Entire home

Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage

Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage

Photo gallery for Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage

No caption required!
the massive lower lawn is a great place to spend the whole day
Come on in!
a few days into your stay you'll find yourself saying 'really, another rainbow!'
view from the private beach at low tide

Overview of Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage

Reviews
9.6 out of 10 Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12297 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill

Check out the area

Map
Saltspring Island, BC
  • Popular LocationSalt Spring Island Visitor Centre4 min walk
  • Popular LocationGanges Marina6 min walk
  • Popular LocationSaltspring Marina12 min walk
  • AirportVictoria, BC (YYJ-Victoria Intl.)88 min drive

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Double Room

Kingsize room (or 2 singles)

Master Bedroom

Queen Suite

The Old Nursery

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage

This is the very best of West Coast Canada!

Watch the seaplanes land and sailboats pass by as you relax on your private oceanfront estate. Gorgeous sweeping views of Ganges Harbour are visible from nearly all rooms of this one of a kind heritage retreat.

Built in 1906 by the pioneering Tolson family, this property was the first private school on the Gulf Islands and was later a creamery and then the private retreat of a technology billionaire and his family, during which time the property was greatly restored.

A vast variety of birds and other wildlife make this 4 acre property home. Watch the swans, eagles, hummingbirds, blue heron, quail and other exotic birds from the enormous picture window and expansive veranda. Raccoons, otters, deer and other critters are curious, safe and plentiful.

There is much to do here for all ages. On the property, there is plenty of exploring to do, and the 300 feet of private beach front to enjoy. The main lawn is large enough for a serious soccer game. Pick fruit and berries at several times of the year, then bake them into a pie in the great kitchen that looks into the gorgeous back gardens.

Various flowers are usually blooming all over the park-like gardens and landscaped terraces. Numerous exploration paths weave throughout the property.

Off the property, hiking, kayaking, sailing, golfing, fine dining, casual dining, patio drinking, swimming, shopping, scuba diving, a day at the spa, fishing, yoga, farmers markets, etc... are all close at hand.

The house is set up perfectly for entertaining and relaxing alike. With plenty of space indoors, the adults can enjoy the evening with a roaring fire in the main living room, while the kids use the spacious upper living room or the entertainment room to watch movies on the big screen and play games of all sorts. There are plenty of bedrooms to go around, all beautifully furnished and well appointed. The three full bathrooms mean that no one is waiting for their turn for a shower. The big gourmet kitchen provides the space to cook a grand meal while onlookers enjoy a glass of wine without every getting in the way.

I guarantee you will love your stay here as much as we do!

This house is operated by the Island Heritage Appreciation Club which allows members to use it to cover the costs. Membership is open to all those who appreciate well-maintained heritage properties.

Keywords: Rustic luxury, waterfront, view, views, Saltspring, Ganges, convenient, marina, island, private, landscaped, heritage, Vancouver, Victoria, British Columbia, acreage, farmers market, orchard, garden, family

Property manager

Michael
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Ocean view

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Kids love this property, inside and out.

Events

No events allowed
This property is not suitable for parties/events

Pets

Pets allowed
Pets must be described/approved at booking.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please smoke outside. Lots of covered areas.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: This property is not suitable for parties/events
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

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

About the area

Ganges

Located in Salt Spring Island, this vacation home is near the airport and on the beach. Artspring Arts Center and Hand of Man Museum are cultural highlights, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Salt Spring Saturday Market and Driftwood Centre. Dinner Bay Japanese Garden and The Raptors are also worth visiting. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Saltspring Island, BC

What's nearby

  • Salt Spring Saturday Market - 3 min walk
  • Salt Spring Island Visitor Centre - 4 min walk
  • Ganges Marina - 6 min walk
  • Saltspring Marina - 12 min walk
  • Long Harbour Ferry Terminal - 7 min drive

Getting around

  • Ganges, BC (YGG-Ganges Harbour Seaplane Base) - 1 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Lion Rampant Scottish Pub - 51 min drive
  • Rock Salt Restaurant & Cafe - 14 min drive
  • Switchboard Cafe - 5 min walk
  • Salt Spring Island Ales - 10 min drive
  • Tree-House Cafe - 4 min walk

Reviews

9.6

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. 81 out of 100 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 100 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 100 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 100 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 100 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leigh-Anne F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spacious and Relaxing
This gem was clean and inviting. You are going to love the peace and quiet… relax on the porch or just gaze through at the ocean from any window. There was plenty of room for all our family (10 of us!) walking distance to all the local shops and restaurants. We enjoyed the weekend market too… so much to see and do. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sue M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
80th Birthday!
Absolutely fabulous all around :]]
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

James S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A siblings gathering
Great three day stay, warm, welcoming and comfortable house. Location excellent, loved the architecture, with original windows all around the main floor, awesome fireplace and lots of wood for evening fires. Liked the modern art glass and cozy furniture. Wonderful stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jesse K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
SSI heritage house
Amazing property. Very close to Ganges. Wonderful old house and great surroundings.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

melissa b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It’s all about
the couch
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Michael

Host profile image
I'm a city boy from Vancouver, who has always dreamed of enjoying and maintaining an island heritage property (You don't so much 'own' such a property as take your turn looking after it)

Traveling is in my blood, but I love the natural wonders and serenity of the Gulf Islands of British Columbia more than anywhere else I have been privileged enough to visit.

An environmentalist at heart, I am sensitive to keeping this property chemical free and the house as healthy a living space as possible.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with this late 19th century estate when a friend bought it many years ago. Every opportunity to visit that came up, we made it a priority to get there.

This is one of those properties that changes your life in so many ways, and all of them for the better.

What makes this property unique

Once you arrive at this property, you no longer need your car. Everything you need is within close walking distance. But when you enter and close the gate behind you, you are in a private world all your own and the outside world ceases to exist. It is the very best of all worlds!

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback