Ellen Ruby Blog's: Maryland’s Most Expensive Home Is a Massive $40M Riverfront Compound

Maryland’s most expensive home is a historic riverfront compound on the market for $40 million. For wealthy buyers in search of the ultimate getaway, this sumptuous spread near Chesapeake Bay has its own private nine-hole golf course.

Known as Fairview Estate, the compound in Easton, MD, includes two main homes, several smaller guesthouses, and a number of other outbuildings.

The estate spans 76 acres on the Miles River and includes a zoning variance. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind assemblage of luxurious and historic residences.

“This area is very strict when it comes to zoning issues. Typically, you can have a property with one main house and one guesthouse, but you can never have multiple buildings, because they don’t want people to cut up every piece of property and build too much,” explains the co-listing agent, Cornelia Heckenbach.

What’s unique here is that there are two extremely large main houses.

“The property is actually like a little village,” Heckenbach says.

The current owners have owned the estate for 32 years. Over the decades, they’ve added amenities and restored many of the historic structures on the grounds. The buyer will be only the fourth owner.

Overall view of estate in Easton, MD
Oleksandr Yaroshynskyi

The manor house

The historic manor house is painted in a deep yellow, with 6,150 square feet of living space. Parts of it were built around 1670, in the Federal style.

In the mid-nineteenth century, it was expanded, in Greek Revival style, and a portico and a number of other features were added.

The manor home offers six bedrooms, a grand central hall, and many living areas.

The kitchen has modern conveniences including high-end appliances, a beer kegerator, and a wine cooler.

If that isn’t enough wine storage, there’s also a 350-bottle wine cellar.

The master bedroom, on the second floor, has a fireplace and a large bathroom. Another bedroom suite is on that floor, with the rest of the bedrooms on the floor above.

Outside, the owners have restored and maintained the 19th-century box gardens.

The main house

The newer, neoclassical house on the waterfront was built in 1991. Measuring 14,300 square feet, it’s more than double the size of the manor house.

A massive white marble staircase is the first thing you see when you enter the home.

“It’s magnificent. Very special white marble that you don’t find anymore. They had Italian craftsmen come and lay it,” Heckenbach says.

The intent, she says, was to convey the impression of a much more venerable house.

The house’s formal dining room can seat up to 28 people, and the kitchen is filled with commercial-grade appliances. There’s also a wine cellar with room for 3,000 bottles.

This house has four bedrooms, including a master suite with a terrace and a fireplace. Other luxe features include a library, office, theater, spa, and panic room.

For the backyard, there’s the Miles River.

“It’s just wide open water. It’s such a dramatic view. It feels like you’re on the ocean, but you’re not,” Heckenbach says. “Everywhere you look, something just catches your eye.”

Barn for entertaining
Oleksandr Yaroshynskyi

An entertaining barn and multiple guest homes

An old barn from the 1880s was transformed into a large space for parties or events.

“On the first floor, there’s a full kitchen, a bar, and a huge fireplace, and pool table,” Heckenbach says.

The second floor is a gallery where guests can mingle and peek down on the folks below. The patio has a seating area, as well as an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven.

There are two more structures with living space on the property. The oldest, “The Mousetrap,” is a two-bedroom cabin from the nineteenth century with a wood-burning fireplace.

Another 2,400-square-foot Victorian house has even more living space.

“Downstairs is an apartment with one bedroom, a living room, and a little kitchenette and bathroom where staff can live. Or you can use it as a guesthouse,” says Heckenbach.

On the second floor is a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchenette and bathroom. The compound also has four more garage buildings and a greenhouse.

In addition to the many structures, the property has plenty of resort-style amenities, including a pool and a tennis court, as well as a nine-hole professional golf course.

The compound is secluded but close to the town of Easton and its airport. The owners were looking for a self-contained retreat where could close the gate, Heckenbach says.

The lane that runs past the golf course is decorated with street lights from the German town of Baden-Baden, she says.

“The whole property is very parklike, with a lot of old trees,” she adds.

Heckenbach praises the unpretentious, understated vibe of the community.

“Some people say this area is the Hamptons of the Chesapeake. It’s not,” she says. “It’s very exclusive, you have a lot of wealth here, but it’s kind of like where the wealth lives quietly. Everybody just wants their privacy, and they just want to enjoy the area here.”

The estate is co-listed with Kornelia Stuphan.