wilcoxestate.com – Experience a one-of-a-kind luxury home in East Grand Rapids.

WELCOME TO THE WILCOX ESTATE
681 Laurel Circle SE, East Grand Rapids, Michigan

Enjoy the dramatic photomontage of this iconic and completely re-envisioned manor home that has been lovingly remodeled with over $2MM in updates, so that it is move-in ready for you.

The Wilcox Estate is an iconic property in East Grand Rapids has been our family home for 8 years.
Throughout those years we have acted as stewards perpetuating a legacy that harkens back to the Gilded Age of the late 1900’s. But don’t let the age of the home trouble you since every space has been transformed for today’s living. All the charm is intact and the upgrades are on-trend, blending seamlessly with the home’s provenance going back to 1888.

This luxury French Eclectic Chateau-styled home on professionally landscaped grounds
was built by renowned property developer, lawyer, and civic leader, Frederick P. Wilcox. The original 40 acre property was a prominent home in the newly formed Village of East Grand Rapids. Reeds Lake was a popular horse-and-buggy destination for city dwellers to enjoy lakeside entertainment at the Ramona Amusement Park.

Built in 1880

Historic home updated for modern living with all conveniences

1.68 acres

Extensive estate grounds with professional landscaping, mature trees and professionally maintained shrubbery.

7,041 sq.ft

Interior space spread over 3 floors, with extensive remodeling exceeding $2MM in upgrades.

Professsonal Landscaping

Extensive lawn, mature trees, and shrubs. Design and installation by premier landscaper Gary Kappas

Professional design and construction

Construction and design by luxury home contractors (Matrix), professional architect (Robert Daverman) and interior design (Reimagine Spaces), so no hidden surprises.

Timeless aethetics

Transitional design elements strike the right balance between traditional and modern living.

5 Bedrooms

5 bedrooms with additional sleeping space in multi-purpose room

5.5 Bathrooms

5 full bathrooms (shower/tub), powder room, and Jack-and-Jill sink.

Garage

Two-car heated garage, high-amp EV charger, epoxy floor and garage door openers. Driveway parking for up to 10 more cars.

Pool

Full swimming pool with diving board, with easy-maintenance features

Safe Room

Hidden secret family safe room for extreme weather shelter, home intrusion refuge, with emergency supplies.

Custom Furniture

Hard-to-find custom furniture conveys. Circular seat, chaise lounge, window seat cushions, theater seating in media room

Nanny's Quarters / Mother-in-Law Suite

Main floor ensuite with attached bath, and kitchenette for flexible use as nanny quarters, mother-in-law unit, or guest room.

Move-in-Ready

Move in ready means you can start living on day one. Over 50 items of furniture, tools, portable small appliances convey.

No Deferred Maintenance

Painstaking fixes to all items on inspection report. Includes new roof, some new HVAC systems, new smoke detectors etc. Full documentation and house plans.

Privacy without Isolation

Location is shielded by trees from traffic and most street sounds. Yet, location is under 1 mile from Gaslight District City Center.

Grand Exterior

generous living spaces

Gourmet Cook's Kitchen

spacious bedrooms and baths

unique rooms

dramatic outdoor living

Timeless architectural details

Provenance

Frederick P. Wilcox: Pioneer of East Grand Rapids

Frederick P. Wilcox embodied the entrepreneurial spirit of late 19th-century America. Born in Rochester, New York in 1857, he earned his law degree from the University of Michigan before establishing his practice in Adrian, Michigan. In 1886, he married Carolyn Hill and boldly relocated to the rapidly growing city of Grand Rapids, where electric lights and telephones were just beginning to appear in homes.

Wilcox quickly pivoted from law to real estate and lending, demonstrating remarkable business acumen. He acquired farmland near Reeds Lake from George Young, John Apsey, and Ezra & Sophia Reed, creating what became the San-Lu-Rae subdivision—named for three of the first Wilcox’s five children: Sanford, Louise, and Raymond. His office in the newly constructed Wonderly Building placed him at the heart of Grand Rapids’ commercial district.

