A haven for bird watchers, nature lovers and privacy seekers, this property is magical! Slow down as you round the curve, or you might miss the 15 acres on Wilderness Trail nestled between the Vermilion Bayou and Beau Bassin Swamp, as it is hidden behind some of the most magnificent stands of bamboo outside of Jefferson Island. A clear span bridge constructed of steel and wood traverses the water to the site. The house, front lawn and parking area is perched on a spoil bank and almost winks at you to bid you welcome and encourage you to come explore the grounds. It is elevated and architecturally designed to accentuate natures surroundings. It has a tin roof and wood siding, plaster, and brick on the outside walls. The interior is cypress and smooth white plaster.The front room is modeled after an Acadian cottage. There is a screen room (accessible only from the interior of the house) with cedar columns shading the copper screen, so that typically no sunlight hits the screen and the screen seems to disappear. The screen room faces the backyard pond and the cypress swamp with a view of some trees that may be well over a hundred years old. There is an alcove in the attic above the bathroom, which was used as a bedroom until the bedroom wing was added. The bedroom wing was modeled after a Pullman train car, with a hallway along four smaller bedrooms, and a larger bedroom at the end of the hallway. A courtyard including a white plaster lotus fountain designed by the late artist Elemore Morgan, Jr. is bordered by the front room, the bedroom wing, wooden walls, and a serpentine wall inspired by ones built by Thomas Jefferson at UVA. Through the round window in the loggia, one has a great view of the land through the clear opening above the pond. There is a 200-foot board walk into the water with a platform and benches at the end to allow the swamp to be enjoyed without getting in a boat or putting on boots. There are multiple foot paths on the property....one leading to the board walk; another leading to vegetable and flower garden spots and a concrete picnic table with 12 seats. It is a replica of picnic tables used in a public park in Lafayette in the late 1960s or early 1970s. So much to enjoy...pirogue from your back yard, be one with nature from the comfort of inside, harvest your own crayfish. Birder, poet, artist, nature lover or privacy seeker; whatever you call yourself...home, get-away, or camp; whatever you call your place; this place is indeed magical! The small Cajun cottage at 100 Springfield across Wilderness Trail is also offered for sale with the main house for $76,000.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
