Historic Equestrian Estate ‘Ellistan’ Listed for $14 Million in New Jersey

May 17, 2024

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 1 — The equestrian estate ‘Ellistan’ has been listed in Somerset Hills. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

A 1931 Norman-style house situated on 77+ farm assessed acres has been listed in the Peapack-Gladstone borough of Somerset Hills, New Jersey.

Designed by New York architect A. Musgrave Hyde for Francis Edgar Johnson and his family, Ellistan has been owned by just three families throughout its history. The current owners have maintained the property for the past 40 years. The acreage is spread across four parcels of land and is renown throughout the locality for hosting gatherings, such as the annual Essex Fox Hounds Thanksgiving Day Meet since the early 1930s.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 33 — Ellistan encompasses 77+ farm assessed acres. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 3 — Oversized windows offer views of the grounds. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan’s nine-bedroom home is crafted from locally quarried stone and presents an indoor-outdoor living experience via a collection of oversized windows and glass doors, which allow residents to view the property’s fields and hills. The home’s interiors were curated by a range of interior designers, including Sister Parish of the New York firm Parish-Hadley Associates and Mica Ertegun of MAC II. The principal living spaces in the home encompass a drawing room, library with wet bar, dining room, family room with fireside, and the kitchen.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 5 — Fireplace. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 6 — Dining. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 7 — Kitchen. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 12 — Bedroom. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

There is a three-bedroom guest cottage with a four-stall barn on the property, along with a stable complex containing three apartments. Additional outdoor features include a stocked pond, pool, and tennis court. The pool, south terrace, entry courtyard, and reconfigured driveway were designed by George Betsill of Innocenti & Webel and commissioned by the current owners.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 44 — Cottage. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 40 — Barn. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 17 — Pool and surrounding gardens. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 19 — Pool. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 21 — Driveway and entrance. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

The property’s grounds were initially curated with gardens and plantings by Shelby Mellick. More recently, lush gardens and outdoor ‘rooms’ surrounded by herbaceous borders were added by British garden designer Penelope Hobhouse.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 24 — Gardens. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 26 — Gardens. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 25 — Landscaped grounds with pool. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan Somerset Hills Hunt Country Nj 28 — Outdoor sitting area within the gardens. Photo by Andy Schmidt.

Ellistan is located approximately one hour from Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City. It is also 20 minutes from Morristown’s privately-operated airport.