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"The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times

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The Carousel House on Ocean Park
Relax in the rocking chairs with a good book
Waiting for you and a pitcher of iced tea!
The carousel cutouts make this one of the most photographed houses on Ocean Park
Welcome inside the Carousel House

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 123000 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor grill
  • Balcony

Explore the area

View in a map
Oak Bluffs, MA
  • Place, Circuit Avenue
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Oak Bluffs Harbor
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Inkwell Beach
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

2 Twin Beds

Sunroom

1 Double Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

"The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times

This house, built in 1865, was featured in the New York Times article on Oak Bluffs, 'The President Was Here (Grant, That Is).' The article described the unique Victorian homes on Ocean Avenue as 'the Fifth Avenue of Oak Bluffs.' Our house was featured in the article, and photographed in the New York Times online slide show. It is a unique Victorian home, wonderful for family gatherings. The location is ideal - it sits at the heart of Ocean Park, with the closest access to Circuit Avenue of any of the homes on the Park.

The home has been completely renovated, including central air with two zones. Chef's kitchen with granite countertops and stainless appliances, a six burner commercial oven and a wine fridge. Bathroom sinks have marble tops. Four flat screen TVs.

This house has unique charm and convenience. Walk to everything - you don't need a car. The child friendly beach is just across the road, where you can make sandcastles in the sand, or stroll along the boardwalk above the beach, and rest on a bench facing the water. Or stay at home, sit on the porch and gaze over Ocean Park with its iconic gazebo. Have your own private front seat to the concerts and fireworks in Ocean Park during the summer.

It takes about 60 seconds to walk to Circuit Avenue and access the heart of Oak Bluffs: restaurants, quaint shops, art galleries, grocery store, wine and liquor store, hair salon, movies, ice cream parlors, churches, etc. Pick up the bike path from just in front of the house and ride around the island (bike rentals just a short stroll away). Visit the Flying Horses, the oldest carousel in America dating back to the 1800s, just a couple of short blocks away. Take a stroll to the harbor, and see the beautiful yachts docked there. Fly a kite in Ocean Park.

On rainy days, walk just yards away to the movie house, or entertain the kids in the arcade on Circuit Avenue, a 90 second run in the rain! Or stay home and watch movies on the big TV in the living room, or play a board game of Monopoly or Scrabble. Or lose yourself in a book from our small library.

Entire downstairs has hard wired speaker system that you can connect to your phone or tablet, and play your own music.

Be sure to wake up early at least one day of your vacation to catch the breathtaking sunrise over Nantucket Sound, easily visible from the two master bedrooms!

Fun Fact: The Emperor of Ocean Park, the New York Times best seller murder mystery, was written about this house. Read the book before you come, or on the porch while you are here, to relive this home's iconic history. We keep a couple of copies of the book in our bookcase for you to check out while you are with us.

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Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number C0195862210

About the neighborhood

Oak Bluffs

Located in Oak Bluffs, this vacation home is on the waterfront. Woods Hole Ferry Terminal and Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Inkwell Beach and Cape Cod Beaches. Flying Horses Carousel and Island Cove Adventures are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and snorkeling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and horse riding.
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Map
Oak Bluffs, MA

What's nearby

  • Ocean Park - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Circuit Avenue - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Oak Bluffs Harbor - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Oak Bluffs Town Beach - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Inkwell Beach - 6 min walk - 0.6 km

Getting around

  • Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Offshore Ale Co. - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪The Barn Bowl & Bistro - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Lookout Tavern - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Mo's Lunch - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Portuguese-American Club - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times?

As of Apr 21, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times on May 10, 2026 start from $1,622, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "The Carousel House" - Ocean Park - Featured in New York Times located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Ocean Park and Inkwell Beach. Circuit Avenue and Seaview Beach are just steps away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 54 out of 59 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 59 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 59 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 59 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 59 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pamela Helms Wedholm H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic location, loved the porch life, only wish our stay could have been longer.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maleia L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved staying at the Carousel House. It’s a great place in a perfect location and was very clean. Just keep in mind you have to bring your own sheets and towels or rent them. Overall, it was a wonderful stay and we’d definitely come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laurie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our work team spent 3 nights at the Carousel House and had a wonderful time. The house is beautiful and well appointed. The location was absolutey perfect. It is walkable to shops, restaurants, the bus and the ferry. The expansive covered porch and rocking chairs provided a spectacular view of the park and ocean, and was great for people watching.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lea C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Really good location, many bedrooms, clean
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karyn G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent stay, again!

We love this house and hope to be welcomed back for years to come.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Moses E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home in a Great Location

We very much enjoyed our stay. Heidi was incredibly responsive to our needs and the kids loved how close we were to the Green. What a perfect location.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brooke C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

We had a great stay. Communication was clear and the house was clean. We loved the convenience where everything is a walkable distance.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michele S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, many places walkable. Great view of the ocean and morning sunrise. Easy walk to many restaurants and shopping. House is comfortable and all the basics are there. Don’t forget to bring or rent bed linens and towels. We enjoyed our stay! Kitchen is well-equipped. Beds were comfortable. Rocking on the front wrap around porch and people watching was our evening pastime, once we were done with our daily sights and shopping, and dinners. The last night we were there, we were lucky to have live music at the gazebo! What a nice bonus!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anna Justina H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely wonderful off season stay

Couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend a week away. The house is gorgeous and had everything we needed. Grocery store was close by and a few restaurants and shops were still open despite going in the off season. The bedroom at the front overlooking Ocean Park was so comfortable and it was lovely to wake up to the sunrise. We will definitely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thanksgiving 2019

Wonderful place for the family Thanksgiving!! Nicely accommodated three generations ages 8 months to 71 years :-).
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Martha’s Vineyard

Conveniently located in Oak Bluffs! Perfect for my son’s college graduation weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Always great time at the carousel house

Wet relaxing
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathie A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Carousel House

Location is excellent. House has many amenities
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kris D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

N

Very nice place
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicole F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing week on the Vineyard

We had an amazing week at the Clarke House! The house was clean, comfortable, and amenities were great. You can't beat the location and Teresa was wonderful to work with. I highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house, great location!

