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Welcome to "The River House of Many Stories". A summer holiday visit to the log cabin of Abe Lincoln inspired a five-year-old boy, the owner, to one day build a home that expressed such strength and simplicity. Later, as an adult and drawing from 40 years of river living, the owner chose an expansive tract of land on the Santa Fe River that would capture the beauty and respect the power of the river and her teeming wildlife. The cabin design itself is a nod to the sublime gifts of nature: The views of majestic trees that seem to pierce the sky, the luminous light that shines through grand windows beneath soaring ceilings, the pageantry of wood species that comprise almost every surface of this unexpectedly nuanced home. Each piece of wood was personally curated and brought together in harmony like a wooden quilt. There's native cypress, basswood, hickory, cedar, oak, pine, lighter stump, and apart from a few chinaberry cabinets, much of the wood in the home was harvested from the property. Many wood pieces were collected over 35 years and have their own story - like the trim of the bedroom doors which was reclaimed from a 200-year-old dock submerged in the deep waters of the Savannah harbor; or the impressive front door with its beautiful stained-glass window bought at an antique auction house. The handmade door measures 39 by 93 inches and took four strong men to hang it; or the 3-D dual-star parquet piece set in the floor of the great room - a last-minute rescue from a stately home scheduled for demolition. A special aspect of the property is that the house is nestled on more than 10 acres of semi-wildness with 336 ft of beguiling riverbank, a rarity in today's increasingly crowded world. This property comprises two 5-acre lots, one of which is vacant and buildable. Imagine creating a riverfront compound to share with family and friends. This home lives large due to its distinctive design. It features two bedroom-suites, each with full baths, walk-in closets, and a private screened porch. The bedrooms are smartly positioned on opposite ends of the home with a great room in the middle. The commanding fireplace is made of Tennessee river rock with inlays of arrow heads and shark and wild boar teeth. The two glass sides of the fireplace were configured to heat the view deck that runs the length of the home, thus allowing you to lounge outside in comfort during North Florida's winters. There's also a room that combines a ¾ bathroom, laundry, and HVAC, and near the front door is an ADA-compliant elevator. A floating dock and a screened-in cabana adorn the 336 feet of riverfront. So, go on, indulge your playful side with swimming, boating, snorkeling, kayaking and the like. Or relax in peaceful quiet and fish from your dock. Or just meander through the winding trails of your private forest, breathing in the sweet river air. Of special note, there are airports, shopping, entertainment, and dining nearby. And from the deck of your elevated masterpiece of nature's finest wood, listen closely. You might hear the Santa Fe River whispering her soul-lifting secrets as she weaves the fabric of river life, and you begin your new story. |
