Welcome to Four Mile River House, where water is a way of life. This four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath contemporary post and beam home in Athens sits right at the river's edge, sand and shoreline giving way to a waterfront with room to dock or moor a boat. Built in 1997, the home spans roughly 3,458 square feet across two main levels, a finished lower level, and a third-floor crow's nest. Sunrise over the river, fishing before breakfast, the current always in view; this is waterfront living in its truest form. The property abuts state land and the Four-Mile Point Preserve bird sanctuary, so the privacy is permanent, not just a moment in time.
The interior is a masterpiece of post and beam design, with hand-hewn beams, cathedral ceilings, and a gracious entrance foyer carrying the character throughout. The main level features radiant heated stone floors quarried in South Africa and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that warms the room. The formal dining area opens through two sets of French doors onto an expansive deck, framing sunrise views over the water. Opposite the fireplace, a chef's kitchen offers top-of-the-line appliances, a new Invisicook countertop, a center island, and custom cabinetry with a pantry.
Upstairs, wide hardwood floors lead to a primary suite with a spacious bath and its own fireplace, joined by two more bedrooms with river views and a guest bath. A third-floor crow's nest crowns the home with 360-degree views. The finished lower level adds a recreation room, full bath, and a large bedroom or office, with French doors leading out to a covered patio and grounds. Recent systems include central air conditioning, forced air and radiant heat run on propane, and 200+ amp electric service, along with a two-car garage and driveway parking.
Outside, a private fenced oasis unfolds across the property's 1.62 acres: tiered stone walls, mature flowering trees, and a cascading waterfall fountain with the potential to become a luxurious pool for the next owner. Approximately 250 feet of shoreline includes a cliff and a private beach on the Hudson, bordering state land on two sides, with river views from nearly every vantage point on the grounds. Clad in clapboard and six-inch stone veneer, the home settles into its landscape, and the adjoining preserve draws local birders for its osprey and cedar waxwing sightings.
Located a short distance from Hudson, Albany, and the Catskills, the property offers easy access to dining, shopping, culture, and the outdoors. Commuters will find the Amtrak station in Hudson connects directly to NYC, and with Manhattan just over two hours by car, this is rural peace with real accessibility, equally suited to a full-time residence, country retreat, or vacation rental. Real river frontage, permanent privacy, and room to dock a boat: land like this doesn't change hands often.