The Gathering Place, Estate of the Day

Today's estate of the day is a New Canaan, Ct. home on 6.43 acres that was built for entertaining. It is the ultimate family compound with a guest cottage, swimming pool, a pond stocked with trout and a one-of-a-kind sports pavilion.

The main house, which was built in 1983, is 9,244 square feet with five fireplaces, interior stone walls, rustic wood beams, seven bedrooms, 6 full baths and 2 half baths. The kitchen was remodeled in 2005 and has alder-wood cabinetry, French antique limestone floors and a hand-carved limestone sink. There's a two-story family room with a cathedral ceiling, wide-plank white oak floors and a wall of Tischler windows, setting the ease and comfort for family gatherings. The two-story foyer has a circular staircase and there are two adjacent living rooms, one with a window wall and the other with sliding glass doors leading to a deck, each overlooking the glorious pond and swimming pool setting. The main-level master bedroom suite has a corner fireplace, a wall of French doors opening to a deck, and luxurious his and her whirlpool baths. Additional features include a library with separate office and bath, game room and exercise room.

The 10,600 square feet three-level sports pavilion is the ultimate entertainment facility. Winner of a prestigious award for excellence in design and construction in 2005, the pavilion offers a French country kitchen and dining area that seats 30, all overlooking a NBA-level half basketball court with regulation scoreboard. There's also a stage replete with dark maroon velvet curtain and Broadway-level lighting and sound system. The dance studio has a ballet bar and mirrored walls. The fairy-tale setting continues downstairs with a state-of-the-art golf simulator room where you can choose to play one of 50 different courses around the world, including St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. There's also a movie theater with over-sized leather seats for 25; a bowling alley, and a game room that features billiards, pinball and a milk shake bar. The three levels of the "sports barn" are linked via an elevator and a circular log stairway hand-made in Colorado. There's a TV lounge setting on all three levels, and on the third level, there are three bedrooms and three baths.

The property has a trout pond with two waterfalls and a heated pool complete with a pool spa. The pool house features a sauna, two changing rooms, two showers and a bathroom. There's also a cabana with a state-of-the-art kitchen, bar, stone fireplace, Viking grill, wood-beam ceiling and seating for 25. The garage, which is within the sports pavilion, includes a catering kitchen with an extra-large refrigerator and sink. There is also a charming guest cottage with a living room, fireplace, kitchenette, bedroom and full bath.

The house is listed at $12,500,000.

For more information, contact the listing agent, Barbara Cleary of Barbara Cleary's Realty Guild at (203) 966-7772.