Some homes are built to impress. This one was built to disappear into the landscape — a fully private, architecturally distinctive colonial farmhouse tucked into the wooded banks above the Conestoga River, just twenty minutes from downtown Lancaster yet a world away from it. Set in 21 acres of woods, ponds, orchards, and open pasture, this is a rare offering for a buyer who wants land, privacy, and craftsmanship without sacrificing proximity to city life. Built in 2009 as an architectural showpiece, the 3,850-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath main residence pairs a modern floor plan with old-world detail: a custom 18th-century Rumford fireplace anchors the living room beneath 10-foot ceilings and walls of glass that open to the pool deck; the fully custom kitchen centers on a walnut-topped island, honed granite, and a full professional appliance suite, with a walk-in pantry, wine bar, and whole-home audio tucked just beyond. A first-floor primary suite offers true one-level living, with a spa-caliber bath, oversized custom closet, and direct access to a dedicated laundry and mudroom finished in hand-laid, artisan brick tile. Upstairs, two private wings hold additional bedrooms, a media/flex room, and generous storage — space for family, guests, or a home office setup that never feels shared. Outside, the estate is built for entertaining at scale. The flagstone pool terrace comfortably hosts up to 100 guests around a 40'x16' heated saltwater pool with color-changing lighting, a retractable cover, and built-in sound — its own private resort. This area also features a pool house with its own full bath. Just beyond, the equestrian post-and-beam bank barn is a genuine architectural artifact build by the highly sought after craftsmen at Riehl's Construction: hand-hewn timber frame, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and hand-laid fieldstone dating to early-1800s craftsmanship, with stalls for five horses, a tack and wash area, and a soaring 42'x50' second-story loft — a dramatic, ready-made backdrop for anything from a private gathering to a full-scale event. A separate guest house; 1,200 square feet, with its own kitchen, bedroom, bath, laundry and loft rounds out the property, ideal for extended family, live-in help, or additional guest capacity. The 21 acres themselves are the quieter luxury: two spring-fed, stocked ponds and a stream, mature apple and peach orchards, and two fenced gardens, all framed by open pasture and mature woodland buffer that keeps the estate genuinely unseen from the road. The woods are teeming with wildlife including deer, a flock of turkeys, foxes and more. It's a landscape made for slow mornings, riding, gardening, and entertaining — a true countryside retreat with the bones of a working estate. For the investor-minded buyer: beyond its appeal as a primary or secondary residence, 4459 Main Street offers a compelling foundation for a boutique hospitality or event-based operation. It's currently operated as a successful vacation rental and can be offered turn key for that use, pending final approvals after an upcoming update to the township's zoning ordinance. The barn's loft is already event-scaled, the pool terrace was purpose-built for gatherings, and the standalone guest house lends itself naturally to short-term rental use. Horse enthusiasts and equestrian operators will also find the stable infrastructure largely turnkey. As with any special-use vision on rural land, realizing the full income potential here would involve pursuing the appropriate local approvals, but the underlying assets (barn, pool, guest house, acreage, and privacy) give a buyer a major head start on any of those paths. If a trophy asset in one of Lancaster's most beautiful settings is appealing to you, don't miss the opportunity!
Some homes are built to impress. This one was built to disappear into the landscape — a fully private, architecturally distinctive colonial farmhouse tucked into the wooded banks above the Conestoga River, just twenty minutes from downtown Lancaster yet a world away from it. Set in 21 acres of woods, ponds, orchards, and open pasture, this is a rare offering for a buyer who wants land, privacy, and craftsmanship without sacrificing proximity to city life. Built in 2009 as an architectural showpiece, the 3,850-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath main residence pairs a modern floor plan with old-world detail: a custom 18th-century Rumford fireplace anchors the living room beneath 10-foot ceilings and walls of glass that open to the pool deck; the fully custom kitchen centers on a walnut-topped island, honed granite, and a full professional appliance suite, with a walk-in pantry, wine bar, and whole-home audio tucked just beyond. A first-floor primary suite offers true one-level living, with a spa-caliber bath, oversized custom closet, and direct access to a dedicated laundry and mudroom finished in hand-laid, artisan brick tile. Upstairs, two private wings hold additional bedrooms, a media/flex room, and generous storage — space for family, guests, or a home office setup that never feels shared. Outside, the estate is built for entertaining at scale. The flagstone pool terrace comfortably hosts up to 100 guests around a 40'x16' heated saltwater pool with color-changing lighting, a retractable cover, and built-in sound — its own private resort. This area also features a pool house with its own full bath. Just beyond, the equestrian post-and-beam bank barn is a genuine architectural artifact build by the highly sought after craftsmen at Riehl's Construction: hand-hewn timber frame, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and hand-laid fieldstone dating to early-1800s craftsmanship, with stalls for five horses, a tack and wash area, and a soaring 42'x50' second-story loft — a dramatic, ready-made backdrop for anything from a private gathering to a full-scale event. A separate guest house; 1,200 square feet, with its own kitchen, bedroom, bath, laundry and loft rounds out the property, ideal for extended family, live-in help, or additional guest capacity. The 21 acres themselves are the quieter luxury: two spring-fed, stocked ponds and a stream, mature apple and peach orchards, and two fenced gardens, all framed by open pasture and mature woodland buffer that keeps the estate genuinely unseen from the road. The woods are teeming with wildlife including deer, a flock of turkeys, foxes and more. It's a landscape made for slow mornings, riding, gardening, and entertaining — a true countryside retreat with the bones of a working estate. For the investor-minded buyer: beyond its appeal as a primary or secondary residence, 4459 Main Street offers a compelling foundation for a boutique hospitality or event-based operation. It's currently operated as a successful vacation rental and can be offered turn key for that use, pending final approvals after an upcoming update to the township's zoning ordinance. The barn's loft is already event-scaled, the pool terrace was purpose-built for gatherings, and the standalone guest house lends itself naturally to short-term rental use. Horse enthusiasts and equestrian operators will also find the stable infrastructure largely turnkey. As with any special-use vision on rural land, realizing the full income potential here would involve pursuing the appropriate local approvals, but the underlying assets (barn, pool, guest house, acreage, and privacy) give a buyer a major head start on any of those paths. If a trophy asset in one of Lancaster's most beautiful settings is appealing to you, don't miss the opportunity!
