1538 Riverside Drive

183 FEET ON THE WATER......... DREDGED FOR A BIG BOAT........EXPANSIVE WATER VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM.... WATERFRONT HOUSE SITS 17 FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL......... RESORT-STYLE SALTWATER POOL.......... OVER HALF AN ACRE........ LOW ELECTRIC BILLS DUE TO SOLAR.......... TRUE LAKE-HOME LIVING ON THE ANCLOTE..........

Some homes have a view of the water. This one has an identity built around it.

With the soul of a true lake home, this residence was designed to slow the pace of everyday life — a wraparound porch, river views from nearly every room, and a rhythm set entirely by the water beyond the rail. It rests on an oversized half-acre with 183 feet of frontage on the Anclote River. Ask any boater on this water what that number means, and watch their expression change.

Because this is water made for boaters. Recently dredged for a serious vessel, with a private dock, lift, and a clear run to the Gulf — untie the lines and the morning is yours. The dock can be extended for something larger still.

Inside, real wood floors carry light through a home that feels alive in every corner. A split floor plan gives the primary suite its own wing, quiet and private. The gourmet kitchen — reimagined in 2018 with stone counters and natural gas — was built for the kind of evenings that end long after dinner. And a lower level offers whatever life asks of it: retreat, gallery, gym, or guest quarters.

Beyond the glass, a private resort. A saltwater pool and spa, beautifully resurfaced, set against fresh paver hardscaping and grounds that frame the river like a painting. This is where the summers happen.

But here is what no other home on this river can promise. It stands elevated a full 17 feet above the water so floodwaters are never an issue. On the Anclote, that is not a feature. It is the difference between owning the water and worrying about it. Add whole-home impact glass, a metal roof, and owned solar that keeps the electric bills much lower than you normally would pay, and the result is waterfront without a single compromise.

Homes like this are not found. They are inherited, held for decades, and released only when the moment is right. This is that moment.