Welcome to this unique Victorian home, nestled in the heart of Ocean Park. With its charming porch and ideal location, you're just steps away from the child-friendly beach, Circuit Avenue's restaurants and shops, art galleries, a grocery store and more. Enjoy concerts and fireworks in Ocean Park during summer or relax at home with four flat-screen TVs. A chef's kitchen with granite countertops awaits your culinary creations.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12279 sq m
Popular amenities
Ocean view
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
"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 amenities
Beach
Beach nearby
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car not required
Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Ice maker
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Toaster
Bedrooms
6 bedrooms
Bathroom
3 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Shower
Living spaces
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Accessible parking space
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible van parking
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Safe
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near the bay
Near the marina
Near the sea
On the waterfront
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Sailing nearby
Snorkelling nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Windsurfing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number C0195862210
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
A car is not required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Oak Bluffs, this holiday home is on the waterfront. While the natural beauty of Inkwell Beach and Old Silver Beach can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Woods Hole Ferry Terminal.
Flying Horses Carousel and Island Cove Adventures are also worth visiting. Kayaking and snorkelling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and ecotours nearby. Visit our Oak Bluffs travel guide
Is "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times?
On-site parking is available at the 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 within a 10-minute walk of Ocean Park and Inkwell Beach. Circuit Avenue and Seaview Beach are just steps away.
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"The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Our work team spent 3 nights at the Carousel House and had a wonderful time. The house is beautiful and well appointed. The location was absolutey perfect. It is walkable to shops, restaurants, the bus and the ferry. The expansive covered porch and rocking chairs provided a spectacular view of the park and ocean, and was great for people watching.
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.
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!
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!
We loved staying at the Carousel House. It’s a great place in a perfect location and was very clean. Just keep in mind you have to bring your own sheets and towels or rent them. Overall, it was a wonderful stay and we’d definitely come back!
Great location, many places walkable. Great view of the ocean and morning sunrise. Easy walk to many restaurants and shopping. House is comfortable and all the basics are there. Don’t forget to bring or rent bed linens and towels. We enjoyed our stay! Kitchen is well-equipped. Beds were comfortable. Rocking on the front wrap around porch and people watching was our evening pastime, once we were done with our daily sights and shopping, and dinners. The last night we were there, we were lucky to have live music at the gazebo! What a nice bonus!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!!!!
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!!
Verified traveller
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Archival
10/10 Excellent
12 Sept 2010
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.
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.
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