is quick to point out the seller’s request that the house not be referred to as a mansion.
Why? Because the residence, built in 1988, carves out plenty of cozy corners that might not typically be associated with mansions.
“The house makes you feel like you can put your feet up,” Lovett assures. “There’s all these really neat nooks and crannies and spaces.”
Surrounding an original hearth room and kitchen—from a house relocated in 1947 from Wyoming—the home was built over three years.
At the entry, a twin staircase leads through the reception foyer to a wood-burning fireplace. There are also coffered ceilings and marble floors that pave the way to the great room.
The home’s mechanicals and systems were recently updated, including the addition of new windows, a roof, and seven air conditioners that can be controlled via mobile devices. The kitchen has also been remodeled and the hearth room rebuilt.
A four-season porch off the wood-paneled primary suite, which is spacious and has a vaulted ceiling, doubles as a breakfast porch. Meanwhile, a movie theatre, billiard room, paneled bar, and gym are among other upscale perks. The seller is the home’s third owner, having lived there for 25 years. Lovett sold the home the first time it went on the market, in 1996. It has long attracted European buyers, including one from Sweden. The property features a two-story building with a lap pool, spa, and seven garage stalls, vital for the region’s cold winters. Nearby, an outdoor tennis court hugs the lake. Compared to other local properties on the water, the lot size is considered large. “This house is further back from the lake than most of the homes, for privacy,” says Lovett. “An average lot is three-fourths of an acre to an acre.”Buyers are drawn to Woodland for its parallel convenience to amenities and lakeshore living.“There are two towns on the lake where you can go shopping and have lunch and a glass of wine,” notes Lovett.