A civic leader as well as businessman, Wilcox served as one of the first presidents of the newly incorporated Village of East Grand Rapids from 1892-1893, when the community boasted just 300 residents. He championed education, serving on the U.B.A. Board of Trustees and funding youth scholarships.

Frederick and Carolyn were generous philanthropists, donating their Dutch Revival city home to the YWCA and contributing funds for what became Wilcox Park. When Frederick died unexpectedly in 1912 at age 55, Carolyn admirably continued his business while raising their five children. She divided their estate among the children in 1913, who built an interconnected family compound between 1924-1928, creating a lasting legacy in East Grand Rapids.

And just next door, experience the privacy of a towering decorative brick facade that was the original Wilcox family entertainment compound. Originally boasting squash courts, an in-ground pool, and an expansive grass and brick courtyard.

The Wilcox Mansion: A Gilded Age Masterpiece

Hidden deep within thirty wooded acres near Reeds Lake, the Wilcox mansion at 1940 Lake Drive stands as a testament to Gilded Age grandeur and architectural eclecticism. Built in 1888, this remarkable residence seamlessly blends French Eclectic, Italian Villa, and Beaux Arts influences into a cohesive masterpiece that captures the optimism and prosperity of late 19th-century America.

The home’s dramatic exterior immediately commands attention with its steep pyramidal hipped roof crowned by a distinctive flat-roofed tower bearing a molded crest and cross. Stucco walls punctuated by graceful palladium windows create an asymmetrical yet balanced composition, while decorative bracketing and balustrade balconies add refined European touches. A 1990s addition thoughtfully extended the dining room’s rounded bay to the second story, enhancing the château-like character without compromising the original vision.

Inside, the mansion unfolds as a series of carefully orchestrated spaces designed for both grand entertaining and intimate family life. The enclosed foyer opens dramatically into a vast reception hall that serves as the home’s heart, providing access to all major rooms while maintaining sight lines throughout the first floor. The formal dining room showcases exceptional craftsmanship with rich walnut paneling, ornate plaster reliefs featuring fleur-de-lis and thistle motifs, and stunning leaded glass windows depicting a galleon ship flanked by medieval lords and ladies.

Luxurious details abound: built-in library bookcases with leaded glass doors, an ornately carved fireplace mantel surrounded by decorative tiles, and rich dark wood floors that may be walnut or mahogany. An iron staircase with pointed balustrades leads to five second-floor bedrooms and four baths, while a third-floor room provides additional space under the dramatic roofline.

This architectural gem represents not just a family home, but a tangible link to Grand Rapids’ transformation from frontier town to sophisticated city.

The Wilcox Estate Brag Book

The brag book was compiled from archival records researched by interns at the East Grand Rapids public library. We will turn this over to the new owners of the estate.

The books has some key fun facts such as the lineage of the home, newspaper clipping of the major events of the previous owners, copies of documents about the life of the owners from the early 1900’s.

Here are some fun facts:
– The Wilcox Estate had a different address in: 1940 Lake Drive. The estate entry was routed off the main road in 1888.

– Frederick (Potter) Wilcox was born in 1857 in Rochester, NY. and got his law degree from the University of Michigan. (A Wolverine!)

– Mr. Wilcox died of a heart attack at age 55, one morning when walking on the lawn of the estate, leaving a widow, two daughters and three sons. (Obituary included).

– A young Winston Churchill is purported to have visited the home during his invitation to speak at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids (Unconfirmed.)

– The home was listed for a princely sum of $65,000 in March 1965, and listed as a “majestic manor”

– San-Lu-Rae road in East Grand Rapids is named after three Wilcox children: Sanford, Louise, and Raymond.

– The young Winston Churchill is rumored to have visited with Frederick P. Wilcox at the house during Churchill’s stay with Leonard on Heritage Hill. Churchill had attended talks at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids.