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Oak Bluffs Vacation Rental home in Martha's Vineyard MA, 3/10 mi to The Jetty Beach | ID 37607

Booming Ben: Air-conditioned East Chop Gingerbread Cottage
Oak Bluffs, East Chop Vacation Rental - ID 37607

3 BR
2 baths
Sleeps 8
Beds: 1 king, 1 queen, 1 double, 1 twin, Day bed
Beach: 3/10 mi to The Jetty Beach
Guest Reviews: 6 reviews 6 reviews
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Off-season 2024/25
$895 - $995
Summer 2025
 
Off-season 2025/26
$895 - $995
Off-season 2024/25
$4,500 - $5,500
Summer 2025
$6,500 - $8,500
Off-season 2025/26
$4,500 - $6,500
Off-season 2024/25
 
Summer 2025
 
Off-season 2025/26
 
State and local taxes of 11.7% will apply
Listed by Caitlin
Active
1+ years
Property ID 37607
Description

Description

*Note as of July 2024: We will be accepting Summer 2025 bookings only after Labor Day 2024, with preference given to returning guests.

Before reading further...
This old lovely cottage is our home, and we make it available on a limited basis for rent; it's not, ''just a rental.'' This place is for people who will treat our 1887 cottage as we do, with love, respect, and an appreciation for classic charm. We offer all the modern amenities (a dishwasher, full laundry, streaming services and WiFI, mini-splits), but we also expect bare feet, sand in the sheets, sunburns, fresh air, and 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 is not for you. Given that it's an historic home, it is not be suitable for young children or people with mobility issues.

Introduction:
The cottage is named in honor of Booming Ben, an iconic island figure (ahem – bird). 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. The house is located in the quiet neighborhood of East Chop, historically known as the ''highlands'' of Oak Bluffs. It 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, up high and amongst cedars and pines. 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:
The house has two stories, a wraparound porch with seating and outdoor dining areas, ample social space indoors, 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 main staircase off of the family room accesses the hallway connecting to the primary bedroom, bathroom, and middle bedroom. The kitchen staircase 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.

Bedrooms:
(1) Primary bedroom (up to 3 guests): (1) king bed and (1) day bed, with a private deck overlooking Wesley Park
(2) Queen bedroom (up to 2 guests): At the rear of the house, over the kitchen (no bathroom access)
(3) Middle room (up to 3 guests): (1) twin bed and (1) double bed

Included:
We provide beach and shower towels, bed linens, and beach chairs. We also have a ''take-and-leave'' pantry of rotating spices and cooking oils and vinegars.

Parking:
There is space available at the top of the easement for 1-2 cars. The ''driveway'' is actually an easement across East Chop park land, so parking at the house between the road and the telephone pole by the cottage is prohibited. Additional cars may park on the road at the bottom of the drive on John Wesley Avenue.

Rates:
Payment includes the lease term rate (nightly or weekly), a flat non-negotiable cleaning fee (trash, recycling, and turnover), state and town taxes, and a $500.00 security deposit.

Booking:
Stays are allowed June-October for 2-14 days. We require a signed agreement and non-refundable deposit to hold the date. The non-refundable deposit is 50% of the lease term rate. The full remaining balance is due 30 days prior to arrival. The security deposit will be refunded within 30 days if not needed to cover damages.

Security Deposit:
Guests will automatically lose their security deposit for reasons including (but not limited to) evidence of parties, smoking, pets, property damage, and/or for unapproved late departure that delays cleaning and/or other parties' arrival. Full details are available in the booking agreement.
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Location

Location - Oak Bluffs, East Chop

Nearest beach: 3/10 mi to The Jetty Beach

41.4628558 -70.5642120 0
Photos

Photos

Pricing & Availability

Pricing & Availability

1
Minimum Stay Requirements:
  • Off-season 2024/25
    5 nights
  • Summer 2025
    7 nights
  • Off-season 2025/26
    5 nights
Available
Unavailable
Unknown

Calendar Last Updated: September 18, 2024

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  • Price AUGUST 2025
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Additional availability info: We require a booking agreement and non-refundable 50% deposit to hold the dates. This is a Saturday to Saturday vacation rental.

