Fisher Price Co-Founder Used to Test Toys In This $399K Lakefront Cottage

A four-bedroom cottage that was originally designed and built by Irving Price, co-creator of the Fisher Price Toy Company, has hit the market on the shores of Lake Erie for the bargain price of $399,000.

Built in 1926 to serve as the Price family’s summer cottage, the waterfront property in Fredonia, NY, is where the innovator is said to have tested out new toys, according to neighbors.

“Originally designed and built by Irving Price, co-creator of the Fisher Price Toy Company, as his family’s summer cottage, this home carries a rich and charming history,” the listing crows.

“Over the years, neighbors have shared stories of how Mr. Price would test his new toys on Greencrest.”

The latest listing marks the first time in more than five decades that the home has been put on the market, having been sold by the Price family many years ago. The current owner does not have any relation to Irving or his descendants, but the toy creator’s original design is still very much in place.

“The seller has owned the home for the last 52 years,” said listing agent Edward Miller III of ERA Team VP Real Estate. “It’s very rustic inside where the walls are open so you can talk over them.”

Nestled in the “Greencrest-on-the-Lake” community, the home sits on nearly three-quarters of an acre with premier water frontage and a private beach for swimming and boating.

“It has 155 feet of lake frontage, which is incredible,” Miller said. “Most homes have 40 to 75 feet, if you are lucky. The lot alone is worth $250,000. The beach is what this property all about.”

Found throughout the 1,155-square-foot interior are vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and hardwood floors.

Miller says the seasonal residence could easily be converted into a year-round home, if the next buyer wanted.

And while the interior may be rustic, the home’s plum location so close to the lake has already turned it into a hot commodity among prospective buyers, Miller revealed.

“We already have three offers on the property, but I could see a family coming in and enjoying summers on the lake or grandparents buying it for the entire family,” he noted. “Being that it is seasonal, you can’t finance unless you have year-round heat and this home does not have that.”

The cozy living room offers a floor-to-ceiling wood-burning fireplace. There is also a “compact kitchen” and a primary suite with French doors that open up to the spectacular waterfront views.

Two more bedrooms, including a bunk room, are ideal for guests. A loft area could also be used for additional sleeping accommodations or transformed into an entertainment area.

A water-facing covered porch would be a nice spot for morning coffee or to enjoy the stunning sunsets over the lake.

The property is located near Lake Erie State Park and is within walking distance of Van Buren Point and Van Buren Bay.

“It’s a strong neighborhood with a lot of retired professionals,” Miller added. “It’s also a college town. University of Fredonia is here and it is centrally located. Erie, PA is only an hour away.”

Irving and his family originally built the home five years before he founded Fisher Price alongside Herman Fisher and Helen Schelle.

While it is not known exactly how long the toy inventor and his family owned the property, Irving spent a great deal of time in upstate New York, having retired from his role with Fisher Price in around 1966.

Kellie Speed is a contributor to Realtor.com. As a writer and editor, she has worked for a variety of online and print publications, including Inked magazine, Jetset, Westchester magazine, JustLuxe, The Boston Globe, and U.S. Veterans Magazine. A Massachusetts native, Kellie attended Northeastern University for journalism, was previously the Boston editor for Haute Living, and contributed to Avalon Publishing’s Moon Metro Boston guidebook. Kellie writes celebrity profiles and covers restaurants, travel, and lifestyle.