Location: Inverness, San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA (One hour north of San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge) View Map
Accommodations: House, 5 Bedrooms + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 9)
Keywords: Vacation house with tennis court, almost a full wooded acre with oak trees, near hiking trails and in the lovely resort town of Inverness in West Marin County
Come stay at The Colby House, our family's vacation home for 75 years! Sleeps 9 in 5 bedrooms including 1 King, 2 Queens, 1 single twin, 1 double twin room. Tennis court and fenced 1 acre yard with oak trees.
Come play tennis under the oak tree canopy, on the lined asphalt court in great condition.
Musically inclined? Play our piano.
Need to stay in touch with the office or access the web? We have wireless (wifi) access to high speed internet and unlimited long distance phone calls are provided on the "land line" to our guests.
Each room opens out to the expansive deck, for independent and private access. Great windows front and back and "dutch doors" - open the top half and let in the light and air and music of the birds. Enjoy the cool morning and evening air under your down duvet! The location is ideal for a peaceful stay but also supports an active lifestyle for adults and kids - extended families love it!
Located across the street from the Inverness school and playground. Walk on the trails or down to the Inverness General Store, gift shop and restaurants. Drive to nearby Tomales Bay State Park swimming beaches, including Shell Beach or out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse or the special ocean beaches. Kayaking and sailing are popular on Tomales Bay (kayaks can be rented). Other quality restaurants are nearby in Point Reyes Station and Olema, just a few miles away.
If you are like us, you will want to spend some of your time in the very private, park like setting, playing tennis, climbing trees, playing board games or reading books in the cozy living room by the fire or on the deck shaded by oak trees. Pick blackberries in the summer, particularly in late July and in August. That formula has worked for five generations in our family, enjoying the magic of Inverness since 1914.
The main house and tennis court date back to the 1890s with the rest of the house added in the 1930s. The master king suite over the garage has a bath/shower. The main bathroom next to one of the queen bed rooms has an updated shower along with a washer and dryer.
Many of our guests become "regulars" who we welcome back year after year. We hope you will find our property worthy of becoming one of your special vacation spots, enjoying Inverness and exploring the Point Reyes National Seashore.
NOTE - THERE IS NO CABLE TV SERVICE - BUT WE HAVE A TELEVISION SET WITH BUILT IN VCR PLUS WE HAVE WI FI (WIRELESS) HIGH SPEED INTERNET.
See our guest book for proof that board games, puzzles, tennis, walks and conversation replace the time that you are used to spending with the TV! (My favorite is Scrabble!) Here are some of our guest’s comments:
• “A delightful place…..I hope to come back again….”
• “……in harmony with nature….”
• “……so lucky to have spent time in this amazing home in this beautiful place…..”
• “….cooking delicious food together and gathering around the round table……”
• “….a place where time slows enough for you to catch up.”
• “We had a super family gathering. All of just loved being here. This is a fabulous place to be. Our stay has been delightful.”
• “Our dog was in heaven!!”
• “PS – The stars were fabulous.”
• “Upon walking inside, one can smell this home’s history. Rich and comfortable. Warm and full of genuine laughter. The place is full of good things. Well built, confident and provocative. It leaves you wanting to read its history. Thank you for the protection against modernization.”
• “We came looking for peace and tranquility, and things green and growing. They were here in abundance!”
• “This house is really remarkable…..the symbiotic feeling of the building and natural elements blending together……but perhaps even more amazing are the memories that are made here. A couple of days of rain encouraged us to get to know this place and one another a bit better. We congregated around the fire and did puzzle after puzzle together, lounged and talked and played board games – our family’s winter holiday was one we will always treasure. We found ourselves speculating about the Colbys and the history of this space, how special the family must be who came together here and have opened its doors to the rest of us.”
• “Our kids had a blast exploring in and around the house – they are not happy about leaving!!”
• “I enjoyed the space to dream.”
