1538 Cliffs Ln
Ely, IA 52227
2 Beds
1.5 Baths
1,762 sqft (on 14.47 acres)
2 Beds
1.5 Baths
1,762 sqft
(on 14.47 acres)
Local Information
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Description
***DO NOT attempt to drive by this property. This property is only accessible via an appointment as access requires crossing multiple property owner's properties and they need to be notified and approve of the access. There is no public access and multiple gates will need to be opened for scheduled showings. All showings require 48 hour notice.***
This one is special. Built in 1939, by renowned Cedar Rapids philanthropists, Howard and Margaret Hall, originally as a weekend retreat cabin, called the Pal House. This tudor style home was thoughtfully designed by Howard to reflect his love of water and as a place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Palisades Park. Built from locally sourced, square cut dolomite limestone, this home is situated on a 90 foot cliff overlooking the Cedar River and Palisades Park. A copper roof was added in 2010 by the current owner. Upon entering the cabin, you'll notice the waterfall feature and iron gate. The open concept dining and living room features a statement limestone fireplace and has a nautical theme throughout. There are panoramic views of Palisades Park and the Cedar River. The primary bedroom and bathroom were completely remodeled in 2010. Meticulous care was taken to ensure the integrity and continuity of the home was maintained with this remodel. The primary bathroom features a walk-in shower, copper sink, built in cabinets, and a concealed stackable washer and dryer. The primary bedroom has a cedar lined closet. There is a galley style kitchen with stainless steel appliances. There is a hidden entrance to the basement in the kitchen. The basement houses the mechanicals of the home, including the geothermal unit. The loft features a sitting area that overlooks the living and dining space. The loft bedroom has a half bath and built-in storage. There are multiple levels of outdoor flagstone patio space, including an outdoor fireplace with cast iron kettle and built in seating. There is an additional 308 sq foot open concept 1 story cabin on the property. The 14.47 acres of this property are heavily wooded but also offer 2 open pastures. There is no public access to this property, so privacy, nature, exploration, spectacular views, and relaxation abound in this one of a kind property.
This one is special. Built in 1939, by renowned Cedar Rapids philanthropists, Howard and Margaret Hall, originally as a weekend retreat cabin, called the Pal House. This tudor style home was thoughtfully designed by Howard to reflect his love of water and as a place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Palisades Park. Built from locally sourced, square cut dolomite limestone, this home is situated on a 90 foot cliff overlooking the Cedar River and Palisades Park. A copper roof was added in 2010 by the current owner. Upon entering the cabin, you'll notice the waterfall feature and iron gate. The open concept dining and living room features a statement limestone fireplace and has a nautical theme throughout. There are panoramic views of Palisades Park and the Cedar River. The primary bedroom and bathroom were completely remodeled in 2010. Meticulous care was taken to ensure the integrity and continuity of the home was maintained with this remodel. The primary bathroom features a walk-in shower, copper sink, built in cabinets, and a concealed stackable washer and dryer. The primary bedroom has a cedar lined closet. There is a galley style kitchen with stainless steel appliances. There is a hidden entrance to the basement in the kitchen. The basement houses the mechanicals of the home, including the geothermal unit. The loft features a sitting area that overlooks the living and dining space. The loft bedroom has a half bath and built-in storage. There are multiple levels of outdoor flagstone patio space, including an outdoor fireplace with cast iron kettle and built in seating. There is an additional 308 sq foot open concept 1 story cabin on the property. The 14.47 acres of this property are heavily wooded but also offer 2 open pastures. There is no public access to this property, so privacy, nature, exploration, spectacular views, and relaxation abound in this one of a kind property.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Trulia. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources. This description is from September 01, 2023
Home Highlights
Parking
No Info
Outdoor
Patio
A/C
Heating & Cooling
HOA
None
Price/Sqft
No Info
Listed
180+ days ago
Home Details for 1538 Cliffs Ln
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Interior Details Basement: Crawl Space,PartialNumber of Rooms: 1 |
Beds & Baths Number of Bedrooms: 2Number of Bathrooms: 2Number of Bathrooms (full): 1Number of Bathrooms (half): 1 |
Dimensions and Layout Living Area: 1762 Square Feet |
Appliances & Utilities Appliances: Dryer, Dishwasher, Electric Water Heater, Microwave, Range, Refrigerator, WasherDishwasherDryerLaundry: Main LevelMicrowaveRefrigeratorWasher |
Heating & Cooling Heating: GeothermalHas CoolingAir Conditioning: Geothermal,Wall/Window Unit(s)Has HeatingHeating Fuel: Geothermal |
Fireplace & Spa Fireplace: Electric, Wood BurningHas a Fireplace |
Levels, Entrance, & Accessibility Stories: 1.5Levels: One and One Half |
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Exterior Home Features Patio / Porch: PatioExterior: Fence |
Parking & Garage No Attached GarageParking: Guest,None |
Frontage Not on Waterfront |
Water & Sewer Sewer: Septic Tank |
Finished Area Finished Area (above surface): 1762 Square Feet |
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Year Built Year Built: 1939 |
Property Type / Style Property Type: ResidentialProperty Subtype: Single Family ResidenceArchitecture: One and One Half Story |
Building Building: See RemarksConstruction Materials: Masonry, StoneNot a New Construction |
Property Information Parcel Number: 181435100300000 |
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Price List Price: $1,300,000 |
