See all properties
Entire home

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

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

The Carousel House on Ocean Park
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
Welcome inside the Carousel House

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12278.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Oak Bluffs, MA
  • Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Oak Bluffs Town Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Inkwell Beach
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard)
    ‪15 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

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Exterior

Historical house with wraparound porch, modern updates, enclosed yard, & W/D

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, (6 reviews)
Historical house with wraparound porch, modern updates, enclosed yard, & W/D

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

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 Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cape Cod Beaches and Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary. Flying Horses Carousel and Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and hiking.
Map
Oak Bluffs, MA

What's nearby

  • Circuit Avenue - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Oak Bluffs Harbor - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Oak Bluffs Town Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Inkwell Beach - 7 min walk - 0.7 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Lookout Tavern - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Back Door Donuts - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Portuguese American Club - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Offshore Ale Co. - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪VFW Hall - ‬18 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 steps away from Ocean Park, Circuit Avenue and Seaview Beach. Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal and Flying Horses Carousel are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 54 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 54 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 54 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 54 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 54 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brooke C.

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

Excellent

We had a great stay. Communication was clear and the house was clean. We loved the convenience where everything is a walkable distance.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anna Justina H.

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

Absolutely wonderful off season stay

Couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend a week away. The house is gorgeous and had everything we needed. Grocery store was close by and a few restaurants and shops were still open despite going in the off season. The bedroom at the front overlooking Ocean Park was so comfortable and it was lovely to wake up to the sunrise. We will definitely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Moses E.

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

Beautiful Home in a Great Location

We very much enjoyed our stay. Heidi was incredibly responsive to our needs and the kids loved how close we were to the Green. What a perfect location.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karyn G.

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

10/10 Excellent

David R.

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

Kathie A.

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

Carousel House

Location is excellent. House has many amenities
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Karen M., Del Mar, California

carosual house

Well maintian, beautiful views and plenty of room

10/10 Excellent

Debra W.

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

The kitchen is for foodies!

Multiple small appliances including a professional waffle maker (great for big family breakfasts), a built in griddle on the stove (make multiple hot pancakes at once), a slow cooker (drop in some chicken, veggies and seasonings and leave it running while on the beach all day; instant dinner come evening), an ice cream maker (so much fun for the kids to have home made ice cream like I did back in the day when my Grandpa cranked the machine). We loved that the maids don't throw away the spices. (Of course the fridge is empty and spotless!) I needed three bay leaves for a recipe, and found them in the cupboard without having to spend 10 for one little ingredient. We added to the pantry and left behind other non-perishables for the next family including soy sauce and "Everything but the Bagel" seasoning.Real cooks will also appreciate a deep drawer that has all kinds of random gourmet kitchen utensils like a garlic press, lemon press, meat pounder, cheese knife, tiny whisk, small tongs, etc. If you are a foodie, you will love cooking in this kitchen!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Timothy M.

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

Verified traveller

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
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Best on Ocean Park

My family rented this house in August 2010, and we had what will go down as one of the best family vacations ever. Our kids are now 13 and 15, and when we have rented elsewhere on the island, I have spent much time as I do at home shuttling them around. But at the Clarke Carousel Cottage, they were able to be very independent, and walk to whatever they wanted: beach, pizza, ice cream, arcade, movies, etc. We were there in a heat wave, and all I can say is that I am glad we had central air conditioning. Our kids didn't have the normal crankiness that comes with being overheated - made it nicer for us. As others wrote, the house is fantastic with a dream kitchen. We have already booked for next year.

10/10 Excellent

Tedi G.

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

Lea C.

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

SEANTA M.

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.

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.

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

N

Very nice place
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gwendolyn O.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Nicole F.

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.

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

About the host

Hosted by Teresa Clarke

Host profile image
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.

Languages:

English, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests