AN IDEAL 16-ACRE WATERFRONT COMPOUND
The details of this very special 16-acre property of three parcels with two guesthouses, horse stalls and paddocks, private museum, and 500 feet of bulkhead waterfront construction reads like an actual Midsummer Night’s Dream
Zero in on tranquility, adventure, art, and the great outdoors, linger on the images of an estate that can be reached by aircraft, vehicle, or boat. This superbly splendid compound is ensconced in blissful gardens, rich history, towering old growth trees, and is a walk away from a glorious beachfront. Fancy touching down in a jet and being within minutes of the late venture capitalist Jerome Stern’s dream estate, affectionately known as “Camp Jerome.”
A little glimpse into the history of the 16 acre property and the famed life of the amazing philanthropist Stern, will quickly make you realize the utter value and delight of such an estate and why the late Mr. Stern, who together with his wife Ellen, owned the 17-room residence with two guesthouses and other ancillary buildings for many years. The passion for collecting art lasted for most of his 93 years, as did his love of philanthropy. Mr. Stern was a longtime supporter of The Israel Museum, New Museum, and Studio Museum in Harlem. He was a patron of the arts and a mentor to young artists everywhere and touched the lives of so many people both in the United States, Israel, and Russia. To remember him is to know that he quietly performed many acts of kindness during his life.
For the most part over the years, the Sterns kept the fine art museum to themselves, but sometimes allowed museums in the city to use it for benefits or tours.
There are four main galleries within the barn- like structure of 7,500 square feet that is 36 feet high. Being a dedicated art collector, Mr. Stern commissioned the only privately owned art museum in the Hamptons to display the larger pieces that could not be accommodated in the main home. The museum “art barn” is discreetly camouflaged by dense forest and landscaping on a separate parcel. The 2.5 story building is also climate controlled and of galvanized steel.
Listing agent Tim Davis, of Corcoran Group Real Estate, explained that, “There are endless possibilities that exist for this area as a private gallery space or a car collector’s warehouse while also easily re-purposed as an additional guesthouse.” The entire property is a prime example of both current design standards and a melding with functionality that are not always created equal. This estate is offering you to step in to discover the possibilities of living well in a place that has a sterling human as well as historic provenance born of true comfort and elegance. “It is an incredible opportunity to own a waterfront compound with so many usable and habitable structures,” explained Tim Davis.
Originally, the bay view, three-storied main home that overlooks Quantuck Bay began as a country farm completed in 1902. There was not even a glimmer of featuring a large art museum structure on the property then, much less a horse barn and paddock, two serene guest homes, a 50-foot in- ground swimming pool with its own pavilion and tennis court – all along side a mature forest and 500 feet of bay frontage. The later improvements and additions came under the watchful eye of the Sterns’ family who expanded the main residence into more living areas – then adding the museum and guest quarters.
“The privacy of the guest houses, main house, and the enjoyment of a myriad of outdoor activities such as a basketball court, tennis court, oversized swimming pool, water sports of skiing and paddle boarding will keep family and friends busy,” says Davis. “In addition, the stables and paddock area add to the Gentleman’s Farm type feeling.”
The Francis S. Gabreski Airport is located in the Town of Southampton on eastern Long Island, just ten minutes away; New York City is only an hour and a half away. The airport has three runways including one that is 9,000 feet long, one of the area’s longest. As you can see, “Camp Jerome” is indeed easy to get to and offers a camp- like collection of great places to relax, live, play, and reflect on nature while being in supreme modern comfort and spaciousness.
Shakespeare used magic in his plays to embody the power of love and to create a surreal world. In this case you might just use sublime magic to make “Camp Jerome” your own real world synthesis – in other words – perfection.
