5700 E Gershmel Loop, Palmer, AK 99645

Description

Not a cookie-cutter house--this is an Alaskan original. Tucked out of sight on private acreage in the Palmer-Wasilla commute corridor, about 2.4 miles to the Mat-Su Regional Hospital, this remarkable custom home blends original log construction w/ soaring wood ceilings, expansive windows, exposed beams and logs, brick, and an extraordinary antique Franklin fireplace reported to date back to 1864. Built just over 50 years ago, the home has the kind of scale, warmth, and individuality that would be enormously expensive to recreate today. The dramatic vaulted great room is the heart of the house, surrounded by substantial natural wood and architectural character. Four bedrooms include two exceptionally large rooms, with remarkably generous walk-in closets, and every bedroom has its own gas fireplace--an almost unheard-of luxury that gives the home an unmistakably cozy Alaskan feel.

And the interesting spaces just keep coming. There is a south-facing pass-through sunroom, a library/dining room area, a separate office or craft room, an unusual loft connecting the upstairs bedroom area, and several decks--including private decks accessed directly from bedrooms. One full bath plus three ¾ baths provide exceptional flexibility for a home of this size, and an attached two-bay garage completes the picture.

Below the 4078 SqFt of finished main level and second floors is 1344 SqFt of unfinished daylight basement, opening another entire level of possibilities for storage, workshop space, hobbies, recreation, or future finishing. The home has recently undergone substantial preparation for market, including new flooring, refinished hardwood, some rooms with fresh paint, and completion of other work that has brought the property back to a fully livable condition while preserving the character that makes it special.

Outside, the setting is equally unusual. The home sits privately at the top of a bluff and cannot be seen from the road, with readily usable land surrounding the homesite and glimpses of the surrounding mountains. The acreage continues below the bluff across Wasilla Creek and the railroad corridor, creating a property with layers, privacy, and potential long-term development possibilities beyond the immediate sub-dividable homesite.

Some finishes still reflect the home's history, making this an especially compelling opportunity for the buyer who values authentic character and wants the freedom to update selectively.