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Entire home

Historic Colonial House on the water

Riverfront vacation home in Old Lyme with kitchen

Photo gallery for Historic Colonial House on the water

Interior
Property grounds
Beach
Exterior
Property grounds
Perched above the river, this 1740 house offers a tranquil retreat with tidal estuaries views. Unwind in the library or game room, relax in the living room or explore the secluded lawn.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathrooms3000 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet friendly
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Historic Colonial House on the water

The house is situated above the river, overlooking tidal estuaries. The house was built in 1740 by a ships captain, reflected in some interesting interior details. It was moved to its current location in 1945 when the kitchen and garage wing was added. The house is 3 stories with bedrooms on the second and third floors. The main floor has the kitchen, dining room, library (or game room) and living room as well as a 1/2 bath.
The house is surrounded by lawn and is secluded from other houses. Sunsets from the west side of the house can be striking.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Internet access

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total (up to 20 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 9 steps to reach entrance
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • No elevator
  • Thin carpet in public areas
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Bicycle parking
  • Bicycle storage
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Bicycle parking
  • Bicycle storage
  • Garden
  • Recycling
  • Unit size: 3,000 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

We may enter the house at reasonable times to make necessary repairs or changes that we are required to make. We will give you reasonable notice.
We may also enter the house to show the house to possible or actual tenants, workmen or contractors.
You will not unreasonable deny us the right to enter the house. In an emergency, we may enter at any time.

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total (up to 20 lbs per pet)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Very steep stairs

Events

No events allowed

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property is also known as

Historic Colonial House on the Water Old Lyme
Historic Colonial House on the Water Private vacation home

About the neighborhood

Map
Old Lyme, CT

What's nearby

  • Lyme Academy of Fine Arts - 6 min drive - 2.9 miles
  • Old Lyme Historical Society - 7 min drive - 3.3 miles
  • Ferry Landing State Park - 7 min drive - 3.5 miles
  • Florence Griswold Museum - 7 min drive - 4.4 miles
  • Rocky Neck State Park - 8 min drive - 4.7 miles

Getting around

  • Old Saybrook Station - 9 min drive
  • New London, CT (GON-Groton - New London) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪James Farmacy Organic Cafe and Juice Bar - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Paperback Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Cocotte - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Saybrook Point Inn & Spa - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Teddy's Old Lyme Pizza Palace - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Colonial House on the water pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 20 lbs per pet.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Historic Colonial House on the water?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Colonial House on the water?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Historic Colonial House on the water located?

This family-friendly Old Lyme vacation home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and Old Lyme Historical Society. Saybrook Country Barn and Essex Saybrook Antique Village Shopping Center are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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Historic Colonial House on the water Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Carolee N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to relax and vacation with family. The house is lovely and has plenty of room and everything you need. Hosts are very responsive and helpful. Would definitely return for another stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

J B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Location, location, location! Unbeatable beurty and serenity. Wonderfully preserved 1740s home instantly set the vibes for a peaceful and relaxed vacation. Looking forward to visiting again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Lucie H.

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

Lovely stay! wonderful hosts

We all enjoyed being in a historic house in a lovely location. It was wonderful to have morning coffee in the peaceful, beautiful backyard. The house is large and comfortable. Our hosts were very gracious and responsive
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

ANNETTE L.

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

Fabulous get away!

This 1780's home has wonderful charm and its location can't be beat for sunset views and a lovely walk to the beach. Jenna was great showing us the home and area. The yard allowed for yard games and lunches outdoors on a great patio set. The kitchen is large and well stocked. We loved the side "pantry" area to store our food and snacks. For our family, it was a complete joy to stay at this property. We'd love to come back again soon.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Gail G.

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

River House

This property exceeded our expectations. It’s a quintessential colonial Connecticut house on a beautiful river. Tons of privacy, beautiful views and a resident doe. We saw ospreys, egrets and many other birds while exploring the property. The house is roomy with great views. The kitchen is well supplied. We used the grill several times for dining al fresco. If you’re a reader don’t bring books with you…they have a fantastic library at the house..
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

William C.

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

A Perfect Week

We were lucky enough to spend a week at this beautiful, historic home. Situated directly on the Black Hall river, it offers beautiful views of the CT river reaching into LI Sound. Every evening we enjoyed extraordinary sunsets across the marsh. Beautiful lawns stretch around the home giving the kids lots of room to play. The home itself is comfortable and well appointed. It feels like stepping back in time in the best possible way. And the owners were attentive to anything we might need. A perfect place to unplug, relax, and enjoy being in a truly beautiful part of the world. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Patty E.

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

Gorgeous setting!

