Bayfront home with sunsets, close to beach on Sandy Hook in Fort Hancock

See all properties

Entire home

Our duplex home offers a beautiful location

Wonderful location on the bay in Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook. Quiet and safe!

Seastreak Ferry from NYC drops you at the door

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10223.0 sq m

Popular amenities

Beach view
Kitchen
Barbecue grill
Parking available
Dryer
Washer

Explore the area

Highlands, NJ

Sandy Hook Lighthouse
‪4 min walk‬
Monmouth County Beach
‪14 min walk‬
Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area
‪5 min drive‬
Linden, NJ (LDJ)
‪54 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Futon

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Ensuite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Separate dining area

Garden

About this property

This recently restored lieutenants quarters on officer's row is set in a beautiful and tranquil setting with lots of charm and character. The home is actually a duplex and built in 1939 renovated 2016.

Down stairs is a living room, dining room (seats 8-10), new kitchen, small bunk bed room, and a comfortable side porch with bay breezes. Upstairs there are three bedrooms (2 Queen size one with one with two singles) and two bathrooms (master bathroom is ensuite). Also a pull out coach in the living room.

This is the first season offering this home for rent (sorry it is not ADA compliant, due to its age). It is a supporting structure in a Historic District, and the country's oldest light house is in your back yard. ( 1764 ) This is probably the most serene location on the Jersey shore with the ability to have the NY SeaStreak Ferry drop you feet from the front door (40 minute ride to Manhattan).

Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation area and consists of 2,200 acres of beaches, bike paths, bird watching and water sports. Within walking distance of the home there are beaches, bike rental, museums and historic landmarks. Featuring some of the coastal fortifications of WWI and WWII. It's rich history pre-dates the revolutionary war.

Relax on nearby beaches, kayak bayside coves, bird watch, explore the lighthouse, Visitor's Center, Fort Hancock, military ruins, and Officer's Row. Deep sea fishing, surf fishing, sailing, dinner cruise, live theater or a world class concert, an art gallery or an antique center are all extremely close by. The Twin Lights, Hartshorne and Lenape Woods hiking trails, Mount Mitchell scenic overlook, Keansburg Amusement Park, Monmouth Racetrack, PNC Bank Arts Center as well as numerous fine restaurant are all nearby.

Property manager

Brian Samuelson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

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

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)

Minimum age to rent: 30

Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Common sense and courtesy rule. No smoking with in 20 ft of the building. Other guidelines are available upon request.

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

Long-term renters welcome

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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Highlands

Located in Highlands, this holiday home is on the beach. PNC Bank Art Center and First Avenue Playhouse Dessert Theatre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Twin Lights State Historic Site. New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Yestercades are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Highlands, NJ

What's nearby

Sandy Hook Lighthouse - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
Monmouth County Beach - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area - 5 min drive - 3.5 km
New York Aquarium - 71 min drive - 83.7 km
Coney Island Beach - 92 min drive - 86.3 km

Getting around

Metropark Station - 43 min drive
Linden, NJ (LDJ) - 54 min drive

Restaurants

‪On The Deck Restaurant and Bar - ‬16 min drive
‪The Atlantic House - ‬15 min drive
‪The Seafarer Bar - ‬12 min drive
‪Nicholas Creamery - ‬15 min drive
‪Chilangos - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bayfront home with sunsets, close to beach on Sandy Hook in Fort Hancock pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

Where is Bayfront home with sunsets, close to beach on Sandy Hook in Fort Hancock located?

Nestled on the beach, this Highlands holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Gateway National Recreation Area and Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Monmouth County Beach and New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium are also within 15 minutes.

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

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

lisa w.

8 October 2024

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

Perfectly homey lodging in a wonderful place

When I visited Sandy Hook, NJ many years ago, I dreamt of staying in one of the yellow brick army officers’ homes, and am so glad to have had the chance to. Brian did a wonderful job restoring and outfitting the place, and he was an outstanding host. We went after the summer crowds were gone, and had a great time exploring the empty beaches and abandoned grounds of Fort Hancock. We look forward to returning there soon!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leigh S.

23 June 2023

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

Great home and great location

We very much enjoyed our stay at Fort Hancock, lovely home and accommodations. Area is being restored and has a lot of history provided when walking the grounds. Would stay again.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan W.

27 July 2024

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

Fully stocked and ready

House had everything you need. Even has games and stuff to keep you occupied on a rainy day. It was clean and in over all good repair. The host is attentive. All in all a good place to stay in a beautiful area.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy H.

12 August 2023

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

Wonderful family beach getaway

Beautiful stay in Sandy Hook park. Loved the easy access to so many wonderful beaches on the bay side and the ocean side, freedom to roam the park on bike whenever and wherever we wanted, great sunsets from the front porch, and the lovely house. Even the 5 teenagers liked it! Thank you so much for letting us stay in your beach house!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel G.

