The Otto Appley House - 1657 River Road
Step back in time while living fully in the present at this rare grand dame of the Delaware River, the Otto Appley House. Built in 1900 for the Appley family of physicians, this 5BR/2BA, 3,669 sq ft Colonial Revival residence is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Steeped in history yet thoughtfully modernized, the home embodies the perfect blend of preservation and contemporary comfort.
The home's wrap-around porch floats above your own private 500 feet of Delaware River frontage, offering front-row seats to one of the area's most iconic landscapes. Inside, period character meets invisible modernization: gleaming hardwood floors, Andersen divided-light windows, original storm windows, and high-efficiency upgrades like a Navien propane combi-boiler, LG ArtCool ductless mini-splits, and blown-in dense-pack cellulose insulation. Warmth and ambiance flow from two Kozy-Heat gas fireplaces, ensuring three sources of efficient winter comfort.
The second floor offers four bedrooms—each with its own sink—plus a smartly configured bath with recirculating hot water. The third floor, reimagined from attic to living space in 2021, now hosts two sound-insulated office suites with in-floor power, ethernet, Velux skylights, and closed-cell spray foam insulation.
Beyond the main house, the property boasts a new 2,000 sq ft climate-controlled garage with 13-foot ceilings, dual EV chargers, and expansive upstairs storage. Outbuildings include a rehabbed well house, a summer kitchen with panoramic eagle's-nest views (plus architectural plans for further expansion), and terraced grounds with an oversized 8-foot fire pit overlooking the river.
Whether launching kayaks from your private access, fishing steps from your porch, or floating downriver to Narrowsburg, this property delivers the quintessential Upper Delaware lifestyle. All major systems—from new driveway and drainage to a whole-house Generac generator-have been updated for peace of mind.
A rare offering of history, luxury, and riverfront living—just two hours from NYC.