8234 Sutherland Farm Road | Prospect, KY 40059
Listed by Stephanie L. Gilezan, EXP Realty LLC | MLS#: 1677651
Let’s start with the facts:
This stunning pre-Civil War white beautiful mansion sits high on a hill, nestled among old oaks and overlooking a breathtaking bend of the Ohio River. Built in 1858 and recently renovated, the home boasts 9,261 square feet of living space spread over four floors including a walk-out lower level, with 6 bedrooms, 4 full baths, and 3 half baths, plus 8 fireplaces and a 3-car garage, and an elevator!
Here’s what the listing says:
“Rich in history with original door handles and hardwood floors, you will also find 12 ft ceilings on the main and upper floors, large windows overlooking the river in all outer rooms that allow natural lighting throughout every floor. There’s an elevator, a library with a fireplace, a sunroom, a butler’s pantry, a marble-floored bathroom, and balconies with sweeping river views. The slate roof, black fencing, and circle drive add curb appeal, while the kitchen porch with an outdoor fireplace invites you to stay a while.”
Honestly? It’s hard not to fall in love.
A Glimpse Into the Past
I’ve searched high and low for clues about who originally built or lived in this home and while no name has officially surfaced, the story of the land itself is quietly compelling.
In 1858, the area we now know as Prospect, Kentucky, was still called “Sand Hill.” It was mostly farmland, scattered with mills and modest estates, serving the Louisville markets with flour, cornmeal, and timber.
This home likely began its life as part of a working farm, possibly owned by a local agricultural family of some means. The nearby Trigg family had a mansion of their own along the river, and while there’s no confirmed connection, the timelines do make you wonder…. I hate to say it it but slaves may have built and worked this land. And Native Americans once lived here too. There remains an ancient Native American burial ground very close to here as proof.
Who built this house? Who walked its hardwood floors before the Civil War? Who stood on that upper balcony watching riverboats drift by?
There’s mystery here. And that, in part, is what pulls me in.
The House That Launched This Blog
This house, this exact house, is the reason If I Lived Here exists.
I first saw this listing in 2022. Since then? I’ve clicked on it, oh, maybe 75 times. Every time it pops back up online, I feel like it’s waving at me.
It’s my dream home. Everything about it is right:
The hilltop perch, the river views, the sense of history wrapped in updated finishes. The way it still feels old, but also perfectly modern. It has presence. Soul. Stories. The renovations were mostly respectful of that…well, except the kitchen, but we’ll get to that.
If these walls could talk, I’d pour them a bourbon and settle in for hours.
But here’s the heart of it:
I love this home just as it is and yet, I can’t help but imagine what I would do if I lived here.…
just me, living here 
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