29 November 2021

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

A Great Thanksgiving!!

My family all came from various places to meet for Thanksgiving Week. The house was great and extremely comfortable! The location on Sandy Hook and Fort Hancock was FANTASTIC!! We will definitely be coming back! The owner, Brian, was fantastic to work with and made sure we had everything we needed to make our stay memorable!

Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ruth Ann J.

22 May 2023

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

Unique and charming

Fabulous property in a fascinating location: we loved exploring historic Ft. Hancock just outside the door! 15 minute drive to delicious restaurants and Mass at the Catholic Church. A comfortable mattress, lovely towels, and enough hot water for 7 people made our stay very relaxing. You won’t be sorry if you stay here!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

7 August 2023

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

Wonderful location

When my wife and I went into the house my wife turned to me and said “ You did good”. That pretty much sums up our stay in the house. It is comfortable, clean, well decorated and in a perfect location for watching the sunset over the bay. There are lots of things to do or it is a perfect place to do nothing at all.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

olga s., nyc

6 January 2022

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

New Year near the ocean

We had a great time ! House was historic, very big, comfortable and clean. Beautiful design, paintings , photos. Kitchen has all what we needed, dining room so nice. We use bike to go around, books and games. We will be coming summer time again!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Emily D.

21 September 2022

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

A truly one-of-a-kind experience

This is a place like no other. Fort Hancock is super quiet at night and in the early morning and you feel like you are on another planet. Peace, quiet and nature sounds abound. The home has been lovingly restored. It IS an old home, though and has quirks as one would expect. The kitchen is well appointed, grill is well maintained and mattresses and towels are ample and high quality. Only a labor of love could make this space a home and Brian has done it. Happy to have had this adventure trip at his place!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kari C.

9 July 2021

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

We didn't want to leave!

It was an amazing experience to stay at Brian's rental. I had lived in the Highlands years ago and visited Sandy Hook many times. It was a dream come true to stay at the park. The house is great, Brian was great, and being on Fort Hancock was so peaceful. Our 6 and 8 year old did not want to do anything but explore the island, ride bikes, and fish. I am so proud to say that my 6 year old actually learned to ride her bike on her 6th birthday because we were here: she was able to practice around the base with little traffic. I would highly recommend staying here...and I hope that Brian will have us back soon! Thank you!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Casey K.

11 July 2022

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

Perfect Getaway

We absolutely loved staying at this property! It was quiet, an assortment of beaches to try - the ocean for the big waves, the bay side for the littles to play in the sand and water safely. Riding the provided bikes around the National park was so much fun. The house is equipped with everything you need and then some. We are both tea and coffee drinkers, so the electric kettle was such a thoughtful addition. Our family really wanted a quiet relaxing getaway, so the lack of people and traffic was dreamy. All of the beaches we visited were clean and uncrowded. We did stay mostly at the far end of the park, and most of the activity was at the other end. We also cooked all of our meals and the kitchen was well-equipped and the grill worked perfectly. We really have nothing bad to say at all about this property and are planning on renting again next summer!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Louis T., Fair Lawn, New Jersey

15 August 2022

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

Family vacation

We’ve been visiting Sandy Hook on day trips for years and decided to try a week instead of our usual vacation at LBI. By the time the week was over, everyone agreed this was more relaxing and interesting than our previous vacations. Brian was great with communication and quick to respond to any questions we had. Looking forward to returning. Thanks Brian.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Richard G., EWING, NJ,US

29 July 2022

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

Just what we wanted.

Beautifully restored and well-furnished property in ideal scenic and historic location, minutes from good ocean beaches and water sports

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

jean g.

22 May 2022

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

Oceanfront relaxing home

Love this property - loved the feel of it, the windows, the ocean views. Everything about this home was warm and welcoming, it’s filled with light, beautifully furnished and well appointed with so many wonderful amenities. Spent a long weekend for my daughters wedding with family, it could not have been more perfect. We all had an amazing time making the best memories.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Catherine M.

19 September 2021

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

Amazing property and chance to stay on Sandy Hook

Our family had an amazing time staying at this property! The location can’t be beat. Brian was easy to communicate with. Highly recommend!

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

danny A.

17 June 2021

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

Awesome location and views

Great way to stay in the park and have the run of the place to yourself. Unique experience to visit Sandy Hook and enjoy the Jersey shore with less congestion. Park has everything, including great NYC views. House had everything we needed. Good internet, TV , bicycles to use, beach toys.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lisette C.

17 April 2021

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

Unique experience. Highly recommend!

Everything about our stay was perfect. The property was exactly as depicted and could not have been cleaner and more comfortable. And what an awesome experience staying right on Sandy Hook and enjoying all that Sandy Hook has to offer—the beautiful beaches, fishing, biking, history, amazing sunsets, etc. And it’s so easy to pop out to the surrounding towns for great restaurants or a grocery store run. We look forward to visiting again!