10 of us stayed at The River House in Old Lyme over Veteran's Day weekend in November. The house and the surrounding area could not be more beautiful! The pictures and descriptions are 100% accurate too. I am a lover of very old homes with their wavy floors, giant fireplaces and narrow staircases and this house has all of that and so much more. But even though it's a historic home, the modern kitchen, large butler's pantry and bathrooms made it a perfect getaway for a group of ladies like us. The owners are courteous and quick to respond. It was nice to meet one of them upon check in and get a tour of the house and it's history. There's plenty to see and do in the entire area and the house is located in the perfect spot, close enough to the highway but far enough away in a peaceful, absolutely beautiful little spot. Oh and the sunsets are to die for!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Melissa E.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

Tranquil setting

Historic spacious home with large yard & beautiful views across the marshes. Top quality new master bath upstairs. Comfortable beds: 1 Queen, 1 full, 2 twins. Large fans in the 3 bedrooms. Come prepared - No hairdryer or spare kitchen trash bags or spare TP. Be sure to walk on pretty private roads/path (see map in guest book) to beach & Griswold Pt nature preserve for views of birds & the Fenwick lighthouses. Owner experienced some issues with cleaner preparing for our stay. Note - Rental contract states workmen must be permitted access at any time. Contractor arrived at 7:00am. Overall, we hope to stay again!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria T.

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

Perfect place to relax

This home was exactly what we needed for a change of scenery after not traveling for 6 months and to celebrate my husbands birthday. As we live in a home from 1867, we loved staying in a home older than ours! The home has wide plank floors, beautiful woodwork and fireplaces in almost every room. Old homes are not perfect and that is what makes this home so unique. The location was perfect on the Black Hall River with amazing views of wildlife and breathtaking sunsets. The private beach, which also is next to a wildlife sanctuary, was beautiful and serene. We enjoyed kayaking on the river, and visiting the Studio 80 sculpture garden. We also enjoyed playing the trivia card games in the well stocked game room on the one night it rained. Although it was hot during the day, the nights were cool and with the breeze and fans was quite comfortable for sleeping. There are 2 portable air conditioners and even the 3rd floor which can get quite hot was cooled down quickly. I recommend Black Hall Kitchen, a wonderful take out place about 2 minutes away. As my daughter has food allergies, we also found a delicious gluten & dairy free bakery in Old Saybrook - Shayna B's by the sea - for the best birthday cake & breakfast treats. All in all this was the vacation we needed, in the perfect spot, with the perfect home. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Eileen W R., Somers, Connecticut, USA

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

What a lovely old house in a beautiful location!

Classic home and a perfect location. The house itself is a beautiful old center chimney colonial, everyone in our party spent the first hour walking around the house marveling at the six fireplaces, the two Dutch doors and the beautiful woodwork. Located above the river at the end of a long driveway the yard and location were quiet and beautiful: sunrises shining on the lighthouse off in the distance and grilling while watching bright colorful sunsets each evening. We launched Kayaks and paddle boards in the river from the yard and biked/drove over to the secluded beach for a wonderful day in the sun. The house had everything one would need for a great summer week and is only 15 minutes to Niantic (Book Barn!) and short drives to New London (Block Island Ferry Day trip) and Mystic. Don't forget your outdoor insect repellent! One last item to take note of - There is an apartment over the garage and we found out at the 11th hour that it was separately rented the week we were there. We hope to return for further family memories next summer and have already recommended this rental to a few friends.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Margot S.

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

Love at first sight

This home exceeded all of our expectations - it is like a warm hug and was exactly what we wanted and needed.
Stayed 27 nights in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

sharon h.

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

Great large historical house on the water

Margaret and her on site mother were delightful to work with. Very accommodating. Beautiful spot on the water! Would have loved air conditioning and a larger bed!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth and Robert K.

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

Perfect vacation- it had it all!!

Heaven!! Beautiful, spotless, spacious home set on a stunning piece of property that allows you to enjoy views of the river and the lighthouse across the bay. Serene views, bird watching, lovely sunsets and easy access to all CT has to offer. Hiking,paddle boarding, beaching-on the private beach-,attending museums and and performing arts-we did it all! Thanks Jenn and Margaret!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Vaskar P.

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

Great colonial house by the riverside

Margaret was a great host and even graciously invited us to attend the memorial day parade in the town. This property is simply gorgeous. The view from the river is breathtaking and it's lovely to get breakfast or dinner in the garden by the river. There is a kayak place nearby that you could go to to rent kayaks and paddleboards. The property has got a rustic charm to it -- wallpapers dating 100 years, beautiful furniture.

8/10 Good

Jeanne M.

Wonderful property.

We enjoyed the house and area very much. Jenn was very available and helpful with any issues. The house was clean and very roomy. Lots to do in the area. Such a pleasure to have breakfast outside near the water. Got to see 2 of the visiting deer.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018

6/10 Okay

Amy L.

Loved the house

Loved the house! Backyard was beautiful, mosquitos were terrible could not go outside without bug spray. Can’t get the kayaks in the wAter from the house, due to poison ivy and no stairs or ramp.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018