4403 Levis Lane

The old farmhouse on Levis Lane sits atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, and owner Kris Hamilton says the views and surrounding 5-plus acres are what make the house so special. About 30 minutes from the airport, it offers a private, peaceful setting with easy access to city life.

Hamilton’s husband, Rick, bought the home in 1999 and remodeled it for use as a corporate retreat for his local software business. When he sold his company in 2003, the couple decided to move in—and even hosted their wedding there. They tackled numerous additions and renovations to turn it into their ideal retreat. “We enjoy drinking wine, so we added a 400-bottle wine cellar and bistro area downstairs,” Hamilton says. Other improvements include a living room addition, updated landscaping, and a plush master suite, Hamilton’s favorite spot in the house because of its elegant, spa-like bath.

Another major remodel involved transforming a dilapidated barn into a modern, two-bedroom guest house. “It was on the property already, so we had to do something with it,” Hamilton explains. “We thought it would be a fun project. It still looks like a barn on the outside but has a completely modern interior.” The couple used it as accommodations for corporate guests, as well as family and friends.

She notes that the house is ideal for entertaining, something the Hamiltons took advantage of. “We put tents over the tennis court for parties and often had wine parties where guests could mingle between the main house and guest house. The property has a very open concept,” she says. “We even hosted a wedding with more than 200 guests for our neighbors. Our front yard, between the house and stables, is large enough for a helicopter to land, so we just put up the biggest tent we could find!”

A major bonus, Hamilton notes, is that the property will always remain private. “We are entirely surrounded by land owned by the Nature Institute, so no one can build on it,” she says. She and her husband spend a lot of time at their house in California, and they are about to make the move permanent. “We both have a lot of business out there, but if we could take the house and move it out West, we would in a heartbeat,” she says. “It’s just like living at a resort.”