Status Change & Dates Off Market Date: Tue Aug 15 2023Possession Timing: Immediately |
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MLS Status: Closed |
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Direction & Address City: Ely |
School Information Elementary School: Mt VernonJr High / Middle School: Mt VernonHigh School: Mt Vernon |
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Association for this Listing: Cedar Rapids Area Association Of RealtorsNo HOA |
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Lot Area: 14.47 Acres |
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Listing Terms: Cash, Conventional |
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BasementMls Number: 2303469Living Area Range Units: Square FeetAbove Grade Unfinished Area: 1762Above Grade Unfinished Area Units: Square FeetBelow Grade Unfinished Area Units: Square FeetUniversal Property Id: US-19113-N-181435100300000-R-N |
Last check for updates: about 11 hours ago
Listed by Mindy Martin, (319) 521-3974
SKOGMAN REALTY
Bought with: Rachael Ray, (319) 270-3104, SKOGMAN REALTY
Originating MLS: Cedar Rapids Area Association Of Realtors
Source: CRAAR, CDRMLS, MLS#2303469
Price History for 1538 Cliffs Ln
| Date | Price | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/01/2023 | $1,250,000 | Sold | CRAAR, CDRMLS #2303469 |
| 08/16/2023 | $1,300,000 | Pending | CRAAR, CDRMLS #2303469 |
| 06/02/2023 | $1,300,000 | Listed For Sale | CRAAR, CDRMLS #2303469 |
| 06/29/2009 | $729,500 | Sold | N/A |
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Property Tax and Assessment
| Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Tax | $5,808 |
| Assessment | $477,600 |
Home facts updated by county records
Comparable Sales for 1538 Cliffs Ln
Address | Distance | Property Type | Sold Price | Sold Date | Bed | Bath | Sqft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.20 | Single-Family Home | $550,000 | 03/17/26 | 4 | 3 | 3,379 | |
1.41 | Single-Family Home | $335,000 | 08/25/25 | 4 | 2 | 1,936 | |
1.92 | Single-Family Home | $277,500 | 10/31/25 | 2 | 2.5 | 1,690 | |
1.95 | Single-Family Home | $290,000 | 07/25/25 | 4 | 2 | 1,668 | |
2.51 | Single-Family Home | $159,900 | 10/07/25 | 3 | 2 | 1,344 | |
3.11 | Single-Family Home | $150,000 | 01/12/26 | 2 | 1 | 1,369 | |
1.41 | Single-Family Home | $235,000 | 09/05/25 | - | - | ||
3.07 | Single-Family Home | $205,000 | 12/12/25 | 3 | 1.5 | 1,476 | |
1.50 | Single-Family Home | $465,000 | 09/05/25 | - | - | ||
3.47 | Single-Family Home | $555,366 | 03/30/26 | 3 | 2 | 2,266 |
Assigned Schools
These are the assigned schools for 1538 Cliffs Ln.
- Mount Vernon Middle School
- 5-8
- Public
- 397 Students
9/10GreatSchools RatingParent Rating AverageN/AStudent Review18y ago - Washington Elementary School
- PK-4
- Public
- 537 Students
7/10GreatSchools RatingParent Rating AverageThe principal, Kate Stanton is the worst principal I've been around. My daughter was falsely accused of something minor that she had no part or knowledge of. Instead of contacting a parent, Stanton interrogated and threatened my child to elicit a false confession. After my child came home crying, I contacted Stanton and I was given an audible "huff" over the phone and a refusal to listen or give any information. She flat out lied about having evidence while interrogating my child. She is the worst! That being said, the teachers are fantastic. Luckily, iowa law changed which allows the teachers to report to the parents, as they previously only reported to Stanton. Other than her, the district is great!Parent Review1y ago - Mount Vernon High School
- 9-12
- Public
- 468 Students
5/10GreatSchools RatingParent Rating AverageI agree and disagree. The class sizes are a very good sizes for learning. There does need to be more language options and more electives for a broader set of students. But the principal is very good. He is very active with the students and gets to know all of their names before the end of their Freshman year. The campus should not be closed. It should be a open campus for kids who want to eat food from the local; Subway, Gary's, Dairy Queen, Hardee's, or Casey's General Store. It also lets the students feel more free and mature. With that said only a few students will take advantage of this anyways. Most of the teachers are good with a few exceptions that we have had trouble with being too biased or discriminating towards specific groups of kids. Their biggest priority is to not waste their money like they tend to do and invest it in more classes like; language classes, computer science classes, and varied math classes.Parent Review10y ago 
Check out schools near 1538 Cliffs Ln.
What Locals Say about Ely
At least 8 Trulia users voted on each feature.
100 % Say parking is easy
100 % Say there are sidewalks
100 % Say car is needed
94 % Say streets are well-lit
92 % Say it's dog friendly
90 % Say kids play outside
90 % Say people would walk alone at night
88 % Say there's holiday spirit
80 % Say there are community events
75 % Say it's walkable to restaurants
73 % Say it's quiet
73 % Say yards are well-kept
67 % Say neighbors are friendly
67 % Say they plan to stay for at least 5 years
18 % Say there's wildlife
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Homes for rent near 1538 Cliffs Ln
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Off Market Homes Near 1538 Cliffs Ln
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- SOLDAPR 10, 2026Michael Van Dyke, Watts Group Realty
- SOLDMAR 30, 2026Michael Van Dyke, Watts Group Realty
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- SOLDFEB 20, 2026Jason Vestweber, SKOGMAN REALTY
- SOLDJAN 16, 2026Meridith Hoffman, Pinnacle Realty LLC
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1538 Cliffs Ln, Ely, IA 52227 is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,762 sqft single-family home built in 1939. This property is not currently available for sale. 1538 Cliffs Ln was last sold on Sep 1, 2023 for $1,250,000 (4% lower than the asking price of $1,300,000). The current Trulia Estimate for 1538 Cliffs Ln is $773,700.