An Adirondack-Style Cabin on 300 Feet of a 35-Acre Pond
$130,000
This property sits near McDonough in Chenango County, deep in a forest of hemlocks and pine, with 300 feet of frontage on a 35-acre pond. The land adjoins a state road carrying right-of-way access to more than 10,000 acres of state land, so the actual reach of this property extends well past its own 6.16 acres. Bowman State Park is nearby, and the pond itself holds bass and pickerel for anyone who wants to fish right from the property.
Built in 2004 on a pier foundation, the cabin is genuinely compact: one bedroom in a queen-size loft, a kitchen, and a bathroom, warmed by a wood stove and electric baseboard heat, with a covered front porch and a washer/dryer hookup already in place. It's simple by design — insulated walls and windows, wood floors, and enough parking for guests, but no pretense of being more than a real Adirondack camp. The property is surveyed and buildable for additions if a future owner wants more space down the line. Wildlife here is genuinely abundant — deer, raccoon, beaver, mink, fox, turkey, and grouse are all regulars, and a record-point deer has come off this exact property.
At $130,000, or about $252 a square foot, this is an accessible entry point into real Adirondack-region pond frontage with direct access to a huge stretch of adjoining state land. Listing courtesy of Jack Thyfault, Northeast Realty Chenango County.
Life at the Water
Water Access & Depth
The property carries 300 feet of frontage on a 35-acre pond, reached directly from the cabin's own wooded acreage. This is quiet, private water rather than a shared or public access point, and the surrounding forest keeps the setting genuinely secluded.
Recreation & Boating
The pond holds bass and pickerel, and the listing calls out kayaking, canoeing, and rowing as regular activities here — small-water pursuits suited to a 35-acre pond rather than powerboating. With right-of-way access into more than 10,000 acres of adjoining state land, hiking, birding, hunting, and snowmobiling extend well past the water itself, making this a genuine four-season outdoor property.
Dock & Waterfront Features
No dock is mentioned for this property, and a pond this size and setting is typically enjoyed via direct bank access rather than a built structure. Any future dock would need review through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation given the adjoining state land; confirm feasibility with the agent or DEC before planning one.
Flood & Insurance Considerations
This pond and forest setting in the New York Adirondack foothills doesn't carry the same flood-insurance urgency as coastal or low-lying states, but given the property's proximity to extensive state land, confirm with the local code enforcement office whether any additional environmental review applies before finishing out the buildable addition space the listing mentions.
Beyond the Property Line
Local Flavor & Small-Town Character
McDonough is a small, quiet town in Chenango County in central New York's Southern Tier region, genuinely rural and forested rather than a resort destination. It's the kind of place where hunting, fishing, and simply being in the woods are a way of life rather than a vacation activity, and the surrounding towns keep basic services within reach without crowding the area's rural character.
Outdoor Recreation & Natural Surroundings
Bowman State Park sits nearby with its own lake, camping, and hiking, and the property's own right-of-way into more than 10,000 acres of state land turns this into a genuine basecamp for hunting, hiking, and exploring far beyond the pond frontage itself. Chenango County's rolling hills and forest cover make this a strong destination for birding and wildlife watching in every season, with real snowmobile access in winter.
Listed on Zillow
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