7631 S Derinda Rd, Elizabeth, IL 61028

A setting you must see firsthand to appreciate with this 2,753 square foot custom post and beam home with some of the most spectacular views you will find anywhere in the Midwest. Exit from a hard surface road onto an approximately 750 foot private lane winding through the woods leads back to a point on a ridge where this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath home has been perfectly placed to capture views of the beautiful Derinda Valley in nearly 180 degrees. Perched over 300 feet above the valley below, the homesite offers uninterrupted views for nearly 10 miles to the southwest where you can actually see the Mississippi River bluffs of the Iowa side. The home, which was built in 1997, was designed to capture the views with every opportunity with large Marvin windows and sliding doors wrapping around the entire great room to not only maximize the views but to filter in natural light. The entire main floor has an open floor plan with the foyer flowing right into an entertaining space and on to the great room and combination kitchen and dining area. Hardwood Oak floors and Douglas Fir beams match perfectly with the highlight of the main floor, a two sided fireplace set in the center of the main floor with locally acquired Limestone extending from floor to ceiling and continuing to the exterior chimney. Rounding out the rest of the main floor is the open kitchen with custom Maple cabinetry, an exercise room that could potentially dual as a guest bed, a powder room, an office/workspace, and main floor laundry/mudroom. Heading upstairs will take you to both spacious bedrooms, each with its own attached, private full bath. The master bedroom boasts a private balcony, large walk-in closet and private master suite complete with step in shower and a 2 person soaking tub. Also on the second floor is a nice open space that can be used as a sitting or reading room or a great work from home location. Taking in the views certainly is not limited to the inside of the home, as a 1,200 square foot premium composite deck was replaced in 2021 and wraps around the entire south side of the home. A screened in porch sits just off the kitchen on the west side of the house to offer a perfect space to continue enjoying the sights and sounds of nature while providing relief from the summer sun and insects. A 3 car attached garage offers plenty of space for storing vehicles and property maintenance equipment, and a large crawl space encompasses the footprint of the house and is perfect for storage. Set within eyesight of the house and just down the hill is a fully stocked, spring fed pond lined with blue shale. The pond is over ½ acre in size and has always been maintained with eco-friendly vegetation management and the entire perimeter is lined with rock with the exception of a sand beach area. Catfish, bluegill and bass can regularly be spotted navigating the crystal clear waters from the dock. The acreage is a nature lover's dream and wildlife paradise with miles of hiking and biking trails that can be easily maintained with a riding lawn tractor. Mature hardwoods are mixed with grassy meadows to create a nice habitat mixture that is frequently populated by many species of wildlife including whitetail deer, turkey, pheasants, coyote, and various small game and song bird species. Blue bird houses and native wildflowers have been placed throughout many of the meadows on the property. 21.2 acres are enrolled in a 10 year CRP program that began in 2020 and provides just under $3,500 of annual income for the property. No detail of the property or the home have been overlooked, and every square inch of the property has been meticulously cared for and maintained. Located just 25 minutes from downtown Galena and less than three hours from Chicago, this is an opportunity you will want to see firsthand if you are in the market for a beautiful, private home on your own private piece of Jo Daviess County countryside.