Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse

See all properties

Entire home

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

Dryer
Washer
Barbecue grill
Hot tub
Kitchen
Fireplace

Explore the area

Louisville, KY

KFC Yum Center
‪20 min walk‬
Kentucky International Convention Center
‪3 min drive‬
Louisville Slugger Museum
‪4 min drive‬
Louisville, KY (LOU-Bowman Field)
‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Common area 1

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Garden

About this property

In this historic Butchertown neighborhood you'll find many hip restaurants and bars and unique local shops and boutiques. Right around the corner from the Shantyboathouse is shopping in the NuLu district, Quills Coffee, and Butchertown Bakery. Walk to the Louisville City Football Club stadium and the Big Four pedestrian bridge for a stroll over the river to Indiana. It's just six miles from Churchill Downs and a short ride to downtown and some of Louisville and Kentucky’s greatest distilleries.

Property manager

Colin Clark

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Have a question?

Beta

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

Ask a question

Similar properties

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

Property Registration Number LIC-STL-20-00600

About the area

Louisville

Located in Louisville, this holiday home is in the city centre. KFC Yum Center and Louisville Slugger Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's popular attractions include Louisville Zoo and Kentucky Kingdom. Thomas Edison House and Muhammad Ali Center are also worth visiting.

Louisville, KY

What's nearby

Louisville Waterfront Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
Whiskey Row - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
KFC Yum Center - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
Kentucky International Convention Center - 3 min drive - 2.3 km
Louisville Slugger Museum - 4 min drive - 2.7 km

Getting around

Louisville, KY (LOU-Bowman Field) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

‪Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse - ‬9 min walk
‪Angel's Envy Distillery - ‬9 min walk
‪La Bodeguita de Mima - ‬6 min walk
‪Play - ‬8 min walk
‪Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse located?

Located in Downtown Louisville, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Thomas Edison House and Louisville Waterfront Park. KFC Yum Center is 1 mi (1.7 km) away.

Exceptional

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

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Sara H.

13 April 2025

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

Great Spring Break trip!

We had an awesome stay! What a cool house and location. We walked to coffee shops, bars and even a Louisville Bats game. We hung out in the hot tub each night watching movies. Highly recommended!

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ines D.

14 February 2025

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

Amazing Stay!

We loved everything about the house, very well stocked and decorated, the owner thinks of everything, the kitchen had cooking oil, many spices and a full coffee bar with creamers and coffee flavors it was great to know we didnt need to shop for those essential items at the store. Backyard is super cute and comfortable, bbq and the jacuzzi perfect after returning from a long day exploring. Location is great too walking distance to a lot of great restaurants. We’ll be returning for sure

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katrina G.

10 December 2024

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

Shanty Boathouse

Host was so helpful with recommendations, waters and snacks left for us and a card. Very prompt to respond as well.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessica Y.

29 October 2024

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

Fabulous property!

The renovations and amenities were exceptional. Great communication and accommodation from the hosts. Would definitely recommend.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Meghan O.

23 June 2024

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

Great place!

Beautiful house, fun neighborhood and a very hospitable property owner. Would absolutely go back again!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lance S.

26 December 2024

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

Great Stay in Louisville

We had a great time staying at Shanty Boat House. We love historic homes and live in one built in 1889. This home has just as cool history. It is in a great up and coming neighborhood which we like with many great options for shopping, food, and beverages! My only caution is make sure everyone in party is ok with stairs. The home was very well stocked and in great shape!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

John W.

20 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

A must stay

While there was some confusion on cost, the overall experience was incredible. The property has all of the amenities of a 5-star location. This property is on my must stay list for the next time I am in Louisville for a long weekend.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melissa G.

8 August 2023

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

Great Times in Louisville

Excellent property for a trip to Louisville. Good location, great outdoor space, and even better property managers. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

5 August 2024

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

Beautiful Home - Perfect Location

The property was exactly as advertised and the owner was tremendously responsive. The home was perfectly located for us to explore Louisville. There were so many pubs, restaurants, and shops well within walking distance, yet the neighborhood was extremely quiet and peaceful. We definitely hit a home run when we selected this property for vacation. Thank you Colin!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael R.

11 November 2023

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

Wonderful place!

Outstanding spot for our weekend with friends. 2 couples and it worked out perfectly. Excellent communication with Colin prior to our arrival and throughout the trip. Highly recommend this spot!

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erica B.

27 March 2025

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

Loved our stay

Colin is an amazing host! Great communication, responsiveness and hospitality. We stayed for a week with our family of four (kids ages 9 & 12). The hot tub was a hit for us all but especially the kids! It became a nightly tradition.Leading up to our trip, Colin ensured we were all set, shared the instructions for the house and even offered to recommend things for our family to do - which we took him up on! The house is also within walking distance to so many things!We loved the house and all the little touches inside. How often can you say you stayed in a piece of history? No detail was left unturned from the very generous welcome basket, to the toiletries in the bathrooms that we were able to use, to all the necessities we needed - paper towels, detergent, etc.Our kids had a blast. We went to the Frazier Museum one of the days we were there and there was a wall of post it notes that people could write their favorite thing about Kentucky. Both my kids wrote "The Shanty Boathouse" :)Thank you Colin for the amazing stay! We hope to be back. The Boklewski's

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Doug S.

