If you run your hands along the hand-crafted logs of this wine country estate, you can feel the work that went into them: the chiseled beams are smooth and strong. Terry Passanante has called ‘the cabin’ (with more than 4,800 square feet and soaring ceilings) home for seven years.
She and her late husband lived in Ladue prior to building their getaway, and he had researched log homes even before they met. “We found a company called Hearthstone and visited its headquarters in Kentucky to see the whole process,” Passanante says. After looking at a few properties, they kept returning to the stunning 47 acres in Washington, Missouri. “It’s so gorgeous,” she says. “There is a view of St. Ann’s church steeple, and you can hear the bell chime. There is something so serene about this area.”
A 7-acre, fully-stocked lake features a fountain and floating dock. “You can’t put a pole in without catching something,” Passanante laughs. “I love nature, and there was a blue heron living here before we put the lake in. I still see it about once a week.” Her love of the outdoors is why the spacious, twolevel outdoor patio with built-in fireplace is one of her favorite areas for sitting and relaxing. “The sunroom is also a beautiful place to sit, especially in the winter, when it’s warmed by the sun and there are great views.”
Passanante is passionate about animals, which prompted her to research and make plans to start an alpaca farm on the property. A breathtaking barn (perfect for a separate apartment or hosting events) is home to the quiet, gentle breed, as well as to a few donkeys. “I train and show the alpacas and do most of their medical care, as well as clean up the barn,” she says. “It’s work, but I get to know the animals better this way. They fit into the property because they are so peaceful.” She has been told the land would be a beautiful place for a winery—which would add to the abundance of options nearby in Hermann and Augusta. “It was a tempting idea, but I’m only one person!”
The process of choosing everything for the home, down to its copper sinks and heated bathroom tile, was new for Passanante because she had always moved into older homes. “I had fun picking out everything,” she recalls. “It was so nice to see how it all came together. It will be a hard place to leave.”
listing price | $2,300,000
listing agent | bruce butler of redkey realty leaders