• “We loved our stay at Colby House; it is the quintessential Inverness house – cozy and comfortable. We enjoyed the piano. We appreciate the history of the house and the way you have kept things the way they were. The light and the quiet are delicious – we don’t want to leave!”
• “Had a great time and the kids not only survived having no TV but also had a great time.”
• “We loved this mysterious big old house, big decks, big windows, big glorious tennis court, big trees, and big generous loving sense of being cared for! Unforgettable.”
• “….what a fireplace!”
• “We really enjoyed traveling back in time.”
• And a few comments from the younger set:
• “Thank you for letting us stay here. I was very excited!! But there is no TV.!!”
• “We had a wonderful time. We climbed on the tree, played in the tennis courts and built forts.”
• “My sister and I had a lot of fun exploring and playing ping-pong. Thank you.”
• “I do not want to leave the tennis court. I want to stay here and I really love tennis. It was my first day playing tennis ever. I liked playing the piano. Your place is really fun. We went to the beach and I dug the biggest hole that I had ever seen.”
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer : Large load washer and dryer.
- Dryer
- Linens Provided : Our property managers provide fresh linens including sheets and towels.
- Garage : Ping pong table in the garage.
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed : King bed above the garage, a master suite.
- Queen Bed (2) : Two queen bedrooms, one next to the main bathroom, and the other shares a 1/2 bath with the end bedroom which has two twin beds.
- Twin/Single Bed (3) : One room with single twin bed, one with two twin beds
- Entertainment
- VCR
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library : Bring your iPod or iPhone and play it on the compatible unit in the living room. The unit also plays CDs.
- Ping Pong/Table Tennis
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- Broadband Internet : Wifi is provided for internet connection through cable modem.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- This one acre secluded and wooded property has a private full size and good condition tennis court
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly : We are happy for our guests to bring their dogs, but we want to be sure that barking is kept to a minimum to respect the quiet neighborhood. This is addressed by the security deposit.
- Kid Friendly : This property is great for extended families and the kids.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Tennis
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Restaurants
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$350/night, See below for specials.
10% Marin County Transient Occupancy Tax is added to rental cost
$150 cleaning fee, add $25 for guests bringing dogs
$150 security deposit, add $250 for guests bringing dogs
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover with 3.5% fee added.
Paypal accepted with 3% fee added.
Check in is at 4 pm and check out is at 11 am
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
5 Bdr Historic Inverness Mesa Home W/Tennis Court and Wifi
Year Purchased: 1933
Why the Owner Chose Inverness
All of the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Henry and Ruth Colby have their favorite memories and activities associated with the Colby House. It was the dream of Ruth Colby that the Colby House would remain in the family and that new people would have the chance to experience the magic of this special place.
Special memories include summer and winter holiday weekends and extended visits; special activities include playing cards and games in the living room; short drives to the Tomales Bay beaches, particularly Shell Beach where Ruth Colby used to drive each day in the summer to swim after 4:30pm; longer drives out to the beautiful ocean beaches, particularly McClures, but also to enjoy the wildflowers and to look for the Tule Elk who live in their own preserve. And, to be honest, it is common to stay on the property and take walks around the neighborhood and lose all ambition as the property itself is incredible and very relaxing when sitting on the deck!
The Unique Benefits at this House
The property is very private, with almost a full acre and the entire side of the block of Park Avenue, up from Forres Way where our green gates face the Inverness School. Within the property is the newly resurfaced and restriped tennis court, and an oak tree next to the deck which is suitable for climbing (and with a rope swing as well)! Everyone enjoys sitting on the deck in the summer to enjoy every meal!
Owner's Map of Inverness
Mike Brown and his family are the Bay Area Colby family members who own the Colby House. Mike's grandparents Henry and Ruth Colby bought the property in the 1930s and raised their children with long summers at the house. The main house was built in the 1890s, along with the tennis court, but Henry added several bedrooms after buying the house. Mike's Aunt Mary Colby McKey is another owner of the Colby House, and her passion has been to retain the history and "feel" of the house from her childhood.