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

18 October 2020

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

Unique Adventure

Our family had a wonderful time exploring every part of this beautiful park. So much to see and do. The location of this house is amazing and very special, rich in history and incredible views. The bike path is right in front of the house which made our exploration even more fun as well as being able to fish right in the front yard, doesn’t get any better than that. The house is very well appointed with everything you could possibly need. We cooked great meals and the grill was a terrific addition. Brian was an exceptional host from start to finish, he really cares deeply. This rental is a hidden gem, one in which we highly recommend!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Karen B.

28 July 2020

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

Great quiet getaway

Great old house, nicely renovated, surrounded by history (you can explore the Fort on foot or bike) and guaranteed beautiful sunsets on the bay. Steps to high speed NYC ferry dock will be super convenient during a “normal” summer. 10-20 min bike to the beach (depending on which one you choose), on the bike/run path which parallels the road (separated by trees most of the way). Plenty of space and privacy. Great for families, lots of room for kids to run around in back. It is very quiet and you can’t buy groceries unless you drive out of the park, so pack accordingly. Owners are very easy to reach and accommodating.

Stayed 28 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Raizel R.

27 April 2020

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

I would give it 10 stars but

but VRBO only goes up to 5 stars. This is by far the best vacation my family has ever had!!!!!!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2020

10/10 Excellent

rebecca m.

4 November 2019

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

Ocean retreat with Historical Bent

First and foremost - spectacular sunsets. Great oceanfront property. Peaceful. Terrific renovation of a historical home. Well appointed kitchen. Comfortable bedrooms & bathrooms. Full WiFi no glitches. Three “doors down” Historical Home tour, Sandy Hook Lighthouse and charming museum . Beach hikes and great biking. Nearby restaurants and amenities. “Gaslight” in Atlantic Highlands fir Brews and good food. “Sissy’s” for awesome Eggs Benedict and water views. “The Inlet” for seafood. & happy hour. Highly recommend this rental for comfort, location, cyclists and also military history buffs.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

scott h.

17 June 2019

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

Classic and Wonderful

The property is impeccably clean and well taken care of. Although a historic site it is updated with all of the expected amenities while retaining the charm that attracts visitors to choose to come to Sandy Hook. Brian, the Owner, was a friendly and accommodating gentleman. The view from the home was stellar and the location is private but also just what we were looking for and a close drive to restaurants. A great stay and looking forward to doing it again

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mikko D.

12 June 2019

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

Perfect location, great hosts - what do you expect more?

From start to end everything went smoothly and without a fuss. Despite arriving close before midnight, Brian made sure to welcome us in person. What a great service! He topped it with providing breakfast items so that we could sleep in the next day. The house is in the perfect location for sports (running, cycling...) and enjoying nature. We did a couple of trips to Manhattan which is easily done. All in all our experience was great and I will recommend this host and house to anybody looking for a property on the Northern shore.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Leslie B.

4 June 2019

Beach living

I love historical homes and am so glad this one is brought back to life, and done beautifully. From built-in bookcases well-appointed with books and nautical tchotchkes, to picture rail, to spiral staircases—it’s all lovely. Which isn’t to say there aren’t modern conveniences. There’s AC in the bedrooms if the tide winds aren’t cool enough for you. The kitchen is well-appointed. The views are lovely. For the money, I don’t know where you could sleep up to 10 on vacation and have direct views of a bay from one set of windows and a light house from another. Thank you for a great stay!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ryan L.

1 January 2019

Incredible experience

I can’t say enough about our stay at this house and would echo the comments of previous reviewers. The house is beautiful. The views overlooking the bay are amazing. And the owner, Brian, was extremely helpful and hospitable. Overall, it was a fun and unique experience that I would highly recommend. Brian, you’ve done an amazing job with this house and thanks again for having us!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018

About the host

Hosted by Brian Samuelson

We signed a long term lease with the National Park Service and saved this abandoned home on the bay that once served as officer's housing for the US Army. It was originally built in 1939.

Why they chose this property

This is a magical spot on the bay. The home is located inside Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook in NJ. It's the most historically significant part of the Jersey Shore. British and revolutionary forces clashed out here. Alexander Hamilton lead a group to take control of the light house, but was unsuccessful being outmanned, and outgunned. The sunsets and water views are amazing.

What makes this property unique

This home is like being on an island at night, Quiet, and secluded. The park comes alive during the day. It is ideal for families, and really anyone who wants to relax but still be near lots of good restaurants and the ability to take a ferry to NY City for the day. This place has it all. There are lots of great restaurants and good shopping just a few miles away. You need a car to take full advantage of everything.

Languages:

English

Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Bayfront home with sunsets, close to beach on Sandy Hook in Fort Hancock

Photo gallery for Bayfront home with sunsets, close to beach on Sandy Hook in Fort Hancock

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 5

Master Bedroom

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Master Ensuite

Spaces

About this property