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Historic Colonial House on the water

Historic Colonial House on the water

Photo gallery for Historic Colonial House on the water

Front lawn
River side
Riverside, looking west
looking at the house from the west side of the lawn
Evening on the river

Overview of Historic Colonial House on the water

Reviews
9.2 out of 10 Wonderful
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6279 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Old Lyme, CT
  • Popular LocationLyme Academy of Fine Arts6 min drive
  • Popular LocationGoose Island9 min drive
  • Popular LocationRocky Neck State Park14 min drive
  • AirportHartford, CT (BDL-Bradley Intl.)64 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Red White & Blue room

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Half Bath

Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Historic Colonial House on the water

The house is situated above the river, overlooking tidal estuaries. The house was built in 1740 by a ships captain, reflected in some interesting interior details. It was moved to its current location in 1945 when the kitchen and garage wing was added. The house is 3 stories with bedrooms on the second and third floors. The main floor has the kitchen, dining room, library (or game room) and living room as well as a 1/2 bath.
The house is surrounded by lawn and is secluded from other houses. Sunsets from the west side of the house can be striking.

Property manager

Margaret

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
70 Year old cottage on 2.8 acres, stunning views and sunsets
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
70 Year old cottage on 2.8 acres, stunning views and sunsets

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Very steep stairs

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 20 lbs per pet (limit 2 pets total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
We may enter the house at reasonable times to make necessary repairs or changes that we are required to make. We will give you reasonable notice.
We may also enter the house to show the house to possible or actual tenants, workmen or contractors.
You will not unreasonable deny us the right to enter the house. In an emergency, we may enter at any time.

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
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Old Lyme

Located in Old Lyme, this vacation home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Ocean Beach Park and New London Ferry Dock are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda. Traveling with kids? Consider Saybrook Country Barn and Stay and Play LLC. Discover the area's water adventures with windsurfing, fishing, and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
Map
Old Lyme, CT

What's nearby

  • Lyme Academy of Fine Arts - 6 min drive
  • Goose Island - 9 min drive
  • Essex Steam Train - 10 min drive
  • Rocky Neck State Park - 14 min drive
  • Harvey's Beach - 15 min drive

Getting around

  • Old Saybrook Station - 9 min drive
  • New London, CT (GON-Groton - New London) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • Mystic Market Kitchen and Eatery - 8 min drive
  • Starbucks - 9 min drive
  • Burger King - 9 min drive
  • James Farmacy Organic Cafe - 10 min drive
  • Fresh Salt - 12 min drive

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Eileen W R., Somers, Connecticut, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a lovely old house in a beautiful location!
Classic home and a perfect location. The house itself is a beautiful old center chimney colonial, everyone in our party spent the first hour walking around the house marveling at the six fireplaces, the two Dutch doors and the beautiful woodwork. Located above the river at the end of a long driveway the yard and location were quiet and beautiful: sunrises shining on the lighthouse off in the distance and grilling while watching bright colorful sunsets each evening. We launched Kayaks and paddle boards in the river from the yard and biked/drove over to the secluded beach for a wonderful day in the sun. The house had everything one would need for a great summer week and is only 15 minutes to Niantic (Book Barn!) and short drives to New London (Block Island Ferry Day trip) and Mystic. Don't forget your outdoor insect repellent! One last item to take note of - There is an apartment over the garage and we found out at the 11th hour that it was separately rented the week we were there. We hope to return for further family memories next summer and have already recommended this rental to a few friends.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Melissa E.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Tranquil setting
Historic spacious home with large yard & beautiful views across the marshes. Top quality new master bath upstairs. Comfortable beds: 1 Queen, 1 full, 2 twins. Large fans in the 3 bedrooms. Come prepared - No hairdryer or spare kitchen trash bags or spare TP. Be sure to walk on pretty private roads/path (see map in guest book) to beach & Griswold Pt nature preserve for views of birds & the Fenwick lighthouses. Owner experienced some issues with cleaner preparing for our stay. Note - Rental contract states workmen must be permitted access at any time. Contractor arrived at 7:00am. Overall, we hope to stay again!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect place to relax
This home was exactly what we needed for a change of scenery after not traveling for 6 months and to celebrate my husbands birthday. As we live in a home from 1867, we loved staying in a home older than ours! The home has wide plank floors, beautiful woodwork and fireplaces in almost every room. Old homes are not perfect and that is what makes this home so unique. The location was perfect on the Black Hall River with amazing views of wildlife and breathtaking sunsets. The private beach, which also is next to a wildlife sanctuary, was beautiful and serene. We enjoyed kayaking on the river, and visiting the Studio 80 sculpture garden. We also enjoyed playing the trivia card games in the well stocked game room on the one night it rained. Although it was hot during the day, the nights were cool and with the breeze and fans was quite comfortable for sleeping. There are 2 portable air conditioners and even the 3rd floor which can get quite hot was cooled down quickly. I recommend Black Hall Kitchen, a wonderful take out place about 2 minutes away. As my daughter has food allergies, we also found a delicious gluten & dairy free bakery in Old Saybrook - Shayna B's by the sea - for the best birthday cake & breakfast treats. All in all this was the vacation we needed, in the perfect spot, with the perfect home. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Margot S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love at first sight
This home exceeded all of our expectations - it is like a warm hug and was exactly what we wanted and needed.
Stayed 27 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Patty E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous setting!
10 of us stayed at The River House in Old Lyme over Veteran's Day weekend in November. The house and the surrounding area could not be more beautiful! The pictures and descriptions are 100% accurate too. I am a lover of very old homes with their wavy floors, giant fireplaces and narrow staircases and this house has all of that and so much more. But even though it's a historic home, the modern kitchen, large butler's pantry and bathrooms made it a perfect getaway for a group of ladies like us. The owners are courteous and quick to respond. It was nice to meet one of them upon check in and get a tour of the house and it's history. There's plenty to see and do in the entire area and the house is located in the perfect spot, close enough to the highway but far enough away in a peaceful, absolutely beautiful little spot. Oh and the sunsets are to die for!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

About the host

Hosted by Margaret

Host profile image
Our family roots in Old Lyme go back many years. We were raised here as year around residents and always cherished the quiet months of the year. My siblings and I are scattered now with young adult children on both coasts of the country but there is a serenity in returning to this part of Connecticut.

Why they chose this property

The house has been in the family for many years, my grandfather "rescued" the house and had it moved to its current location. He greatly valued the local history of buildings and this was one of his treasures.

What makes this property unique

Unique older house, a birder's paradise, tidal estuaries, excellent access for kayaking
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