"The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times - Oak Bluffs

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Entire home

Relax in the rocking chairs with a good book

Waiting for you and a pitcher of iced tea!

The carousel cutouts make this one of the most photographed houses on Ocean Park

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.8

Exceptional

6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12279 sq m

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Dryer

Check-in time

3:00 PM

Check-out time

10:00 AM

Explore the area

Oak Bluffs, MA

Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal3 min walk
Oak Bluffs Harbor4 min walk
Inkwell Beach7 min walk
Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard)14 min drive

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

2 Single Beds

Sunroom

1 Double Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Dining Area

About this property

"The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times

This house, built in 1865, was featured in the New York Times article on Oak Bluffs, 'The President Was Here (Grant, That Is).' The article described the unique Victorian homes on Ocean Avenue as 'the Fifth Avenue of Oak Bluffs.' Our house was featured in the article, and photographed in the New York Times online slide show. It is a unique Victorian home, wonderful for family gatherings. The location is ideal - it sits at the heart of Ocean Park, with the closest access to Circuit Avenue of any of the homes on the Park.

The home has been completely renovated, including central air with two zones. Chef's kitchen with granite countertops and stainless appliances, a six burner commercial oven and a wine fridge. Bathroom sinks have marble tops. Four flat screen TVs.

This house has unique charm and convenience. Walk to everything - you don't need a car. The child friendly beach is just across the road, where you can make sandcastles in the sand, or stroll along the boardwalk above the beach, and rest on a bench facing the water. Or stay at home, sit on the porch and gaze over Ocean Park with its iconic gazebo. Have your own private front seat to the concerts and fireworks in Ocean Park during the summer.

It takes about 60 seconds to walk to Circuit Avenue and access the heart of Oak Bluffs: restaurants, quaint shops, art galleries, grocery store, wine and liquor store, hair salon, movies, ice cream parlors, churches, etc. Pick up the bike path from just in front of the house and ride around the island (bike rentals just a short stroll away). Visit the Flying Horses, the oldest carousel in America dating back to the 1800s, just a couple of short blocks away. Take a stroll to the harbor, and see the beautiful yachts docked there. Fly a kite in Ocean Park.

On rainy days, walk just yards away to the movie house, or entertain the kids in the arcade on Circuit Avenue, a 90 second run in the rain! Or stay home and watch movies on the big TV in the living room, or play a board game of Monopoly or Scrabble. Or lose yourself in a book from our small library.

Entire downstairs has hard wired speaker system that you can connect to your phone or tablet, and play your own music.

Be sure to wake up early at least one day of your vacation to catch the breathtaking sunrise over Nantucket Sound, easily visible from the two master bedrooms!

Fun Fact: The Emperor of Ocean Park, the New York Times best seller murder mystery, was written about this house. Read the book before you come, or on the porch while you are here, to relive this home's iconic history. We keep a couple of copies of the book in our bookcase for you to check out while you are with us.

Keywords: House

Property manager

Teresa Clarke

Premier Host

Languages

English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Pool

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

Property Registration Number C0195862210

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Oak Bluffs

Located in Oak Bluffs, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Woods Hole Ferry Terminal and Island Queen Ferry are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Inkwell Beach and Old Silver Beach. Flying Horses Carousel and Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier are also worth visiting. Kayaking and snorkelling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and horse riding nearby.

View more Holiday homes in Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs, MA

What's nearby

Circuit Avenue - 1 min walk
Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal - 3 min walk
Oak Bluffs Harbor - 4 min walk
Oak Bluffs Town Beach - 5 min walk
Inkwell Beach - 7 min walk

Getting around

Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

‪Lookout Tavern - ‬4 min walk
‪Nancy's Restaurant - ‬4 min walk
‪Portuguese American Club - ‬3 min drive
‪Offshore Ale Co. - ‬1 min walk
‪Martha's Vineyard Chowder Company - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Ocean Park and Inkwell Beach. Circuit Avenue and Seaview Beach are just steps away.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Kathie A.

10 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Carousel House

Location is excellent. House has many amenities

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karyn G.

18 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent stay, again!

We love this house and hope to be welcomed back for years to come.

Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Timothy M.

3 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

OB Summer Vacation

Great property, sadly 2nd floor AC was not working. Had to fix it on our own as owner and handy man was no help! Missed and entire beach day because of it.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

David R.

22 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Martha’s Vineyard

Conveniently located in Oak Bluffs! Perfect for my son’s college graduation weekend.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lea C.

26 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Really good location, many bedrooms, clean

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tedi G.

18 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girlfriends Old and New

The trip was phenomenal. We didn't all know each other but have made lifelong connections. The house was the perfect size and location. Beautiful kitchen. We met many locals who came in to chat and took info to possibly rent the house too. All communications with management was easy. We had no negative issues at all. A couple of drawbacks - steep stairs for women of a certain age with bad knees and hips and strange configuration of rooms upstairs above kitchen. Had to pass through rooms to get to shared bathroom. Score still nearly 10. Great experience.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

SEANTA M.

