Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach!

Photo gallery for Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach!

A two-story building with a balcony, string lights, and a sign that reads "Riptide Stable."
A kitchen with a black refrigerator, a sink with a copper basin, and a mirror with a rustic frame.
A kitchen with a dining table, chairs, a coffee machine, and a rustic wooden backsplash.
A two-story building with a covered porch, a staircase, and a sign that reads 'Riptide Stables'.
A well-maintained grassy area with a pond, picnic tables, and a covered pavilion.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View in a map
Castle Hayne, NC
  • Place, Olsen Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Poplar Grove Plantation
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Kids Room

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Castle Hayne

Located in Castle Hayne, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews and Wilmington Railroad Museum are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit Mayfaire Town Center and The Cotton Exchange. Travelling with kids? Consider Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, or check out an event or a game at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College.
View more Holiday homes in Castle HayneOpens in a new window
Map
Castle Hayne, NC

What's nearby

  • Olsen Park - 5 min drive - 8.5 km
  • Poplar Grove Plantation - 7 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Ogden Park - 10 min drive - 16.0 km
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington - 11 min drive - 18.3 km
  • Mayfaire Town Center - 14 min drive - 19.2 km

Getting around

  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Miranda Mexican Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Subway Sandwich Shop - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 4 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach!?

As of 27 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach! on 26 Dec 2026 start from £869, 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 at Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Welcome to Riptide Stables, 17 Acre Farm, w/animals by the beach! located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly holiday home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Olsen Park, Ogden Park and Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College. Wilmington Oakdale Cemetery and Wilmington VA Health Care Center are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 67 out of 69 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 69 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 69 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 69 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 69 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic place to stay. Very clean, The host and staff are very friendly and easy to communicate with. Very quick to respond to any questions I had. Very pet friendly. This place is a vacation in a vacation absolutely loved this barn loft. Would definitely stay again if coming to Wilmington area again. Extra stars if it was possible.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property offered all that was advertised and provided an atmosphere for relaxing.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our family - two adults, one teen, and 10 year old. Had a wonderful time. We loved feeding the animals and getting to know them. My daughter loved the horses and even booked a ride - which she loved. It’s so convenient to Wilmington and the beaches. Especially Wrightville beach which is about 15 minutes away depending on traffic. With two grocery stores within ten minutes it’s easy to get supplies - and to have food options. Wilmington is a quick drive down the road as well. Certainly really loved our stay and would love to visit again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay and would definitely be coming back
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The barndo was exactly as described. Very clean and we felt perfectly at home. Was so nice having a few essentials provided to make breakfast as we got in after dark on the day of check in. The farm animals were precious and greeted us each time we arrived back at the property. 10/10 recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Being an animal lover I loved being able to feed the horses and donkeys. Wish I could have spent more time with them. I very much enjoyed the location. It was close to everything yet very quiet and peaceful.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place. Very peaceful

Great place to stay. Loved the donkeys.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful people, awesome loving animals, great place! Highly recommend
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great visit

Loved the time with the animals.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

July fourth weekend

My wife and I loved our stay at Riptide Stables. Everything was exactly as described and we especially loved feeding and spending time with the horses and donkeys.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Little slice of heaven

Super gracious hosts, really cool property. Great place to escape the hustle and bustle of town.
Stayed 9 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We came to visit because of an ice storm heading towards our home. We had a wonderful stay. The location is great for visiting Wilmington but not being too close. It felt like we were in the country and yet town was just up the road. The animals were friendly and my kid loved feeding them treats. The apartment was absolutely adorable. You can tell the owner has a great eye for decorating and had added a lot of personality to the space. My only suggestion is chairs near the TV, but we made due with the couch and chair in the sitting area. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely refuge

Great place to unwind and catch your breath
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect location!

Country feel but close to everything! It has plenty of space for the family and has a homey feel. The view is excellent. The host is great! Whether you want to see lots of things on vacation or just want somewhere to relax, it is a perfect match!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place

Love the place. Real nice property and the caretaker very nice and helpful. The owner was very responsive. Our dogs loved the animals and pond. I will stay there again.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great location!

