Student of Frank Lloyd Wright built this home on 20 acres, on the market for $750K in Iowa
Down an almost hidden driveway, a very private retreat for sale just outside of Des Moines includes a custom-built retro home and a lifetime of protection for its 20-acre tree-filled footprint.
Listed by Realtor Gina McAndrews at $750,000, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence in northwestern Ames, Iowa dates to 1965 and has preserved its contemporary style and design quirks. “It’s pretty much original,” McAndrews said.
She also shared part of the home’s lore includes a tale it was originally “designed and built by an architect who was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright,” who built the 1,615-square-foot property specifically for his grandmother.
The primary living space is warmed by a log-burning fireplace and leads to a kitchen galley partially illuminated by a skylight. The main level also includes two bedrooms, a laundry space and many windows that provide all-season views of the woodland setting.
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Downstairs contains an extra bedroom and an additional living space, equipped with a wet bar and built-in cabinets, waiting to once again fire up a vintage stereo system.
“It’s been there through the records, the 8-tracks, the VHS, all the stages,” Mc Andrews said.
Conveniently placed less than a 15-minute drive from Iowa State University and downtown Ames, the home’s rural setting appears a world away from any major metropolis, part of the immediate appeal for the right type of buyer.
“It’s kind of a unique one-of-a-kind place,” McAndrews said. “And you have your own little wood, prairie and pond.”
Previous owners have placed a conservation easement on the entire 20 acres, ensuring no future housing developments, hunting, or the removal of the many trees they planted over the decades. “He and his wife really wanted the land to be left to nature and wildlife,” McAndrews added.
The next owner should also expect to see plenty of animals, including deer, passing through the acreage and along the trails that lead to the huge and untouched pond on the northeastern edge of the property.
While areas of the home will require some attention or updating in the coming years, McAndrews believes the home will resonate with a buyer who appreciates the rarity of private acreage positioned close to urban amenities. “Somebody that doesn't mind a little bit of work,” she explained, “and also somebody that likes nature and conservation.”
The home is listed at $750,000 by Gina McAndrews of Century 21 Signature Real Estate. Contact McAndrews at 515-635-5760 for more information and a private showing.
Where: 3970 N. Dakota Ave., Ames, Iowa
Asking price: $750,000
Year built: 1965
Square footage: 1,615 square feet
Lot size: 20 acres
Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register. If you have a home we should feature, reach out to Susan Stapleton at [email protected].
