46-year home sale at $725,000 in Windy Ghoul Estates

A ranch house at 135 Windy Ghoul Drive in Beaver County is listed for $725,000. The property, built in 1953, was owned by the Dugan family for 46 years before they put it on the market. Adam Cannon and Brianna Markham of The Cannon Group at Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty are handling the sale.

The home sits on more than an acre of land within Windy Ghoul Estates, a community known for its tree-lined streets and large lots. The neighborhood features homes constructed between the 1930s and the 1950s. The specific property at 135 Windy Ghoul Drive is a single-story structure that measures 2,800 square feet. This total includes a large, attached three-stall garage.

Tom Dugan, a neurologist, and his wife Jean moved to the area in 1981 from New Hampshire. At the time, they were raising an 18-month-old toddler and a 6-week-old infant. Tom established a medical practice linked to the Beaver Medical Center, which had recently formed from the merger of hospitals in Rochester, New Brighton, and Beaver Falls. The medical facility is now known as AHN Beaver Hospital.

The family chose the location for its convenience. Tom noted that he could reach the hospital in 45 seconds to a minute. The house also allowed the family to roll down the hill to the town of Beaver in a similar amount of time. The Dugans have made several additions to the home over the decades to accommodate their family of four children.

Recent renovations include an updated primary suite with a new bathroom and walk-in closet. The owners also added a swimming pool complex, a finished basement, and a basketball court. These features turned the property into a gathering spot for neighbors and extended family. Tom recalled hosting up to 60 people around the pool without feeling cramped. The large basement and baseball court were frequently used by their children and friends.

Inside the home, the family room features a vaulted ceiling and a walk-up loft that provides easy access to the pool area. A separate sitting room contains a stone fireplace, while a second fireplace is located in the formal living room. Hardwood floors, exposed beams, and oversized windows connect the different living zones. The kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, wood cabinetry, and stone counters. The formal dining room has built-in storage space, which the Dugans used for hosting large Christmas Eve dinners.

The primary suite is situated in a sunken area of the house. Its updated bathroom includes a double vanity and a walk-in glass shower. Three additional bedrooms offer roomy closets. An original full bathroom remains in the home, providing an opportunity for a new owner to either renovate the space or preserve its vintage character. Agent Adam Cannon described the home as thoughtfully maintained, noting the expanded living spaces and versatile floor plan.

The property offers convenient access to I-376 and is within a 30-minute commute to Pittsburgh. Cannon highlighted the home’s history, noting that it has been owned by the same family for 46 years. This long tenure, he said, adds a sense of history and pride of ownership to the property. The house is described as a rare combination in one of Beaver County’s most established neighborhoods.

The Dugans bought the home during a period of national economic turmoil, when interest rates stood between 14% and 15%. They navigated market fluctuations over the years by refinancing and making improvements. Tom Dugan expressed hope that a young family would purchase the home. He wanted the new owners to have as many family memories and experiences as the Dugans did over nearly half a century.