$899,000

After a beautiful drive through Gardiner horse country, the landscape opens and there they are, the Shawangunks rising dramatically in the distance. It is one of those approaches that reminds you exactly why you wanted to live upstate in the first place. Tucked into this setting, surrounded by mature landscaping and with a pool waiting out back, 79 Millbrook Road feels wonderfully private while keeping some of the best of Gardiner and New Paltz remarkably close. Inside, the house has a graciousness that reveals itself slowly. A central staircase anchors the foyer, with a generous living room and dining room on either side. Continue through and the house becomes more relaxed, with a large kitchen built around an oversized island, plenty of room to gather, and a sunny eat-in area. New oversized Andersen sliders pull your eye outside and open directly to the patio and pool. A second sitting room with built-in shelving and a fireplace gives the main floor another place to land, whether that's morning coffee, a movie, or a quiet night by the fire. There is also an oversized laundry room, direct access to the garage, and a mudroom entrance with the kind of serious pantry that makes country living considerably easier. Upstairs, the primary suite is bright and spacious, with a walk-in closet and private bath. Two additional bedrooms complete the main house sleeping quarters. Then there is one of the property's most useful surprises: a legal apartment above the garage. Separate from the primary living spaces, it creates genuine flexibility for extended stays, multigenerational living, a private work or creative space, or potential rental income. The basement, with two separate access points, adds even more usable space and could easily accommodate a gym, workshop, media room, or recreation space. Outside is where 79 Millbrook really changes gears. The fenced in inground pool and expansive patio sit within a mature, private landscape that feels made for summer. Open the sliders, put dinner outside, and suddenly the kitchen, patio, lawn, and pool become one continuous living space. It is easy to imagine this being the house where everyone ends up on a July weekend. Just as important, the current owners have recently made a substantial list of improvements, including a new roof and chimney, furnace, central air, main-floor windows, oversized Andersen slider, full exterior painting, and a new pool pump. These are meaningful updates that allow the next owner to spend considerably more time enjoying the house than working on it. Perfectly positioned between Wallkill and Gardiner, with the best of Gardiner just minutes away, the location makes it easy to settle into the rhythm of life here. Dinner at Pitanga North, pastries and coffee from Gardiner Bakehouse, an afternoon at Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection, or a stop at the always iconic Mountain Brauhaus can all become part of the routine. Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve put some of the Hudson Valley's best hiking, climbing, and swimming close by, while orchards, farm stands, wineries, breweries, and New Paltz are all within easy reach. And somehow, the drive home never gets old. Past open fields and horse farms, with the Shawangunk Ridge coming back into view, it's a pretty spectacular reminder of where you get to live.