We're a family of 9 and just returned from a wonderful stay at the Carousel House. Plenty of room for all of us! Loved the location, we could easily walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants. The owner was very responsive to any requests. Would definitely go back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

carosual house

Well maintian, beautiful views and plenty of room
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gwendolyn O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

My Vacation Stay at the Carousel House

My Friends and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay for the Seven days. The House is beautiful and the location is prime. It is walking distance to all the Stores and Restaurants and it is right across from the Beach and a beautiful Park. Teresa and Justina were easy to communicate with. I would Definitely stay there again!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Timothy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

OB Summer Vacation

Great property, sadly 2nd floor AC was not working. Had to fix it on our own as owner and handy man was no help! Missed and entire beach day because of it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

SEANTA M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rejuvenation and peaceful….location

We were a group of five besties, one stayed behind due to illness. . Our stay on Oak Bluff at the Carousel House was awesome from initial coordination with our Host, to saying goodbye to the neighbors next door. We each had our own comfortable room and plenty of lounging room around the house. The view of the Atlantic Ocean from the porch and bedroom balconies were PRICELESS!! I asked my group to give me a word to describe their experience and they were very similar; Rejuvenation, peaceful, accommodating, historic, and LOCATION!!!!!! We were a stones throw away from the ocean, Inkwell Beach, great shopping, best restaurants, and the Ferry! We can’t wait to book our next trip!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family vacation!

This was our first visit to Martha’s Vineyard and the Carousel House was perfect for our party of 11! Including 8 adults and our 3 grandchildren under the age of 3. Oak Bluffs was the perfect town with its beach, Ocean Park, retail stores and children’s playground at Niantic Park and of course the location of the Carousel House cannot be beat!! We rented cars to tour the whole island one day and took the ferry to Nantucket another day. We were there during the Covid crisis so were happy for the kitchen and dining room that could seat us all for cooking and carrying out! The owner and property manager were immediately available the couple of times that we had questions! Thank you, Teresa!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Best on Ocean Park

My family rented this house in August 2010, and we had what will go down as one of the best family vacations ever. Our kids are now 13 and 15, and when we have rented elsewhere on the island, I have spent much time as I do at home shuttling them around. But at the Clarke Carousel Cottage, they were able to be very independent, and walk to whatever they wanted: beach, pizza, ice cream, arcade, movies, etc. We were there in a heat wave, and all I can say is that I am glad we had central air conditioning. Our kids didn't have the normal crankiness that comes with being overheated - made it nicer for us. As others wrote, the house is fantastic with a dream kitchen. We have already booked for next year.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tedi G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girlfriends Old and New

The trip was phenomenal. We didn't all know each other but have made lifelong connections. The house was the perfect size and location. Beautiful kitchen. We met many locals who came in to chat and took info to possibly rent the house too. All communications with management was easy. We had no negative issues at all. A couple of drawbacks - steep stairs for women of a certain age with bad knees and hips and strange configuration of rooms upstairs above kitchen. Had to pass through rooms to get to shared bathroom. Score still nearly 10. Great experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2021 Vineyard Adventure

Location, Location, Location. The best location in Oak Bluffs. Minor hiccups-faulty door knobs and latches, (property mgr Omar was very responsive), code box with key a little tricky but workable. An extra bath would have been nice for 9 adults, but again it was workable. If your group has leg issues or 55+, the stairs may be a challenge. All bedrooms are on 2nd floor. Sofas need updating for comfort but workable. This property accomplished our goal. Reuniting and connecting with friends. Spending some quality time in a great destination. Overall we had a great time. Thank you Mary and the other 8 members of 9 United Visions
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House in the Heart of Oak Bluffs

We had a wonderful stay at the Carousel House in Oak Bluffs! The owner Teresa was very responsive to any questions we had. The house overlooks Ocean Park, which was great for the kids. Each evening, they were playing football or tossing the frisbee around. During the day, they would walk across the park to Inkwell Beach and hang out. Parking wasn't a big deal, as the house had one parking pass, and the sea wall had ample 24-hour parking during our stay. The location was super convenient being so close to shops, restaurants, Back Door Donuts, and Mad Martha's :) One of our favorite features of the house was the wrap around porch. Unlike other houses on Ocean Ave, the porch was very private, and we were not in the line of sight of our next-door neighbors. The view from the master bedroom was unbeatable, and a great place for early morning coffee. Thanks to Teresa for a great stay on our vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by Teresa Clarke

Host profile image
My family has enjoyed Martha's Vineyard for many years. My family came from Connecticut originally, but I was born in California, where I grew to have a love for beaches. Now living in New York, we drive past many other more convenient beach communities to reach that special place where time stands still: Martha's Vineyard.

Why they chose this property

This location, at the heart of Oak Bluffs, is simply location, location, location. Oceanview, parkview, and walk to everything. The Oak Bluffs ferry terminal is about a block away - no need for a car.

What makes this property unique

House has been renovated and designer furnished. Two master bedrooms each have their own porches with views of the water. The house is on the walking tour for many tourists -- don't be surprised if you see people taking pictures of the house! Tourists love to point out the unique carousel horses carved into our porch railings. See article on Ocean Park 'the Fifth Avenue of Oak Bluffs' in the New York Times - 'The President Was Here (Grant, That Is).' House is discussed in the article, and photographed in the New York Times online slide show.

Languages:

English, French, Spanish, Portuguese

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