55 DOUGLAS ST Little Falls NY 13365-1211

Five years in the building...the culmination of a young boy's dream...and the ultimate statement for success...

Welcome to An American Castle

Designed and engineered to represent the finest in European and American craftsmanship at the time of its creation from 1884 to 1889. This Romanesque masterpiece sits on a 15-acre parcel that was specifically carved from the mountainside to take full advantage of the spectacular views of the Historic Mohawk Valley and the Mohawk River which cuts through the heart of the site of James Fenimore Cooper's 'Leatherstocking Country'.

More than 150 years ago, a young boy named David Burrell climbed the steep slopes of what is now known as the 'Overlook' and picked the spot on which he would someday build his 'dream castle'. That boy grew up to be one of the great engineers and entrepreneurs of his time with the invention of the Oil burning heating system and most notably, his many inventions that revolutionized the dairy industry. Samples of his engineering genius abound in the systems of the Castle.

Sheltered by the surrounding terrain of granite cliffs, wooded slopes and extensive lawns and perennials, the Overlook enjoys a seclusion that remains as timelessly beautiful and serene as the day it was completed. A private drive leads from the City of Little Falls, up a winding hill, to the imposing residence.

The Home beckons one to begin the experience by pulling under the porte cochere. The vestibule offers a wonderful introduction of what is to come, boasting the custom stained glass and ornate millwork. Words simply cannot describe the extravagant attention to detail and an elegant grandness that is just not exhibited in modern substantial homes. Everything about this home was meticulously designed, and created for this one residence. A slow, leisurely walk about, is the only way to absorb every...intense...detail... Incredibly tall ceilings...extensive woodwork...tiffany stained glass...marble window sashes...massive pocket doors...numerous wood burning fireplaces, each with their own unique personalities... Thankfully, most of the original details have been preserved and maintained through the change of owners through time.

The main floor offers the ultimate in formal areas with 3 salons, bathroom, library, kitchen, keeping room, entrance room, dining and bar rooms. The property has served many purposes through the years to include a personal residence, a high end restaurant, and elegant lodgings. Grand Staircase and servants’ staircases accommodate all 4 levels of the structure. An original elevator is set in place also to service every floor. Expansive front portico centers the home on the entire first level.

The second level holds the numerous sleeping quarters. Boasting 8 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms in place. Many rooms are set up as suites. Walk in closets are a wonderful surprise in a home of this period. The servants’ quarters are also accessed on the second level in the rear of the home.

The original intent of the third level was to hold significant social affairs...THE BALLROOM. Currently, the massive space has been divided to provide additional sleeping quarters and various meeting spaces. Although not as ornate as the main levels, these third floor spaces served a myriad of uses for each of the owners of the Overlook.

The lowest level of the home once housed additional servants’ quarters and a full sized bowling alley and indoor pool. There are 2 bathrooms in this area that accommodated event space when the Overlook was operating as a restaurant. Utilities are also located in this area.

The Overlook Mansion has direct access to city water and sewer and high speed internet. Currently the property is not lived in and is always a 'work in progress'. A separate 2 stall garage and 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, Tudor style home is also included in the offering.

The Overlook Castle presents a blank canvas to launch your next adventure …. a property located within the heart of Central NY …in the Little Falls Historic District…a city located an equal distance between the two metropolitan hubs of Albany and Syracuse.

In December 2021, Little Falls was selected to receive $10 million in grant funding to implement transformative capital projects in its downtown area as part of Round Five of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The DRI is a New York State grant program designed to catalyze public and private investment in urban centers with significant opportunities for redevelopment, business growth, job creation, and an improved quality of life for all.

Little Falls’ DRI will focus on reconnecting its Downtown Main Street to its waterfront along the Mohawk River and historic Canal District. As the only city in Herkimer County, Little Falls envisions itself as the most desirable residential community in the region by reconnecting isolated parts of the city to create a single bedrooms, cohesive downtown district. The City has experienced approximately $11.6 million in recent and ongoing investments and anticipates another $76.8 million in the future. These investments include new apartment housing, a bourbon distilling site, and a proposed new train station providing passenger service. Building on this momentum, Little Falls aims to us the DRI to diversify housing, improve multi-modal connectivity, and enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Little Falls is a very walkable community with an award-winning school system and an abundance of shopping and cultural events.

Developers are already taking notice of the district’s proximity to existing and future attractions and have launched several projects nearby. Central New York is ripe for big things to happen, and the momentum has started 20 minutes down the road in Utica! The new MVHS Hospital has opened its doors, Wolfspeed has built their facility on one of 3 ‘shovel ready’ chip sites, NANO…and the ancillary businesses associated with this growth are here!

This American Mansion offers the opportunity to live an exemplary lifestyle in a historic community or a completely unique take on an entrepreneurial adventure!

Bring your vision to Historic Little Falls New York and develop a memorable legacy for the future generations to enjoy.

In December 2021, Little Falls was selected to receive $10 million in grant funding to implement transformative capital projects in its downtown area as part of Round Five of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The DRI is a New York State grant program designed to catalyze public and private investment in urban centers with significant opportunities for redevelopment, business growth, job creation, and an improved quality of life for all.

Little Falls’ DRI will focus on reconnecting its Downtown Main Street to its waterfront along the Mohawk River and historic Canal District. As the only city in Herkimer County, Little Falls envisions itself as the most desirable residential community in the region by reconnecting isolated parts of the city to create a single bedrooms, cohesive downtown district. The City has experienced approximately $11.6 million in recent and ongoing investments and anticipates another $76.8 million in the future. These investments include new apartment housing, a bourbon distilling site, and a proposed new train station providing passenger service. Building on this momentum, Little Falls aims to us the DRI to diversify housing, improve multi-modal connectivity, and enhance the quality of life for all residents

Developers are already taking notice of the district’s proximity to existing and future attractions and have launched several projects nearby. Central New York is ripe for big things to happen, and the momentum has started 20 minutes down the road in Utica! The new MVHS Hospital has opened its doors, Wolfspeed has built their facility on one of 3 ‘shovel ready’ chip sites, NANO…and the ancillary businesses associated with this growth are here!