Property Photos
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- Enjoy the deck in the shade of the oak trees - why go anywhere? - Inverness, CA Vacation House near the Beach
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- The deck on a misty winter day .... light the fire and play some board games! - Inverness, CA Vacation House near the Beach
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- The view from near the tennis court looking back to the house, a nice open area! - Inverness, CA Vacation House near the Beach
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- View from the yard - almost a full wooded acre!
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- Tennis on your own private court! Shaded by mature oaks
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- Enjoy the cozy main room with seating in front of the fireplace.
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- King size bed in private suite with full bath over garage
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- Another angle picture taken of king sized bedroom over the garage
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- One of our two queen sized bedrooms, this one next to the main bathroom.
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- End bedroom with two twin beds, with a 1/2 bath between this room and the next.
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- Ping pong in the garage
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- Windows on all four walls of the living room make for gorgeous sunny mornings!
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- The walk down to Shell Beach on Tomales Bay, a short drive away for a swim!
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- Sun streams through the windows in the dining area wiith views of the garden
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- All rooms open to the deck for easy outdoor living in summer.
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- Relaxing under an oak with a view of the tennis court on a sunny August morning
Traveler Reviews (6)
Wonderful, charming Colby House
Guest: Kate
(Oakland)
Date of Stay: 11/04/11
Review Submitted: 12/14/11
Colby House is a magical place. My husband and I fell in love with it—Inverness and Point Reyes are two of our favorite places—and thought it would be amazing for our small family wedding. The owners were wonderful and supportive of us having our celebration at their house, and even offered suggestions and helped us make arrangements. The beautiful, rustic simplicity of the house, lovely grounds, and overall setting were incredible for our fall wedding—our guests fell in love with the Colby House just as we had. We loved spending the weekend there. And, we are looking forward to returning—for croquet, tennis, fires in the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate in Adirondack chairs on the expansive deck, heading to the beach, and relaxing with family and friends.
Recommended for:Pet owners, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Quiet, rustic vacation home
Guest: pt reyes regular
(San Mateo, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/22/11
Review Submitted: 06/28/11
I spent 2 nights at the Colby House with my immediate and extended family members last week. I have to admit when I first drove to the property and entered thru the fence door, I was a little unsure of what to expect. I was confronted with an almost forest like entry-way and as I found my way to the front door, I remember thinking to myself if I had a mistake in selecting this property for vacation... but once I walked thru the front door and checked out the rooms, and walked around the acre property, I realized what a fantastic place it was. Absolutely private, the rooms are log-cabin style, lot of history to the place. We had a great time playing tennis during the day and enjoying playing board games by the fire place. The kitchen and bathrooms need some updating but they are functional and clean. The dining table and the family room was perfect for our family of 9 and every meal around the table was memorable. Our 1 year old lab was ecstatic thru the stay... he got a lot of exercise roaming/running freely around the property and keeping us entertained. He was thrilled with all the open space and slept solid thru the nights, not a beep about sleeping in a new place! 2 hours after we checked in, my daughter asked me if we really needed to check out within 2 days... "why can't we stay for another day... pleeease?" Unfortunately we had to return home but it's definitely on my list of places to stay when I am back in the Pt Reyes area, which I do every year. I would suggest updating the ping-pong table and the board games in the family room :-) The owner Kerry Brown is very responsive and helpful. She was prompt in responding to my late night questions over email and always returning phone messages.
