Named in honor of Booming Ben, an iconic island figure (ahem – bird), this place is for people who will treat our 1887 cottage as we do, with love, respect, and an appreciation for classic charm. The house is located in the quiet neighborhood of East Chop, historically known as the ''highlands'' of Oak Bluffs. You will find it filled with handpicked antiques and vintage items, many from the Vineyard, comfortable beds, an epic covered porch, and lots of space to explore and relax. Given that it's an historic home, it may not be suitable for very young children.
The house is a 1/3-mile walk to East Chop's public Jetty Beach, and approximately a 10-minute walk to the Flying Horses carousel in downtown Oak Bluffs. The cottage comfortably sprawls on its hilltop perch, and feels like a beach house and a tree house all at once, nestled up high and mostly surrounded by trees. The area to the front and right of the home is East Chop Association property (officially, it is Wesley Park), a cottage close by on the left, and one to the rear right. Our neighbors are a mixture of full-time residents and summer people, and a number of other homes, including our next door neighbor's, are rented in the high season.
The house has two stories, a wraparound porch, ample social space inside, a formal dining room, and a well-stocked kitchen. There are two full baths, one off of the kitchen, and one on the second floor. There is also a grilling area and an outdoor shower at the rear of the house. All bedrooms are on the second floor. The primary bedroom contains a king bed and a day bed (sleeping up to three guests) and has a private deck overlooking Wesley Park. The rear bedroom has a queen bed for up to two guests, and the middle room has a twin and a double, for up to three guests. The front staircase (off of the family room) accesses the hallway connecting to the primary bedroom, bathroom, and middle bedroom. The rear staircase (off of the kitchen) connects to the rear bedroom and middle bedroom. The middle bedroom, therefore, has two exits. The rear bedroom guests do not have direct access to the second floor bathroom.
We provide beach towels, shower towels, all bed linens, and beach chairs. There is parking available for up to two cars. The ''driveway'' is actually an easement across East Chop park land, so parking in the driveway exclusive of our two parking spaces is prohibited. Additional cars may park on the road at the bottom of the drive.
We offer amenities like a dishwasher, full laundry, and mini-splits for heating and cooling, but we also expect bare feet, sand in the sheets, sunburns, fresh air, and some spiders who like the inside of our house as much as the outside. Please stay with us if you want nods to the island's old-fashioned fun (porch-sitting, beach-walking, coffee-sipping, game-playing). If you wish for a pristine modern hotel or a suburban home, our cottage will not be for you. read more show less