The property was just as described. My daughter really enjoyed the animals. Giving them treats was a highlight each day. The proximity to downtown Wilmington as well as the beaches was excellent. We look forward to another stay in the future!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Farm life - great outdoors

Close to everything you need, yet quite and remote enough for relaxation. Had our grandkids over to feed the donkeys and horses and fished in the pond and a nice walk along the trail.
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Riptide Stables was a great place to stay and was especially welcoming to our dog. We don’t often travel with him but the farm was his happy place. The weather didn’t cooperate the first day but we were still able to enjoy walks around the farm feeding the donkeys and horses. The apartment was cozy and very welcoming. Waffle mix, eggs, butter, and milk were waiting for us when we arrived so we had breakfast available the following morning. Close to Wilmington but on the farm you feel removed from everything. Dawn was very easy to communicate with and very responsive. Just a great trip all around.I will suggest that you ask if any birthday parties are scheduled during your stay. The farm does offer kids’ parties complete with pony rides so just be aware you might have to share the farm for a couple of hours. We will definitely stay here when we are in the Wilmington area again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Riptide

We took are nephews with us here and the loved the horses
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

New Favorite

Everything was just as described & photographed in the listing. Dawn was an excellent host. Highly recommended!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent Family Vacation Spot

We recently spent 4 days at this property and very much enjoyed our stay. Our 8 year old daughter loved feeding the donkeys and horses. The place was clean and well stocked. Dawn was very communicative and accommodating. I asked Dawn if our daughter could ride one of the horses, and she arranged this for us through her daughter Chloe. Highly recommend for someone that wants a different kind of trip.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
When you first drive up, the property is beautiful. The caretaker was very nice. The inside was nicely decorated, but that’s where it ends. The place was not cleaned properly. The beds in the smaller bedroom had not been changed. There was pet hair in the beds, on all of the pillows on the sofa, and the bing bag pillow. We were up at 11:30pm changing the bedding. There was also pet hair throughout on the floors. I had to mop the entire unit. It doesn’t have to be spotless, but it definitely should be cleaned between visits. I did inform the host, and she said she would tell the housekeeper and that it was unacceptable.. We were also expecting to have the property to ourselves, but summer camp was going on. So there were kids making a lot of noise right outside our window. Lastly, the air was not functioning properly. At one point it was 79 degrees in the house. The host did provide a floor fan. Just beware if you travel during the hot summer months it was very warm. I would not stay here again for these reasons.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed the beauty of the farm and found us to be welcoming. We take cleanliness concerns seriously & addressed them immediately with our housekeeping team. After reviewing the photos provided, we did not observe the significant cleanliness issues described in your review, but we nevertheless investigated the matter right away. We would also like to clarify for future guests that Riptide Stables is a working horse farm, as noted in our listing. During your stay, our seasonal farm camp was in session (with just 6 kids), but activities take place primarily at our pavilion on the opposite side of the farm and only operate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your visit also occurred during a record-breaking heat wave with heat index values exceeding 105°. Our HVAC system is brand new and functions properly, but many cooling systems struggled under those extreme conditions. As soon as you notified us, we immediately provided a floor fan, and when we followed up the next morning, we understood the temperature was comfortable. We made every effort to ensure you enjoyed your stay, which was booked with multiple discounts at approximately 50% off our standard rate, and offered a complimentary private farm tour for your family as well. We also checked in multiple times to ensure you were happy and wish we had known before departure that you remained dissatisfied, as we would have gladly discussed additional discounts/refund. We are committed to excellence
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Farm Fun

We had an experience we will never forget. The Apartment was comfortable and was thoughtfully decorated. We loved interacting with the horses and donkeys. They were very sweet and gentle. The setting was stunning. Our goldendoodle did not want to leave. She just sat in front of the barn as we got into the car! Quite a different life her than her condo living. Thanks for everything. I hope we can come back in the future.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Animal friends and nature's peace

We wanted a place that was quiet and a connection with nature. Away from the stresses of life. We wanted to give our granddaughters (ages 3 and 7) an experience of farm life and the ocean during their spring break. This place gave us all of that. We fed very sweet horses and donkeys, had picnics by the pond, enjoyed cookouts by the stone firepit, taught the girls how to cast fishing poles, spent some afternoons at wrightsville beach, and slept to the tunes of frogs. The owner made the place very homey and farmy with primitive decorations. All of our hopes and expectations were met this week. We are a happy Grammy and Grampy.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Loved the place!!

From the time we arrived it was evident that this was going to be fun. The rental was very clean and tidy and all necessities were provided as per the listing. We texted Dawn that we arrived and were able to get into the apartment and she responded immediately and we met her the next day. It was just my wife and I and we enjoyed the interactions with the Horses and the donkeys and feeding them was a great deal of FUN!! Did not have to be a kid to enjoy that :) The location was a quick drive to all available attractions including the beaches, twenty minutes at the most. The whole place was well maintained and we felt at home on the first day! Would definitely recommend especially if you have little ones, but if not, then like I said adults will enjoy the animals as well!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
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