Surrounded by dense woods on all sides, the two-storey rustic home looks like something out of a storybook — the kind of place one only finds if lost or following breadcrumbs.

Turning off the main road, a private driveway winds through the 1.2-hectare (three-acre) wooded retreat, tucked beside Stevensville Conservation Area, opening into a quiet clearing. The dark board-and-batten-sided home has the feel of a modern-country wood cabin, seamlessly blending in with the natural forest.

The home at 4121 Fox Rd. backs onto Stevensville Conservation Area.| Ruzycki Real Estate

“It’s got a bit of a chalet-style or cottage vibe, and you don’t see many of these in this area … you have more standardized homes,” said salesperson Frank J. Ruzycki. “(It has) a more artistic style that you only really see in northern Ontario.”

The main living room. | Ruzycki Real Estate

Listed for $749,900, the home on Fox Road was built in 1982 using higher-quality materials, including wood plank siding and a metal roof, to give it a longer life. Since its construction, the home has only changed hands once, with the current owner having spent more than 30 years on the property.

“She’s an artsy person herself and that’s what really drew her to it. You can be tucked away and be yourself with your own creative, personal space. It is a one-bedroom styled home with a loft above, it spoke to her,” said Ruzycki.

“It’s been kept very similar to when she purchased it, just because she liked the style.”

The home has a wood-burning fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows. | Ruzycki Real Estate

The 126.4-square-metre (1,361-square-foot) home is light and open, with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame its outdoor surroundings. A brick accent wall and wood-burning stove fireplace keep the space warm and inviting, with hardwood floors and carpet.

The kitchen and bathrooms have been updated, but the basement, with laundry and storage space, remains partially unfinished.

On the second floor, a loft-level primary suite features a two-piece bathroom.

An open floor plan kitchen. | Ruzycki Real Estate

Sliding doors open into the outdoor living space, with twinkle lights, a gazebo, circular firepit and matching shed for what Ruzycki called an inviting atmosphere for quiet nights or creative gatherings.

Because much of the land is protected, the owner made only small outdoor changes. The area around the house has been cleared, with a creek running behind the home, but little else has been done to the landscape.

“If you lift it up, it’s not going to affect anything. (They) didn’t dig into the ground except for the house and the septic,” he said. “It kept a minimized profile on the land around it and really utilized the land that it had … they really made it their own.”

The primary loft-style bedroom. | Ruzycki Real Estate

With no risk of future development, that is part of the charm for a buyer seeking privacy and peace — and a natural green space for a backyard.

Forever surrounded by trees, wildlife and stillness.

The property is enveloped by deciduous hardwood forest, a pocket of Niagara’s Carolinian forest — a rare and ecologically valuable ecosystem that once covered much of southern Ontario.

“You can’t develop the land further. You can probably clear it a bit closer to the road, but anything farther south of the house is all protected land,” said Ruzycki, adding the owner gets a tax break for 0.4 hectares (one acre) that is protected for trees and wildlife.

A gazebo with string lights. | Ruzycki Real Estate

“You have to leave the land very similar to how you found it.”

Ruzycki described the property as a rare, one-of-a-kind opportunity to make a forest a home. It’s the type of space that could inspire artists, musicians or other creatives desiring more than just property. With complete privacy, there’s room for a studio, to work among the trees and fully be immersed in the natural surroundings.

The appeal for the right buyer lies in the space, seclusion and freedom to create.

The gazebo view. | Ruzycki Real Estate

“It’s a spot where you can go outside and you’re very seldom hearing city noise and can be alone to do what you want,” he said.

“Have that connection to the area around it, where you’re going to be alone with your thoughts.”

The home at 4121 Fox Rd. is down the road from Safari Niagara. | Ruzycki Real Estate

PRICE: $749,900

4121 Fox Rd., Stevensville

Bedroom/bathrooms: 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms

Living space: 1,361 square feet

Lot size: 3 acres

Features: The two-storey board-and-batten home has a loft-level primary bedroom, wood-burning fireplace, partially finished basement and municipal water.

Neighbourhood: The Mulgrave home is walking distance to downtown Stevensville and Safari Niagara, and a drive away to Crystal Beach, Ridgeway and Niagara Falls with easy highway access.

Listing Agent: Frank J. Ruzycki (Ruzycki Real Estate, RE/MAX Niagara Realty Ltd.)