Private island living is the very definition of the ultimate getaway experience. Offering a one-of-a-kind lifestyle for those interested in an escape from the busy pace of today’s world, private islands are paradises unto themselves. These idyllic properties serve as incredibly unique opportunities for the right buyer when they come to the market. Now, just such a property is being offered for $3,950,000 in Branford, Connecticut, right off the state’s southern coast. Listed with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Belden Island is one of the very few islands that is livable among the Thimbles, an archipelago in Long Island Sound. A property such as this one is only very rarely available.
Belden Island features a magical summer cottage constructed in 1912, residing on over one acre of beautiful waterfront land. The vintage Colonial-style shingled farmhouse has 2,038 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, a den, two baths and an oversized living/dining room. The two-story residence also has a classic wraparound porch as well as original wainscoted ceilings and walls, two fireplaces, gas lights, newly finished wood floors and outdoor terracing. Sweeping views reach out over Long Island Sound’s breathtaking blue waters as well as to the mainland, which is easily accessible yet far enough away to lend the island an atmosphere of seclusion and privacy. Additional features include granite walls, a professionally landscaping putting green, windswept pine trees, gardens, a newly added dock and beach, as well as two acres of clam and oyster beds.
The Thimble Islands, named after a kind of wild black raspberry referred to as the thimbleberry, have been sought-after summer destinations and homes over the years for a number of celebrities and historic figures, including President William Howard Taft. The islands are also said to have served as a buried treasure site for Captain Kidd. They grew into a summer resort area over the course of the late 19th century, and today are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Stony Creek-Thimble Islands Historic District. Of those that are habitable, several have been kept in the same families and handed down through the generations. With its peaceful environment, wildlife and water, Belden Island offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy island living at its finest.
To schedule a private viewing, please contact Margaret Muir at +1 203 415-9187.
