Eagle Lake, once nameless, was known locally as "The Bunker" due to its unusual underground structure. In the late 1970s, an ambitious man dug into a hillside overlooking the 6-acre lake and built a 12,000 square-foot concrete fortress. The bunker was designed with thick walls, a climate-controlled interior, and steel louvres for protection, though it was never fully completed. Rumors suggested it was built to protect a growing security business, possibly serving clients like Pan Am and The New York Tribune.

The estate, spanning 25 acres, included the bunker, a walled courtyard, a radio tower, school buses with barred windows, a greenhouse, dog kennels, and a shooting range. A nearby contemporary house was meant for a guard, but the owner died before the project could be finished, leaving the property abandoned for years. The bunker fell into disrepair, and the lake became overgrown with debris.

In 1999, a hopeful couple saw potential in the neglected estate. With little money and no bank loan, they purchased it, dreaming of transforming it into a home and a base for their environmental business. Over the next 18 years, they revived the property. They cleaned the lake, created a beach and dock, built paths, planted gardens, and restored the land to its natural beauty.

Now, Eagle Lake is a peaceful retreat. Bald eagles, often seen soaring over the lake, embody the spirit of the transformed estate. The property, once a blight, is now a beautiful sanctuary—a rare gem in the heart of New Jersey.

www.estateateaglelake.com