After years visiting the island to stay a weekend at the Youth Hostel, I built the house in 1992 on an acre and a half of land abutting the State Forest. My parents fell in love with the island and enjoyed spending time there. It pleased me to see them holding hands on the beach and looking like the young lovers they must have been before I, my sister and brother entered the picture. In 2007, I met my wife and introduced her to my favorite activities on the island -- fishing, kayaking, visiting art galleries, savoring the different beaches - Lambert's cove, the Trustees of Reservations lovely beach on long point with a salt pond for kids to play safely, swimming at the newly acquired land bank property - the old ice pond, snorkeling, the art movie house in Tisbury. She loves going to the Scottish bakehouse or ArtCliff diner for breakfast, the Lookout tavern, Offshore Ale, or Barn, Bowl & Bistro in Oak Bluffs with friends and family. Taking an outdoor shower after coming home from the beach nourishes the soul. We'll head on the bike path at the end of the road, for the ten mile loop around the State forest, and sometimes roller blade the whole way -- great exercise. The neighbors dog likes to check out new renters, roll around on his back, show a little love, and hope for a tasty treat from the grill.
What is special about this property?
When i bought the land for my home, I had a choice of a half acre in Edgartown, near Morning Glory farm, or an acre and a half in West Tisbury, near the end of a country road for the same money. I liked it that at the height of the tourist season, I could hear a pin drop in West Tisbury, while Edgartown had much more hustle and bustle. I liked being able to get out the door, turn right from the driveway and be on the bike path to rollerblade, take a quick ten mile loop around the state forest, then back home for lunch. There is more privacy on an acre and a half
and I left south facing trees near the house, to naturally cool it in the heart of summer. Its nice to fall asleep upstairs looking at the stars, to sometimes hear wild turkeys nesting in the tree outside the window, and recently a Great Horned Owl so close I felt I could touch it. I leave 3 bikes at the property so renters can get out and enjoy the natural surroundings. Since we didn't intend to rent it when we furnished the home, it has a nicer presentation than the average Vineyard home. Being an audiophile, I have a high end stereo in the living room to go with the 50 inch flat screen TV. Hopefully, you'll be too busy, to bother much with those, and spend more time grilling on the deck, or jumping in the outdoor shower, after returning from a day at the beach.
What is special about your town?
In the summertime, particularly in July and August, traffic builds on Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluff, and Edgartown roads. Up Island, from West Tisbury, to Aquinnah, are more peaceful and relaxed. West Tisbury, has a more rural character, with more farms, woodlands, and hiking spots. Lambert's Cove beach, a ten minute drive, offers a tranquil sheltered cove, with salt ponds like bookends on either side, for sun bathing, swimming, or packing a dinner and wine, to watch the sunset in the evening as many families gather to do. The Trustees of Reservations Long Point beach, has a south facing surf beach, plus a sheltered salt pond oasis for kids to play safely, with an Osprey nest, and hungry young chicks right out of the parking lot. Once a private pond, the land bank, purchased access to the Old Ice Pond, with trails to the water, and a lovely dock to jump into pristine fresh water. And uncle Seth's pond is on the way to Lambert's Cove on Lamberts Cove road. Cedar tree neck wildlife sanctuary, off Indian Hill road, has walking trails to the beach, salt pond, and a hike not unlike a trip into a haven for Hobbits, with a spectacular cliff overlook of the Elizabeth Islands. West Tisbury has the Agricultural fair in August, the farmers market every Saturday, the artisans festival, the Granary and Field Art galleries, Arrowhead farms horse rides, Polly Hill Arboretum, the post and beam Yoga barn, Chilmark Pottery and MV Glassworks.