11 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rejuvenation and peaceful….location

We were a group of five besties, one stayed behind due to illness. . Our stay on Oak Bluff at the Carousel House was awesome from initial coordination with our Host, to saying goodbye to the neighbors next door. We each had our own comfortable room and plenty of lounging room around the house. The view of the Atlantic Ocean from the porch and bedroom balconies were PRICELESS!! I asked my group to give me a word to describe their experience and they were very similar; Rejuvenation, peaceful, accommodating, historic, and LOCATION!!!!!! We were a stones throw away from the ocean, Inkwell Beach, great shopping, best restaurants, and the Ferry! We can’t wait to book our next trip!!!!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

John H.

30 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Always great time at the carousel house

Wet relaxing

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kris D.

24 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

N

Very nice place

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gwendolyn O.

12 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

My Vacation Stay at the Carousel House

My Friends and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay for the Seven days. The House is beautiful and the location is prime. It is walking distance to all the Stores and Restaurants and it is right across from the Beach and a beautiful Park. Teresa and Justina were easy to communicate with. I would Definitely stay there again!

Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sthu Z.

14 Oct 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Simply Outstanding

The Carousel House is simply an outstanding luxury home to stay in for that quintessential Martha's Vineyard experience. My family of 3 and I had the most enjoyable stay here at the end of the summer. The house is a true five star experience - and I'd call it relaxed luxury. All the rooms are so well kept and beautifully decorated. It was super clean and we immediately felt at home. The location on Ocean Drive is unbeatable for convenience and access to everything we needed - cool restaurants, shops, art galleries, gingerbread cottages, the Flying Horses carousel and the beach. From our bedroom windows we had the most breathtaking views of the park and the ocean about 3 minutes walking distance. I spent my mornings on the porch watching the spectacular sunrises over the ocean and most afternoons on the same porch enjoying sundowners and reading a book. Teresa is an excellent host. When on one day I mistakenly messed up the television, I called and within minutes a very kind and professional caretaker arrived and sorted our cable issues. Traveling with a 15-month old toddler meant we prepared most of our breakfast at home. The kitchen is a true functional chef's kitchen. Thank you so much for a beautiful Martha's Vineyard experience in a historic but relaxed luxury home.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mary C.

9 Oct 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2021 Vineyard Adventure

Location, Location, Location. The best location in Oak Bluffs. Minor hiccups-faulty door knobs and latches, (property mgr Omar was very responsive), code box with key a little tricky but workable. An extra bath would have been nice for 9 adults, but again it was workable. If your group has leg issues or 55+, the stairs may be a challenge. All bedrooms are on 2nd floor. Sofas need updating for comfort but workable. This property accomplished our goal. Reuniting and connecting with friends. Spending some quality time in a great destination. Overall we had a great time. Thank you Mary and the other 8 members of 9 United Visions

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Anna M.

21 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay

We saw the previous review just before we left, but happily there was no reason to be concerned. Pros: 1. The location was great. The house couldn't be better situated to everything we wanted to do in Oak Bluffs. 2. The kitchen was truly a chef's kitchen - huge and well appointed. 3. The porch! We spent hours on the porch. 4. Teresa and the caretaker were highly responsive and made sure we were happy. 5. House was clean as a whistle. 6. Parking pass (wonderful to be able to park on Ocean Park and leave the car there with no concern about getting a ticket) 7. The house has an amazing history. We love staying in places with stories. There is a write-up from the family that owned it long ago, and a book written about the house. My sister-in-law enjoyed reading the novel on the porch as we were the Emperors of Ocean Park for our stay! Cons: We had to leave. Wish we could have stayed for the rest of the summer!

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Melissa M.

15 July 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Downtown Oak Bluffs property

My mom had always dreamed of staying at this property so when I saw it listed on VRBO I couldn't wait to stay here on our annual MV trip. The property is located right on the Oak Bluffs green which is great. However, one thing to note is that on Friday and Saturday nights it gets quite loud when the bars empty out. The noise didn't last long but it will definitely wake you up. To be expected given its downtown location. The other nights were not loud. Pros: -Great Downtown location -Historic gingerbread home with lots of MV character -Large home with lots of beds to accommodate a large party -Great porch to sip morning coffee or drinks and enjoy all things MV -Air conditioned -Very nice grill -Owner was responsive to issues we had during our stay -During booking, the Owner was very understanding and allowed us to postpone our trip due to Covid 19 -Lovely welcome note and gift upon arrival Cons: -The layout upstairs is quirky requiring one of the bedrooms to cut through the other to get to the shared bath. Main bath has three doors leading into it - just need to be diligent with locking and knocking before entering. -No outdoor table. The dining room seats like 10-12. We were just used to enjoying outdoor meals on vacation. -Oven did not work (owner gave us a $100 credit for this and did buy a toaster oven which was very nice but we typically make certain meals involving an actual oven) -Door knobs and some locks were not working (maintenance did come and fix the front door quickly) -Couches in living room are dirty. We covered them with a sheet while we were there -Overall cleanliness when we arrived was just ok -Parking is a challenge. The house comes with one parking pass which is nice but it is tough to find a spot. It often means driving around or parking far away from the house if you opt to venture out. -Owner is withholding a portion of our security deposit and claiming damages to her ceiling. Hoping this an isolated incident to me but including it here so other renters can be sure to take pictures of everything upon arrival.

