A circa 1890s island estate on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, with a guest cottage, a two-story boathouse, and a private cove, listed at $1,650,000.
Some houses sit near the water. This one sits surrounded by it.
On the south-facing point of Raccoon Island, in the middle of New Jersey’s largest lake, stands a painted Victorian-era cottage estate known locally as “Craig Thistle.” It has watched more than a century of summers come and go from the same spot, and it is now offered for sale fully furnished.
The setting alone makes this listing unusual. Add a separate guest cottage, a boathouse with a bunkhouse, original stained-glass windows, and wraparound outdoor living space, and you have one of the more distinctive properties on the East Coast lake market right now.
Here is a closer look at what the home offers, what living on an island really involves, and what a careful buyer should check before making an offer.
Property Overview
- Price: $1,650,000
- Location: 55 Raccoon Island Rd, Jefferson Township, Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey 07849
- Bedrooms: 5 total (4 in the main house, 1 in the guest cottage)
- Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
- Lot size: 0.76 acres
- Style: Historic custom home with clapboard exterior
- Era: Described as circa 1890s
- Extras: Guest cottage, two-story boathouse with bunkhouse, two-car garage, outdoor bar and shower
- Furnishings: Offered completely furnished
- Access: Private boat or seasonal car ferry
- Annual property taxes: $13,077
- Lake rules: Gas-powered boats allowed
An Island Address on New Jersey’s Largest Lake
Lake Hopatcong straddles Morris and Sussex counties in northern New Jersey. It is the largest freshwater lake in the state and has been a summer escape for New Yorkers and New Jersey families since the late 1800s.
Raccoon Island is one of the lake’s best-known islands. There is no bridge. Residents reach their homes by private boat in the warm months, and a seasonal car ferry carries vehicles across.
That isolation is the whole point. Once you step off the boat, the traffic of Route 15 and the noise of the mainland feel a long way off, even though they are only minutes away across the water.
The Main Residence
The main house is a painted beauty from the late Victorian period, the kind of lake cottage that wealthy city families built when Lake Hopatcong was a resort destination served by railroad and steamboat.
It sits on the island’s south-facing point. That orientation matters. It means sun on the porches for most of the day and a front-row seat for sunsets over the water.
The house has kept much of its original character. Historic accents appear throughout, and the overall feel is warm, lived-in, and unmistakably old in the best sense.
Original Stained-Glass Windows
The stained glass is one of the details buyers remember after a showing.
Original windows like these are increasingly rare. Many were removed, broken, or sold off over the decades. Having them still in place, in the house they were made for, adds both beauty and a sense of authenticity that new construction cannot copy.
A buyer should ask about their condition. Old leaded glass can sag or loosen over time, and restoration by a specialist is worth budgeting for if any panels show bowing or cracked solder lines.
The Original Living Room and Fireplace
The original living room centers on a wood-burning fireplace.
On cool spring evenings or crisp September nights, this is the room where the house feels most like itself. A fire, the sound of water outside, and a century of history in the walls.
Before lighting it, have the chimney inspected and swept. Fireplaces in historic homes often need a liner, new mortar, or a fresh cap to be used safely.
The Great Room Addition
The home also includes a more recently added great room.
This space solves a common problem with old lake cottages. Original rooms tend to be small and divided. A large modern gathering room gives family and guests a place to spread out without sacrificing the historic rooms elsewhere in the house.
It is a sensible blend. Old where it counts, open where it is needed.
The First-Floor Primary Suite
A first-floor primary suite was added along with the great room.
For anyone thinking long-term, this is a valuable feature. It means the owners can live on one level without climbing stairs, which matters for aging buyers or anyone hosting older parents for the summer.
Bedrooms
The main residence has four bedrooms. The guest cottage adds a fifth.
Then there is the bunkhouse in the boathouse, which offers extra sleeping space beyond the
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