BRIGHT MLS #PALA2050996
Jan 31, 2025
Sold
$3,215,000
$645/sq ft
Dec 11, 2024
Pending
—
Sep 19, 2024
Price Changed
$3,250,000
$652/sq ft
May 23, 2024
Listed
$3,500,000
$702/sq ft
May 20, 2024
Coming Soon
$3,500,000
$702/sq ft
+145
Amazingly private 76-acre estate located 15 minutes from Lancaster City with extremely low taxes and incredible income potential. A state-of-the-art home, a charming guest or farm hand residence, gorgeous post-n-beam equestrian horse barn, and prime hunting ground provide for an idyllic oasis in the Pennsylvania woods. Income potential includes guest house rental/Air BnB, hunting leases, horse boarding, event venue etc. .. The owners custom built the estate home in 2009 which includes many custom features with the forethought to manage living expenses. Geothermal efficiency, continuous hot water loop, wood waiter, and a salt water heated pool and pool house are just some of the many features. Call today to schedule a private tour!
BRIGHT MLS #PALA2018042
Nov 1, 2022
Listing Removed
—
May 9, 2022
Listed
$3,700,000
$742/sq ft
BRIGHT MLS #PALA2018040
Nov 1, 2022
Listing Removed
—
May 9, 2022
Listed
$3,700,000
$742/sq ft
BRIGHT MLS #PALA2005660
Jan 30, 2022
Listing Removed
—
Sep 19, 2021
Listed
$3,700,000
$742/sq ft
BRIGHT MLS #PALA2005662
Jan 30, 2022
Listing Removed
—
Sep 19, 2021
Listed
$3,700,000
$742/sq ft
BRIGHT MLS #PALA2004976
Jan 30, 2022
Listing Removed
—
Sep 16, 2021
Listed
$3,700,000
$742/sq ft
As the MLS and public records start to fill up, we'll list the details here.
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Beds
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Baths
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Stories
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Lot width
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Lot depth
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Lot size
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Year renovated
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Finished Sq. Ft.
—
Unfinished Sq. Ft.
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Total Sq. Ft.
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Year built
—
Style
Single Family Residential
County
Lancaster County
APN
120-82933-0-0000
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
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HOA Dues
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Garage
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Features
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Last updated by owner on Sep 16, 2021.
RC
Rural Conservation District
The purposes of this Article, among others, are as follows:To protect prime agricultural land and encourage the continuity, development and viability of agricultural operations as provided for in Section 603g and h of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, and the Conestoga Township Comprehensive Plan, considering soil type, topography, and present use; To conserve open land, including those areas containing unique and sensitive natural features such as woodlands, steep slopes, streams, floodplains and wetlands, by setting them aside from development; To provide for the reasonable development of minerals; To allow greater design flexibility and efficiency in the provision of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce road lengths, utility runs, and the amount of paving required for development; To reduce erosion and sedimentation; To provide for a diversity of lot sizes, building densities, and housing choices to accommodate a variety of age and income groups and residential preferences, so that the Township's fair share population may be accommodated; To allow controlled commercial and industrial land uses; To create neighborhoods with direct visual and physical access to open land and with a strong neighborhood identity; To encourage active or passive recreational uses; To provide multiple options for landowners in order to minimize the adverse effects of development on sensitive environmental resources, and limit disturbance to natural or cultural features such as woodlands, hedgerows and tree lines, critical wildlife habitats, and historic buildings; To provide standards reflecting the varying circumstances and interests of individual landowners and the individual characteristics of their properties; and To conserve scenic views and the Townships rural character,; and to minimize perceived development density by limiting views of new development from existing roads.
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Agriculture
Day care facility
Housing-Single unit
Housing-Multiple units
Housing-Mobile home park
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
6/10 Heat Factor
7 days above 100° expected this year, 15 days in 30 years
4/10 Wind Factor
14% chance of strong winds in next 30 years
3/10 Air Factor
2 unhealthy days expected this year, 5 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
Conestoga, PA • 17516
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
35
21
40
26
59
37
67
46
72
54
83
64
88
69
81
62
78
59
68
46
56
38
41
27
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
88/ 100
Very good sunlight
Sunscore
There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
10.4 hrs
6.2 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 4459 Main St
$2,838,430
$39K over list price of $2.80M
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $430K to $1.9M.