Payment Methods: Zelle, ACH/EFT, Visa, MasterCard (no transaction fees); and personal checks

Other Fees:

Cleaning Fee:

$500.00 Turnover service; trash/recycling

Administrative Fee:

$275

Security Deposit:

$500.00

State and local taxes of 11.7% will apply

Amenities

Amenities

  • Walk to a salt water beach Walk to a salt water beach

  • A/C unit(s) A/C unit(s)

  • Outdoor shower Outdoor shower

  • Washer&dryer Washer&dryer

  • No Pets No Pets

  • Internet Internet

  • Linens provided Linens provided

  • Bathtub Bathtub

  • Deck, porch or patio Deck, porch or patio

  • BBQ-grill BBQ-grill

  • Yard Yard

  • TV TV



    Reviews

    Guest Reviews

    6 reviews
    Have you stayed here? Write a review
    Booming Ben is One of a Kind

    It is hard to describe how incredible our time at Booming Ben was—peaceful, warm, magical, amazing, most memorable, etc. From the first day, we inquired about renting to when we closed the door upon our departure, everything was perfect. We cannot wait to return in 2025!
    Thank you to Caitlyn and Tim for opening their home to us.

    Accuracy of listing:
    Cleanliness of home:
    Experience with homeowner:
    Return to rental or recommend to friend:
    Date of Stay: July 2024
    Date Submitted: August 2024
    Owner Response:

    Thank you for your kind words, Chrisanthi; we feel so lucky when our guests feel just as we do about our home. We look forward to having you again next year!

    Salt Lake City, UT
    Member since Aug 2018
    A Historic Gem Full of Modern Amenities

    Booming Ben is a mini-museum of Martha's Vineyard—a real treat for history buffs—that features every amenity you could want. The double outdoor shower is so amazing, same for the huge wraparound porch with comfy hammocks. Downtown Oak Bluffs is a lovely 10-minute walk from the house. Communication with the owners was a breeze. We highly recommend this house for your next vacation!

    Accuracy of listing:
    Cleanliness of home:
    Experience with homeowner:
    Return to rental or recommend to friend:
    Date of Stay: June 2024
    Date Submitted: July 2024
    Member since Nov 2023
    Lovely stay at Booming Ben

    For the first two weeks of August, we stayed at Booming Ben with another friend. It is a lovely house in East Chop in a tranquil area surrounded by trees and where it is quiet (except for the crows and woodpecker!). Caitlin and Tim left a bird watching book, so bring binoculors. It is close enough to walk to the marina and central Oak Bluffs, as well as to the East Chop lighthouse and public beach. A walk to the Inkwell takes about 20 mins, depending on pace. All to say, that many things are accessible without being in the middle of the busy parts of town. There is also good parking on site for one or two cars to be able to drive around to other parts of the island.

    The kitchen is bright and spacious and really well-equipped with plenty of dishes, high quality pots and pans, and cooking utensils (including sharp cooking knives!). The laundry room was equipped with a new washer and dryer, as as well as beach towels, large reusable grocery/beach bags, and coolers. There was also a beach umbrella and cart.

    The house was very comfortable for two families, including two young adults who overlapped for part of the time. There is a lot of natural light in the whole house. The bedrooms are charming with really comfortable beds and pillows, and there are two full bathrooms, in addition to a beautiful outdoor shower. We all needed to do some work during parts of the stay, and there was plenty of room to spread out, including the wonderful porch and with strong wifi.

    Caitlin and Tim are also very responsive, like when we had a question about recycling, they responded right away.

    One thing to note is that those in the back bedroom will need to go up and down the stairs to use the bathroom that is off the kitchen. It was fine for us, but may not work for everyone.

    We would highly recommend!
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    Accuracy of listing:
    Cleanliness of home:
    Experience with homeowner:
    Return to rental or recommend to friend:
    Date of Stay: July 2023
    Date Submitted: August 2023
    Owner Response:

    Thank you, Lourdes; it means so much to know you enjoyed your first stay with us. We hope you'll return again!

    Brooklyn, NY
    Member since Aug 2023
    Best vacation

    Having vacationed on the Vineyard for several years, I found Booming Ben to be perhaps my favorite stay. The cottage itself is bliss. Quaint, yet fully refurbished with modern appliances and AC. I shared with another family, and each of us has a college age child -- both of whom came for part of our two week stay. With five of us, there was plenty of room to spread out to read, relax, and (occasionally) work. The configuration of bedrooms also enabled privacy. And the home is fully equipped with useful amenities -- washer/dryer, grill, and outdoor shower. Caitlin and Tim were very responsive both before and during our stay. I deeply admire the care and creativity of their renovation of this lovely home -- simple yet elegant.

    The wrap around porch was my favorite spot. The hammocks and rocking chairs are perfect for lounging. The kitchen island was our daily gathering spot for morning coffee. But don't linger too long; there's so much to do! This peaceful home is within walking distance of downtown Oak Bluffs's shops and restaurants, morning yoga at the Inkwell beach, and East Chop harbor. For driving to venture to other parts of the island, the onsite parking is truly a gift. This was my first time staying in East Chop, and I discovered it to be a perfect balance of proximity to town life and distance for peace and quiet.

