Mid-Century Pond House Nestled in 4 Acres
On Higgins Pond in Wellfleet Vacation Rental - ID 36725

Andy has been coming to this home in Wellfleet since he was a boy, and Rachel joined him there 37 years ago. We had always wanted to make this summer home comfortable for year-round use, and this year we finally did it, and then some, addressing 50 years of deferred maintenance in the process. We replaced, reconfigured and expanded the deck, replaced almost every window and door, demolished and replaced both bathrooms and the kitchen, put in new floors, replaced the siding, and insulated all exterior walls. The idea was to give the home a new lease on life for our family going forward. We're delighted to be able also to share it with others.

What is special about this property?
Despite being only about 5 minutes from Route 6, the main North-South route on Cape Cod, our home feels remote, embedded in nature. On the pond, Great Blue Herons stalk shoals of herring in the shallows, and Osprey dive for larger prey. Kingfishers flit along the shore, scolding whoever comes near. In recent years, Bald Eagles have paid visits. At night, Screech Owls and Great Horned Owls sound their distinctive, haunting notes over the rustle of the wind through oaks and pines. We are close enough to the ocean that we often hear the surf.

Higgins is the middle of three kettle ponds, formed by the retreat of glaciers. A smaller pond, Williams, and a larger one, Gull, can be accessed by canoe or kayak through shallow sandy openings, locally called sluices. Between Higgins and Gull there is a small sand beach, and on the Gull side is a particularly pleasant, gently sloping sandy bottom perfect for play. Higgins and Gull are eminently swimmable (Williams is too weedy), and the 1/3 mile leg from our dock to the Gull sluice and back makes for an excellent constitutional.

The sand roads and networks of paths and fire roads forking back and forth between them, linking the ponds and ocean beaches, make for a runner's and biker's paradise. And of course they're fine for strollers too. For fishermen, the ponds hold plenty of sunnies, perch, bass and pickerel, and you can always try your hand surfcasting for bluefish and striped bass, when the bait is running.

What is special about your town?
Wellfleet is at the narrowest part of ''the narrow land'', Cape Cod's nickname. From our house, you can amble down to the pond for a kayak and swim, come back up for lunch on the deck, head on over to the ocean beach for a few hours, return to laze in the hammock or chaise for a while, head over to the bay side at low tide to dig some oysters and clams, pair them with a Pinot as you watch the sunset over the bay . . . all while spending no more than 20 minutes in the car, round trip.

The ocean side is in the National Seashore, which means you can walk on the beach for miles north or south with scarcely a home or sometimes a person in sight. If you're in a sociable mood, on Friday evenings you can stroll from gallery to gallery, plied with complimentary canapes and wine. There is a lively restaurant scene in Wellfleet, both high-end and casual, and the competition over whose lobster rolls and chowder are better is fierce. Entertainment opportunities abound, from one of the few remaining drive-in movie venues on the east cost to excellent live theatre at WHAT--Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre, and live music at lots of spots in town. The famous Beachcomber has a vibrant youth scene. A little further up the line in Truro, the Payomet concert series features national acts. On Wednesdays, there's family square dancing at the end of the dock, under the stars. And if you pick up a free permit, you and your party can enjoy a beach bonfire at Newcomb Hollow.