Abandoned 1837 church is transformed into a beautiful 37-acre Catskills retreat, complete with a bell tower library

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Dining area of a transformed church in Gilboa, NY, for sale for $2,995,000

An early 19th century Greek Revival church, left abandoned on two separate occasions, has been “meticulously reimagined” into a stunning $3 million retreat in upstate New York.

Spanning just over 37 acres at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, the property retains its original 1837 wood frame, with exposed, hand-hewn beams that create a dramatic impression from the moment you step through the door.

“The real highlight is the main hall, the church itself,” says the real estate agent Annabel Taylorfrom Four Seasons-Sotheby’s International Realty. “Of course, all those exposed beams also provide such a ‘wow’ factor.”

Those beams are just one of many features of the building’s former life as a religious institution – a life that came to an end in the 1990s, leaving it in such poor condition that it was on the verge of demolition.

Almost three decades later, architects have breathed new life into the building Nik Vekic And Quinn Marquardtwho purchased the disused church for the relatively low price of $425,000 in 2023, years after an earlier attempt to save the structure had been abandoned.

An early 19th century Greek Revival church, left abandoned on two separate occasions, has been “meticulously reimagined” into a stunning $3 million retreat in upstate New York. (Annabel Taylor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty)

Wine cellar in transformed church in Gilboa, NY, for sale for $2,995,000 — Under the stairs there is a temperature-controlled wine room for 600 bottles. (Annabel Taylor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty)

Great room in transformed church in Gilboa, NY, for sale for $2,995,000 — The great room has a striking fireplace in the center. (Annabel Taylor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty)

At the time, the church, which had been dismantled and moved from its former location to Gilboa, NY, was in a disastrous condition. However, that didn’t stop Vekic and Marquardt of ICDT Studio from seeing the potential of the stripped remains.

“A previous owner moved the church to its current location with the intention of turning it into a residential home, but that vision was never fully realized,” Taylor says. “The sellers have completed the project and also added an addition.

“They’ve also expanded the lower level with additional living space. It’s a very large building with a large communal great room, but there’s a great separation of the space so you have a lot of privacy as well.”

Vekic and Marquardt spent two years transforming the church into the stunning 6,000-square-foot sanctuary that exists today – a sanctuary that pays tribute to its heritage while offering an array of modern amenities.

“When we first walked through, we could see the original timber frame of the church, and we both realized its potential,” Vekic said. Mansion Global.

The church’s high ceilings served as inspiration for the incredible great room, which features an open floor plan, a striking central fireplace, and a huge dining space with a table that extends from one side of the room to the other.

As for the building’s clock tower, the design duo transformed it into a library, with shelves of books extending to large windows that fill the space with natural light.

Also found within the dramatic interior is a temperature-controlled wine room for 600 bottles, hidden under the stairs, which is accessed via steel doors; a guest wing with a four-bed bunk room; and a home office on the third floor with a separate staircase in the tower of the former church.

Modern kitchen in transformed church in Gilboa, NY, for sale for $2,995,000 — The open floor plan ensures that every room in the house is bathed in light. (Annabel Taylor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty)

Library with home office access in transformed church in Gilboa, NY, for sale for $2,995,000 — The bell tower has been transformed into a library, with shelves of books extending to large windows that fill the space with natural light. (Annabel Taylor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty)

Bunk bed in transformed church in Gilboa, NY, for sale for $2,995,000 — A guest wing features a four-bed bunk room, ideal for those who enjoy entertaining guests. (Annabel Taylor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty)

“They were inspired by the structure of the church, but this is the first church transformation they’ve done,” she says. “It makes for a beautiful home. They are very creative people who own a design studio.”

Other design highlights include a floor-to-ceiling gas stove in the great room, a dining room designed for grand entertaining, and a chef’s kitchen with marble countertops and a butler’s pantry with a second sink and concealed-panel refrigerator.

A walk-out level features a media room with a wet bar and a laundry room with dual washers/dryers.

The finished product could be purchased as a turnkey retreat, so to speak – or seen as the foundation for a larger property or investment opportunity, Taylor notes.

“There is no zoning in the city of Balboa, so you could also have a catering business because there are no restrictions,” she notes.

“With 30 hectares you could also divide the site. There are hiking trails, streams, waterfalls and rock outcroppings. So apart from the house, the site is super beautiful. You can take a walk and never really leave the site. It’s incredible.

“It’s nestled in the foothills of the Catskills Mountains, so it has a great sense of retreat, yet you’re still 20 minutes from the Windham Mountain Club. The property could work for so many people. A no-brainer would be a family, but it could also go to a couple who likes to entertain.”