Recommended for:Pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Historic, relaxing stay
Guest: Sarah
(San Ramon, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11
Review Submitted: 06/01/11
We stayed at the Colby House for two nights over Memorial Day weekend with our three boys, ages 8, 5 and 3. We had a wonderful time. The kids had so much fun running through the house and exploring the different bedrooms. During the day, we enjoyed playing tennis (or at least trying) on the tennis court, playing ping pong in the garage, throwing a ball around the meadow, and the boys spent lots of time on the tree swing. They also ran laps around the deck because they were generally so excited. At night, we played games next to a roaring fire. We also enjoyed hiking and tidepooling in the nearby Pt. Reyes National Seashore. One thing I loved about the Colby House is all of the history. It is intriguing to think about how the Colby family purchased the home in the 1930s and have shared family memories there ever since. We appreciated the historical photos on the walls and the family background provided in the binder. I gave this property an "excellent" review because it is so special. It is a truly memorable experience to stay there, and it reminds me so much of the historical homes in New England where I grew up. However, one should understand that this is an older home. There are not a lot of frills, but the home is clean and spacious, the bedding is comfortable, and the kitchen is extremely well-equipped for basic cooking. This is not a place for someone who likes contemporary luxuries. But it is a very special place for people who want a memorable experience with historical charm.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Lovely Escape just a Short Drive from San Fran.
Guest: Jeff
(St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 03/17/11
Review Submitted: 05/18/11
It was a thrill to have the opportunity to spend St. Patrick's Day evening in the Colby House. A college friend of mine from San Francisco made the arrangements after I had expressed an interest in coming West to visit him and making my voyage contingent on some true NorCal sightseeing. He told me he had stayed at the Colby House in the past and was eager for another chance to enjoy the authentic beauty of the home and its tranquil setting on a lush hill above a cozy town abutting Point Reyes National Seashore. The two of us took the scenic route north from the city stopping in Sonoma to enjoy a wine tasting at Chateau St. Jean. Further onward, we stopped again, unable to resist making a purchase at the legendary Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma. Upon arriving at the Colby House, I was astonished that a turn-of-the-century dwelling could still be in such wonderful condition. Certainly, some improvements have been made for the benefit of the inhabitants, but I believe the owners have found a favorable middle-ground between adopting certain modern comforts while maintaining the home's original purpose - to serve as an escape from the relentless hustle and bustle of everyday life. Unfortunately my time in the Colby House was marked by some harsh rains which prevented plans to use the home's beckoning tennis court. But the weather could not deplete the other enjoyments that extend from one's relaxing escape into the wilderness. Much of my time was spent reading the great literature from the home's library, delving into the antique boardgames, preparing and eating food, and simply reveling in the great living-room, seated before the grand stone fireplace. What's more, the house is but steps away from trail heads leading to wonderful national forest preserves and a short drive into town for the sumptuous breakfast treats served by Bovine Bakery, a local staple in Point Reyes Station. Before leaving Colby House we made sure to venture to Point Reyes Lighthouse, which put the exclamation point on our trip up North. In short, if you want to get away from the city and spend some time acquainting yourself with the joys of nature without shedding the comforts of home, you should consider staying at the Colby House. It certainly exceeded my expectations for what a NorCal getaway should be. I hope this review proves helpful while you make your vacation plans. -Jeff St. Louis, MO.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Ideal Getaway
Guest: Jay
(Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10
Review Submitted: 12/16/10
About an hour from most of the Bay Area, Colby House is a wonderful retreat. We've stayed at Colby House 4 or 5 years and love the rustic charm. A short drive to wonderful hikes, kayaking, tide pools, beaches and Tule elk. But civilization is also close, with great restaurants, gourmet shop, fresh oyster farm, bakeries and excellent bookstore. We also use the tennis courts and enjoy sitting by the fireplace and playing family games or reading books.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Charming Inverness Home
Guest: Rob
(San Mateo)
Date of Stay: 09/01/08
Review Submitted: 09/30/10
We love this property! It is a rustic, yet comfortable, cottage. It's located close to beatiful beaches and the famous Point Reyes Tule Elk Reserve (great for joggers, hikers and nature lovers). The cottage is great for romantic get-a-ways, for single families or for groupe (we've used it for all 3). It's a must see. Oh yeah, the tennis court is great for tennis, lounging or for the kids to play.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #200438
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