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

23 Sept 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house, great location!

We're a family of 9 and just returned from a wonderful stay at the Carousel House. Plenty of room for all of us! Loved the location, we could easily walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants. The owner was very responsive to any requests. Would definitely go back!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca S.

4 Aug 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House in the Heart of Oak Bluffs

We had a wonderful stay at the Carousel House in Oak Bluffs! The owner Teresa was very responsive to any questions we had. The house overlooks Ocean Park, which was great for the kids. Each evening, they were playing football or tossing the frisbee around. During the day, they would walk across the park to Inkwell Beach and hang out. Parking wasn't a big deal, as the house had one parking pass, and the sea wall had ample 24-hour parking during our stay. The location was super convenient being so close to shops, restaurants, Back Door Donuts, and Mad Martha's :) One of our favorite features of the house was the wrap around porch. Unlike other houses on Ocean Ave, the porch was very private, and we were not in the line of sight of our next-door neighbors. The view from the master bedroom was unbeatable, and a great place for early morning coffee. Thanks to Teresa for a great stay on our vacation!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

26 July 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family vacation!

This was our first visit to Martha’s Vineyard and the Carousel House was perfect for our party of 11! Including 8 adults and our 3 grandchildren under the age of 3. Oak Bluffs was the perfect town with its beach, Ocean Park, retail stores and children’s playground at Niantic Park and of course the location of the Carousel House cannot be beat!! We rented cars to tour the whole island one day and took the ferry to Nantucket another day. We were there during the Covid crisis so were happy for the kitchen and dining room that could seat us all for cooking and carrying out! The owner and property manager were immediately available the couple of times that we had questions! Thank you, Teresa!!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nicole F.

20 July 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing week on the Vineyard

We had an amazing week at the Clarke House! The house was clean, comfortable, and amenities were great. You can't beat the location and Teresa was wonderful to work with. I highly recommend.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

17 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thanksgiving 2019

Wonderful place for the family Thanksgiving!! Nicely accommodated three generations ages 8 months to 71 years :-).

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019

4/10 Poor

JEFFREY L.

13 Nov 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Great location but the house needs TLC.

Historic home with an amazing location but the pictures of the exterior from the website were taken when the house was in better shape. The porch and trim need overdue maintenance. The lock on the master bathroom was broken so my buddies wife walked in on me the day we arrived. The door knob on the front door is broken and kept falling off. Nice home in need of maintenance work.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Keith K.

18 Oct 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

Great time, check out Farm neck golf course when staying.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

mcghee o., Chicago, IL

2 Sept 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location.

Caretaker and team excellent. A few things remaining to be done from renovation, but great house.

Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

13 Aug 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Right around the corner from the fun

We loved staying at the Carousel House for our first trip to Martha's Vineyard—"we" being two families with kids. The house is right around the corner from Back Door Donuts & the Arcade and a 2-minute walk from the Carousel. Additionally, the restaurant directly next door to the house was our favorite (we ate there 3 times) and the kids loved the unlimited peanuts & throwing shells on the ground (the food was great too). The home owner was very responsive in answering all of our questions and the home was as pictured.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Moses E.

22 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home

We had a great stay at the Clarke Family house!! Thank you for hosting our family and helping make our return to Oak Bluffs special

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mary Ann M.

14 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

We loved being at the Carousel House to celebrate a big birthday with extended family. It exceeded our expectations! The house is lovely, property manager is top notch, and the location is ideal. The porch just can't be beat for people and ocean watching. We were entering the busy season, so it was a bit noisy outside the house. For anyone who prefers a quieter time, go at other times of the year.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

About the host

Hosted by Teresa Clarke

My family has enjoyed Martha's Vineyard for many years. My family came from Connecticut originally, but I was born in California, where I grew to have a love for beaches. Now living in New York, we drive past many other more convenient beach communities to reach that special place where time stands still: Martha's Vineyard.

Why they chose this property

This location, at the heart of Oak Bluffs, is simply location, location, location. Oceanview, parkview, and walk to everything. The Oak Bluffs ferry terminal is about a block away - no need for a car.

What makes this property unique

House has been renovated and designer furnished. Two master bedrooms each have their own porches with views of the water. The house is on the walking tour for many tourists -- don't be surprised if you see people taking pictures of the house! Tourists love to point out the unique carousel horses carved into our porch railings. See article on Ocean Park 'the Fifth Avenue of Oak Bluffs' in the New York Times - 'The President Was Here (Grant, That Is).' House is discussed in the article, and photographed in the New York Times online slide show.