Hot House: 1400 Underwood Road, Sykesville, MD 21784
Traditional style custom home, circa 2009, in wood and stone, on 49-acre horse farm. Eight bedrooms, 7 full and 3 half baths. 11,097 sq. ft. over three levels, with full indoor basketball court, custom kitchen, home theater, fitness room. Includes fully stocked pond, 7-stall barn, two pastures with horse-fencing, carriage house, tenant house, heated swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor shower, waterfall: $3,999,999
What: One family’s idea of a good time. Dad was the founder and former President of Maxim Health Care (owned by Steve Bisciotti and Jim Davis), and this was the end of the rainbow for his five-boy family when it was built in 2009. Indoor basketball/soccer/lacrosse court? Fine. Heated pool with waterfall? Sure. Horses, with live-in jockey to take care of them? Yup. “Can we stock the fishpond, Dad?” “A-Okay.” Plus, every child’s dream: a laundry chute. Parents wanted a place where the kids could hang out, and of course they do, because anything a bunch of guys could want is right here. There is a spirit of fun in this house that’s hard to resist. Traditional in looks, with high-quality construction throughout, it’s full of high-end finishes and upgrades. A double height, vaulted ceiling family room (there are several family rooms), a custom gourmet kitchen with granite counters, Wolff ranges and Sub-Zero fridges, a fitness room that looks like a college facility – if you can imagine it, it’s here. There’s a nice house tour, complete with horses, on the listing website. More than most new luxury homes, this one has a mission that it lives up to – a party house: comfortable, informal, and designed for Fun.
Where: Sykesville is in Howard County, and really not so far out. From Baltimore, take 695 west to 70, exit 16B-A toward Frederick. Drive 11 miles to Exit 80, MD 32N/Sykesville Road. After a mile or so take a left on Old Frederick Road. One more mile and a right onto Underwood. House is on the left. All in, it’s about a 40 minute drive from north Baltimore. It’s peaceful out here, just the quiet hum of crickets, tractors, corn growing. Highly rated Bushy Park Elementary and Glenelg High Schools are nearby. McDonough School is about 20 minutes away, St. Paul’s School about 30. Columbia Mall is about 25 minutes from here, but you’re just 10 minutes from grocery stores, restaurants, and more in, um, Marriottsville.
Why: You love a party, and want the fun to come to you.
Why Not: Rather just text my friends.
Would Suit: Duck Dynasty
NB: House like this needs a name. Potential for hours of fun thinking one up — (“Neverland” taken tho’.)
