A one-of-a-kind St. Croix River retreat

David Francis' home looks like a houseboat. But it doesn't live like one.

"Everyone thinks it's like living on a houseboat," he said of the wood-and-glass residence that sits on a narrow strip of land on the edge of the St. Croix River. "But houseboats are small and bouncy and insubstantial. This is solid as a rock."

Its unique setting, however, offers waterfront living and panoramic views of the nearby bluffs.

"You walk down a long hallway and suddenly the river is revealed in an astonishing way," he said. "It also feels private because you can't see any houses on the other side."

Previous owners told Francis that the home, which was built in 1972 for $300,000, was designed by an architect. And Francis has come to consider the two-story structure an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright because of its rectangular forms and thoughtful placement on the river lot.

"It's like an A-frame on the land side and then it cantilevers out over the water," he said.

For the past 10 years, Francis has spent his summers in the boat-like house in St. Croix Falls, Wis., his winters in Florida. But the retired advertising executive is ready to relinquish his snowbird status -- and his 3,150-square-foot home.

To attract a wider pool of potential buyers, he recently lowered the price from $1.45 million to $975,000. And although he's ready to sell the home, which is about an hour drive from the Twin Cities, he'll miss the river's magical qualities.

"In the morning when the river is like glass, the pine trees on the Minnesota side are perfectly reflected in the water," he said.

• The two-story home has three bedrooms and four bathrooms.

• Every room has access to an outdoor deck.

• The interior features exotic woods including walnut and pecan.

• There are wood-burning fireplaces in the living room, screened porch and an upstairs bedroom.

• A large deck that wraps around the screened porch is outfitted with an outdoor grill and refrigerator.

• There's a dock attached to the south side of the house.

• Instead of a garage, vehicles are parked in an open carport that's tucked under the second story.

Lynn Underwood • 612-673-7619

To have a unique property considered for a Homegazing feature, please send digital photos and a description to lunderwood@startribune.com.