The Musgrave Farm is a supremely unique assemblage of four land titles spanning 232 acres on Salt Spring Island. The current owners seek a buyer intent on operating as a custodian of the land, conserving its natural and historic character.
The only stretch of flat, open land on the island’s relatively undeveloped southwest corner, the property features nearly two kilometers of oceanfront, making it one of the most desirable areas Salt Spring Island has to offer. Central to this shoreline is a protected bay with a pristine beach, two docks and boathouse. The property faces west across Sansum Narrows toward Cowichan Bay and Vancouver Island with eight 19th and 20th century abodes complementing open fields, Cedar and Douglas fir forests, mature stands of Madrona and Gary Oak, and a year-round creek.
Viticulturists will recognize the surrounding fields as having perhaps the best vineyard potential in the region. Here, mild year-round temperatures, excellent sun exposure, fertile soil, and steady westerly breezes provide optimal growing conditions for a wide range of flora and produce. This fabulous location with its artesian well currently supports multiple orchard sites boasting peaches, pears, apples, cherries, as well as vegetable gardens with enough space to expand for modest commercial operations.
Designed by Chicago Architect David Adler and set back from the water’s edge for privacy, the 3,558 square foot, six-bedroom, four-bathroom main house, built circa 1941, surrounds a generous courtyard. The covered porch front entry overlooking the ocean and tennis court is a gathering place that sets the tone for the rest of the property. A grand fireplace punctuates the vaulted ceiling living/great room, while formal gardens and a Timothy hay field slope gently to the shore and the hidden beach. Here, the kitchen area has sustained water damage, with the owners opting to allow the buyers to complete a remodel to their own specifications.
Nestled in a field up near the vegetable garden sits the cedar-sided farmhouse. Built circa 1985, the lofted home counts two bedrooms, a single bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room with vaulted ceiling, and fireplace. A covered porch has views of fields, a beautiful old barn, and the ocean through the trees.
The waterfront cedar pan-abode house was built circa 1972, has a sunken living room with bar, kitchen, dining area, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, laundry, and a large deck overlooking the lawn and the water. A private dock and beautiful pebble beach complete this stunning retreat.
The 3,855 square foot caretaker’s house, a two-story, five-bedroom, two-bathroom residence was built circa 1912 with a large utility room/workshop added later. A large deck at the front opens into a grand hall with a wide stairway leading to the second floor with five generously sized bedrooms and a bathroom. The main floor has a kitchen with views of the farm entry and fields beyond. The living and dining rooms both feature ocean views.
Constructed circa 1992 with an addition in 1999, the two-story cedar house has an open kitchen, living and dining room, two bedrooms and a bathroom on the upper floor, plus two small bedrooms in addition to an unfinished basement. Its sun-drenched deck also boasts a private outdoor shower.
Erected circa 1996, the charming 432 square foot forest cabin sits quietly in the woods featuring an open area with kitchen, a two-piece bathroom, and a sleeping loft.
About 200 square feet in size, an enclave wrapped around a giant Douglas fir was the first tree house built by Pete Nelson of Nelson Treehouse and of the Discovery Channel’s Treehouse Masters series.
Residents also enjoy several outbuildings including a small greenhouse, a tool shed, truck garage, tractor shed, barn, chicken house, horse shelter, boat barn, utility shed, a garden shed. The property is currently stewarded by a full-time live-in caretaker with years of experience on-site whose continued services are available for renewal (to be negotiated privately with any potential buyers).
While secluded and private, the property is easily accessed by car, boat, floatplane and helicopter. The towns of Ganges, Long Harbor and Fulford Harbor offer scheduled ferry options and a floatplane service only a short drive away. Victoria International Airport is another convenient option with direct service to Vancouver International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The owners often arrive by BC Ferries at Schwartz Bay or to Victoria International Airport and have their island staff pick them up with the crew boat for a short ride from one of the docks near Sidney.
Located in British Columbia’s scenic and temperate Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island is renowned for its culinary expertise and unique art scene with award winning restaurants, galleries, farms, wineries and breweries. Artisan cheese maker David Wood and globally recognized wildlife painter Robert Bateman are just two of an amazing array of island artists and artisans who represent the area.
The harbor town of Ganges is a bustling center of island culture, entertainment and shopping. It and the amenities and cultural aspects of the Island are internationally recognized, and the region has become increasingly popular as a destination in and of itself. During the summer, the island bustles with boaters and yachts that come to experience the beauty and charm of Salt Spring and the surrounding Gulf Islands. Among these, anglers enjoy exceptional fishing for bottom fish and all species of Pacific salmon, in addition to excellent crabbing and prawning.
Lot Features Of 230 Smith Road, Salt Spring, Gulf Islands
Dock/Moorage, Acreage, No Through Road, Park Setting, Pasture, Quiet Area, In Wooded Area, Walk on Waterfront
