A waterfront treehouse might seem like a childhood daydream conjured from the pages of a picture book, but this fantastic aerie, just outside Charlotte and on the shores of South Carolina’s Lake Wylie, is very real.

Just one owner has called 1665 Bowater Road home since its completion in 1970. Thoughtfully updated, this bucolic retreat now invites its next residents to enjoy relaxed living in nature’s embrace, just a half hour from the Queen City.

Set on more than half an acre, this two-bedroom, two-bath getaway has a surprisingly spacious 1,057 square feet of living space, cunningly designed to take advance of its location perched up among the tree tops. The property also features a private dock and a direct pathway to the water.

Enter the house and there’s a small flex space that serves as a kind of welcoming prologue before you ascend the metal spiral staircase into the showstopper of an upstairs. The unusually shaped upper level, a multifaceted polygon shape, has floor-to-ceiling windows encircling the entire space and a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. The stairs immediately deposit you into a cheerful, compact kitchen equipped with new appliances, as well as cupboards and a little breakfast island for two, all painted a sunny yellow.

Round the corner from the kitchen to enter the larger upstairs living area, or twirl yourself the other way to arrive at the two bedrooms. Either direction will lead you to a space bordered with walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a sensation of living entirely outside, while actually being cozily cosseted from the elements by the glass and wood surroundings. There’s a view of the water through the trees and one of the bedrooms has a private deck for an additional bit of indoor-outdoor lifestyle. There’s no need for a big screen television when the view from the sofa or the bed is constantly changing throughout the day and throughout the year, displaying all the colors of nature in their resplendent glory.

Immediately surrounding the house is ample decking, ideal for an outdoor dining set. There’s already a mid-century style chiminea, with plenty of space remaining for a grill, an outdoor pizza oven, and more. A set of stairs leads from the house to the private dock, with lots of room to launch your vessel of choice for a relaxing paddle to visit a neighbor or just to enjoy a day out on the water.

Lake Wylie spans North Carolina and South Carolina, and Rock Hill sits close to the border of the two states. Despite technically being in South Carolina, Rock Hill is considered a suburb of Charlotte. It’s easy enough to hop in the car on a Friday night, spend the weekend surrounded by nature, and still make it back in time for the Monday morning stand-up after coffee on the lake.

There’s plenty of boating, swimming, and fishing opportunities on Lake Wylie, an abundance of nearby parks, and a burgeoning craft beer scene that’s inspired its own Brew Trail, with 13 breweries on the list. A visit to Papa Doc’s Shore Club is a tradition for Lake Wylie residents, with options to eat at the lakefront restaurant (whether you’re arriving by boat or by car), or call ahead and take advantage of their ‘Boat to Go’ service, a dockside drive-thru option.