    My only real complaint is that I wish I could have stayed longer! The homes are a bit close together, but the neighbors were generally quiet. In my mind, this was a small trade off for an otherwise incredible experience. I prefer being in a home and neighborhood like this (ie, closer to town) than in more secluded homes in more remote parts of the island. Overall, one of my best vacation experiences. I would happily love to return.
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    Accuracy of listing:
    Cleanliness of home:
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    Return to rental or recommend to friend:
    Date of Stay: July 2023
    Date Submitted: August 2023
    Owner Response:

    We loved having you and your family, Catherine, and I hope we can host you again in the future!

    New York, NY
    Member since Aug 2023
    Perfect

    This was my fifth summer stay at Booming Ben, but the first since it had that name. The new owners have done a wonderful job updating the property, including the welcome additions of air conditioning and new beds. Plus linens and towels, which made packing much easier.

    We keep coming back because of its close location to Oak Bluffs (several walks per day into town), an EV charger (behind the library, about a mile away) and the best front porch in East Chop.

    Accuracy of listing:
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    Date of Stay: July 2023
    Date Submitted: August 2023
    Owner Response:

    Thank you, Dan; we're so appreciative that you've trusted us as new owners with your fifth stay at the house, yet your first with us. We look forward to having you back for years to come.

    Southborough, MA
    Member since Aug 2023
    Booming Ben June Stay in East Chop

    Caitlin & Tim: We were 5 who ventured a wedding stay at Booming Ben. The accommodations were so clean and so near perfect. The ambience welcoming and more than words can articulate--there is a feeling of attention to detail and welcome. The "on the hill" location on John Wesley is great, quiet, and very much accessible for walks "in-town" to Our Market or Winston's or to Circuit, even. The neighborhood is filled with friendly and helpful people. The wrapping porch--such a marvelous place for conversation, laughter, libations and comestibles. Yes, the hammocks work! The beds were so comfortable. The showers and bath needs were spa quality. The decor most appropriate for Oak Bluffs and East Chop history. The kitchen lacks nothing. I've been informed by our group to say that our stay at Booming Ben was too short, but also just wonderful.

    Each of us visitors spoke of the realia, the photographs, the lithographs, the artwork that adorns Booming Ben and seems to quietly celebrate all cultures. Kudos to you or your decorator for the sisal and kilim and oriental floor coverings that gather the rooms. The choices of hand sewn quilts, the quality linens, accent pillows, the "shabby-chic" and mid-century modern furnishings, The many gathering spots--especially the kitchen and dining areas--awesome, just awesome. (Oh, I forgot that the Master Bedroom with the horses could use one more lamp closer to the big bed).

    You and your design group have done fantastic work to bring your 19th century cottage a contemporary feeling.
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    Accuracy of listing:
    Cleanliness of home:
    Experience with homeowner:
    Date of Stay: June 2023
    Date Submitted: June 2023
    Owner Response:

    Thank you, Tom; we really appreciate you being our first guests, and will continue to strive to make improvements on the cottage in our first year of ownership.

    Hartford, CT
    Member since May 2023
    About

    About Caitlin

    Member since:
    5/2/2023
    Reviews:
    6 reviews
    Response Time:
    Within a day
    Response Rate:
    100%
    We are two professional photographers who love travel, collecting art, and restoring old homes. One of us is a third-generation islander from Oak Bluffs, so this house, which we've owned since February 2023, gives us a renewed sense of home and place on the island.

    What is special about this property?
    This house was built in 1939 in the Northern Gothic style, so it has incredible architectural details like gingerbread molding, an octagonal turret, and ''angel wing'' doors and windows. The cottage is situated up high in East Chop, with easy walking to town and the beach year-round. The wraparound porch has a view of the neighborhood through the trees, and is comfortable all day long. The property in front of the house from the road up to the front porch is Wesley Park, owned and maintained by the East Chop Association (not our private property).

    What is special about your town?
    Oak Bluffs is believed to be the heart of old Martha's Vineyard, with remarkable history within the African-American and Methodist communities, and the island is home to the Wampanoag tribe, the indigenous people of Martha's Vineyard. The town has a bit of everything: casual and fine dining, family activities, cruises, galleries, retail, and, of course, the beach. Oak Bluffs is also where both the Steamship Authority and Island Queen ferries dock, meaning that during the high season, guests can walk off the boat and get to our house within fifteen minutes.

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