9 June 2023

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

Great house. Fun location

Very interesting historic house that was perfect for our small group. Great outdoor space for hanging out. Good location for walking around Butchertown. Colin, the host, was very helpful and communicated well.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

29 July 2024

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

Amazing space in Louisville

We stayed at the Shanty boat house for our girls weekend and it was amazing. The space was perfect for our group of five. The location was walkable to tons of fun bars, restaurants, and shops, and only a short ride away from other attractions. It was nice to come home after a long day, walking and soak our legs in the hot tub. The place was spotlessly clean, and came with every single amenity you could think of. There was even a lovely care basket for when we arrived, it was such a nice touch. We are already planning our next trip back because of how great it was.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Taylor C.

14 May 2023

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

Great House and Location

House was great for our girls trip - clean, comfortable and just as listed. Location was very good, close to restaurants and easy to Uber if needed. Wish we had more time and better weather to enjoy the nice backyard. Host was very responsive and accommodating. Would definitely recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Natasha B.

26 December 2024

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

“Yaya this place is legit!”

My granddaughters first reaction to the Shanty house was to tell me the place was “legit!” Coming from a 6 year old I’d say that’s pretty good. We loved our stay and wished we could have stayed longer than 2 nights. We were in and out for Christmas. We spent our first day off site so we really only got 1 day to hang out at the property. Everything has been thought of!!! I cooked a full meal and everything I needed was there. I packed extra for no reason! My husband grilled and again we made unnecessary purchases because it was already there. If I had to complain the only thing I would say is an earlier check in would be nice, 4 is a bit late.Overall, we had a 5 star experience and I hope we get to stay again!

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie K.

1 April 2023

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

10 out of 10 Rental

This beautiful rental did not disappoint and learning about it's history was so fun. As a family we have stayed at over 10 different properties over the years and Colin by far was the best host we've had. This property is exacting as portrayed online. Walkable to many restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques. Also anywhere we drove to was less than 10 minutes away. Highly recommend.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephen M.

20 March 2023

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

As Listed!

Amazing place to stay in a great neighborhood. Close to so many great bars/restaurants in Nulu and a quick trip to downtown. Perfect central location for numerous distilleries in Louisville and not too far from Bardstown, Lexington & Frankfort. Host was great! Responded immediately and was exceptionally attentive. The place is incredibly nice. Has every kitchen appliance and is a great space to hang out downstairs. Rooms and beds are big and everything is impeccably decorated with Louisville paraphernalia. Overall, stay here! We’ll be back!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robbin S.

7 November 2022

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

Perfect Place To Stay!

We loved this house immediately! The place looked exactly like the photos in the listing, but without all of the little thoughtful details & touches added by Colin & Carol. It is very nicely decorated inside and out, is very clean, is located conveniently to downtown and major roads, has a great AC system, and good hot water. Even the queen beds were comfortable! Upon arrival, we had seasonal decorations on the front porch and a personalized note inside with a welcome basket of wine and snacks. One of the things that they do in this home, that most others do not, and is extremely appreciated, is that they provide you with an ample supply of items like toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, etc. Most rental properties that we've had experience with only provide enough for one or two days. The kitchen was very well stocked, as well. They even thought to provide pool towels, a guidebook for the house and surrounding area, and a specialty bar soap in each bathroom that was heavenly! Speaking of the bathrooms, the main bathroom upstairs is beautifully done and very spacious. We were surprised to find that it is the only bathroom upstairs that is shared between the two bedrooms. The second bathroom, which contains a beautiful tub and original brick fireplace, is downstairs between the kitchen and laundry room. The only other thing that I failed to realize from the listing is that when you are inside the home, the only access to upstairs is the spiral staircase. The other staircase access is from the outside backyard patio. I only mention this because it could cause some issue for anyone that might have difficulty with maneuvering the spiral staircase. Communication from Colin was A+! We had some difficulty with the TV/cable system, only because it was different than what we are used to, and Colin very quickly responded to my messages and even offered to come over in person to help out! We would definitely recommend this house to other travelers coming to Louisville!

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Colin Clark

Growing up in Louisville has given me a strong passion for sharing the best parts of my hometown. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know and hosting people from all over the world! I hope to help you see why I’ve enjoyed living here most of my life!

Why they chose this property

The history of this property is what drew me towards revitalizing it from what it used to be! When I discovered this property people told me it was a tear down but I instantly had a vision to bring it back to life. I've always wanted to share this story with people that want to visit Louisville so they can enjoy Louisville with a unique twist. I hope you enjoy reading the original story of the newspaper article that I found laying in the middle of the dilapidated structure.

What makes this property unique

Louisville is home to many shotgun houses but none of them are designed the way that the Shantyboathouse was designed. Usually they build them out and up and this house was built down and out - a fun, unique twist to an already cool story!

Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse

Photo gallery for Louisville's Historic Shantyboathouse

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 3

Common area 1

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

About this property