Rustic family vacation retreat with private tennis court (dogs welcome!)

Property grounds
1 bedroom, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets
Fireplace, table tennis, books, stereo
Towels, soap, toilet paper
1 bedroom, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets

About this house rental

Originally built in the 1890s as the Inverness Tennis Club and expanded into a rustic, multi-family retreat in the 1930s by Henry and Ruth Colby, the Colby House is truly one of a kind. You won’t find another home quite like it anywhere in Northern California. The main house is anchored by a massive great room (former tennis clubhouse) in all of its original redwood glory, in addition to a full kitchen, 4 bedrooms, and 1.5 baths. The detached second building features a master suite with king bed, full bath, and second-level views of the expansive property. WiFi is available throughout. The Colby House is situated on a one-acre, fully-fenced natural paradise featuring a large deck with Adirondack chairs and BBQ, private tennis court, and wide array of native plant life including mature oak trees and blackberry bushes that bear fruit from early July to mid-September. And if you leave the gates open, you can expect the local blacktail deer to come take advantage of this paradise with you! The property is in the heart of the original Inverness neighborhood, just a short walk to the quaint downtown and shores of Tomales Bay, and a 10-minute drive to Point Reyes Station (home of Cowgirl Creamery, Brickmaiden Bread, Bovine Bakery, and Palace Market). The town of Inverness is itself on a peninsula surrounded by Tomales Bay and Point Reyes National Seashore, with numerous hiking trails, beaches, and stunning vista points spanning all directions. Many of our guests become “regulars” whom we welcome back year after year to reconnect with this truly unique home. After you spend a few days at the Colby House, we trust you will consider adding it to your list of special vacation destinations. NOTE: There is NO TV in the house (but the WiFi allows for streaming), which is a conscious decision to allow our guests to connect with the property and enjoy each other’s company. Between our assortment of board games, piano, ping pong table, outdoor activities, and massive fireplace, we doubt you will miss it. 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: • “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.”

Amenities

Pets allowed
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
Garden
Family friendly

Map of Inverness, CA

House in Inverness, CA


Reasons to book

People love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for pets
Includes essentialsGarden, Pets allowed, Kitchen / Kitchenette and more

££££

Reviews

4.8/5.0
Outstanding(84 Reviews)
5.0
Jan 2024
The rustic setting and old California Coastal style was exactly what we wanted and Colby House delivered it perfectly! The area is a favorite of ours and there was plenty to do and see. Our family group was three generations wide and each of us was continually charmed by the ambiance. We hope to come again!
5.0
Dec 2023
Colby House is an old-fashioned charmer of a property that reminds the visitor of Inverness' summer-house history, a tender place for children, trail-seekers, and those given to the imagination. Sprawling, comfortable, and welcoming—Colby House was a treat for our family's holiday gathering. We loved how welcoming and relaxing it was, how splendid the fireplace, how functional the kitchen.
5.0
Dec 2023
A beautiful rainy winter stay here at the Colby House. This is true classic Inverness experience where you get to go back in time and live a magical life with family or friends. We are definitely coming back! Thank you.
5.0
Nov 2023
This place is magical. Cozy, beautiful, charming….everything we needed to have an amazing family gathering!
5.0
Nov 2023
Beautiful weather, charming cabin, excellent location. We adored Colby house. The camp-like atmosphere was perfect for our family. We played loads of tennis, beach and yard football, shucked too many oysters, and would absolutely go back. Great for families and friends who get along well and love the outdoors. Dogs love it too! Zoomies of happiness everyday! Thank you Kerry for sharing this gem with us!
1.0
star 2 emptystar 3 emptystar 4 emptystar 5 empty
Nov 2023
On the one hand, this is a pretty cool property. However, for the price, I felt this property was just not worth the money. It needs a ton of maintenance and just presents as old and run down. I've stayed at older properties which have been maintained nicely. The bedroom and bathroom layout is very strange and not private, the kitchen is very small. The best room was the large living room off the kitchen. It was difficult to make a fire as there was kindling and no ax to split the wood. The room over the garage was good, but not very clean. I would recommend the owners refurbish and fix everything before renting it out. I won't be coming back anytime soon. The biggest positive was we did enjoy the tennis court and our dog was happy chasing after his frisbee in the large yard.
3.0
star 4 emptystar 5 empty
Oct 2023
Would be a great place for a family with kids; birding was wonderful; easy access to Point Reyes Seashore, birds, whales, elk, coyotes, and other creatures. For a group with couples there was a lack of privacy, and it was more rustic than we had expected from the online profile.
4.0
star 5 empty
Jul 2023
We have been going to the Colby House for many years - each summer for a family get together. No TV!!!! Cabin-style rooms!!! Large lovely porch and large dining table that accommodates our crew. A huge fenced in yard where our grandkids can run freely and a tennis court to boot. Plus the pleasant weather in Pt. Reyes. We have enjoyed so many great times at this wonderful spot. However, we were disappointed this past June on our trip because the conditions in the kitchen have deteriorated. The faucet leaked. There was chauking around the sink that was peeling off and mold growing all around the rim of the sink. The fixture in the bathroom sink is way too large for the size of the old sink so it is tricky not to spill water on the floor when using it. We hope the owners will attend to these issues - especially in the kitchen. Putting in a new counter and sink would really make it a more appetizing place to prepare meals. We still had a great time and hope the upkeep issues can be attended to in the near future.

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Inverness?

The average price for a rental in Inverness is £317 per night. This rental is £234 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Rustic family vacation retreat with private tennis court (dogs welcome!). For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Rustic family vacation retreat with private tennis court (dogs welcome!) pet friendly?

Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Rustic family vacation retreat with private tennis court (dogs welcome!)?

We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.

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