A four-bedroom, 18th century house near Bantam Lake, CT, for $599,000, where nature is the draw

The largest natural lake in Connecticut is Bantam Lake, a 947-acre body of water that stretches between the towns of Morris and Litchfield. A significant part of the lake is protected from development, and is home to a number of local bird species, including the American Cliff Swallow, the Eared Grebe, and the Hooded Merganser, in addition to geese, ducks, and egrets. Thanks to its natural beauty, Bantam Lake is a popular destination for campers, boaters, and beach-goers, who head to its two public beaches, Morris Town Beach and Sandy Beach. 

There's more to do in the area than just chill at the lake, of course. There's the Litchfield Distillery, which offers tastings of their batch bourbons and other spirits. There's the lovely Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in nearby Bethlehem, an 18th-century house surrounded by historic roses, peonies, lilacs and other flowers. But the area's real draw is nature; the White Memorial Conservation Center offers hiking and other activities around the lake, and state parks like Topsmead State Forest gives visitors more opportunities for hikes, leisure walks, and more outdoor activities.

If any of that sounds appealing to you, consider the four-bedroom, five-bath property at 142 East Shore Rd. in Morris, now on the market for $599,000. The house is the earliest house built on Bantam Lake, constructed around 1769, and remodeled in 1980.  

It has a modern, open-concept kitchen, complete with blue wooden cabinets, recessed lighting, and an island with a breakfast bar.

The kitchen has a cheerful, country kitchen look to it, even with the updates.

The neighboring dining area is backlit by French door.

There's a parlor with a fireplace.

And a funkier living room, with green paint.

A third living space has purple paint and exposed wood beams.

Look at these great stairs!

Here's the front door, flanked by French doors and beautiful windows.

The massive master bedroom has lake views and lots of light, in addition to a private bath and dressing room.

A second bedroom also has a generous number of windows.

And here's a third room, with some colorful wallpaper, though you could likely change it if you so desired. 

This covered porch looks like a lovely spot to sit year-round.

And there's an outdoor porch as well.

On the lower level, there's a huge space with a tiled floor that the current owners are using as a game room and bar.

It also has a fireplace.

There's also a vintage barn that doubles as a two-car garage. It has loft space and boat storage (not pictured.)

Look at that view.

The house has lake access and a dock, though the listing doesn't provide photos. It is a two-hour drive from Manhattan.