The "1853 Captain Wheeler House" – An all season home just a short walk to the thriving town of Mystic & close to many regional attractions along the Connecticut shore & Rhode Island seacoast . Up to 10 guests enjoy 5 comfortable bedrooms, each with private bath. Ideally located for attractions throughout the year be it a Summer Vacation, Fall Retreat, Winter Holiday or Spring Break.
THE HOUSE: is an Italianate Victorian restored by the Architect Owners. Tall ceilings, gracious rooms, large windows, striking detail, hand-planed panel doors, and plank floors evoke a prosperous period in Mystic's Seafaring Heritage. Captain Wheeler sailed ships to China. The original design of his substantial home has been preserved, incorporating new systems & modern conveniences.
FIRST FLOOR: An ample center stair hall extends from the welcoming front door to the back wing. A lovely staircase leads to the bedrooms upstairs.To the right is the parlor & the left a more formal dining room. Further along is an informal breakfast room & quiet office. Each colorful, light-filled room occupies a corner offering views in two directions.
At the end, with a view on the garden, enjoy the functional kitchen in the wing with windows on three sides & a small dining table. A limestone floor, maple & soapstone counters, & painted wood cabinets add to its unique character. Features include double sink, self-cleaning double convection ovens, 5-burner gas cook top, refrigerator/freezer/ice-maker, & dishwasher. A corner gas fireplace is welcome on a chill day. Step directly to a covered south facing porch overlooking the garden & sit at a small dining table for a sunrise breakfast or sunset repast.
SECOND FLOOR: The upstairs hall, decorated with handmade family quilts, offers entrance to 4 bright corner bedrooms, each with appealing views over the historic harbor environs. Each has twin beds & private tiled bath with shower or tub/shower. Step down several steps to the queen-size bedroom in the wing with vaulted ceilings & views in three directions. There is an adjacent private bath with tub/shower & separate spiral stair to the first floor. Nearby is a laundry room with full-size washer & dryer.
THIRD FLOOR: Above all is the "lantern" also referred to as a cupola. This room, up a steep climb of stairs, has a double bed And windows on four sides with distant views. It affords a maximum of 12 guests, however it must share a private bath on the floor below and is ONLY available by prior arrangement at the time of booking. The house is most comfortable (& preferred) with 8-10 guests.
PLEASE NOTE that events of any type, or gatherings with more than the booking party, are are unacceptable.
GARDEN: Landscape of specimen trees & shrubs complemented by perennials & seasonal plantings, has interest throughout the seasons and attracts many birds.
MOBILITY CONCERNS: All bedrooms are on the 2nd floor, a powder room on the 1st. Access to the 1st floor from the grass drive has 5 steps. Access via the covered side porch from the additional street parking has about 10 steps.
WHAT TO DO: Local attractions provide many options for all ages, making a perfect getaway for family reunions. Enjoy the nautical charm of this historic New England village as a resident in our peaceful, friendly neighborhood. Engage in Mystic's many activities with your friends and family. Take a short walk to village shops, restaurants, world renown Mystic Seaport Museum, Marinelife Aquarium, & Dr. Ballard's Institute for Exploration. Partake in village festivities: Annual Art Fair, Taste of Connecticut, and other events. Sit in the riverside park with an ice cream cone & watch the landmark bascule bridge rise every hour to let the sailing schooners pass.
Take an evening cruise from the Seaport. Paint the harbor, waterfront, marinas, and boatyards with other artists. Ride bikes, kayak, canoe, fish, windsurf, or sail in the river and Fishers Island Sound. Swim and sun at a variety of nearby beaches, tamer ones to the pounding surf of South County.
Walk around the neighborhood with a booklet from the Mystic River Historical Society and learn about Mystic's vibrant seafaring past while enjoying a significantly preserved historic neighborhood. Or, step around the corner and explore the friendly, Richardson Romanesque Library and its offerings on this area.
PLACES to RAMBLE: Nearby, other choices provide much to absorb for an extended visit: Denison Homestead and nature preserves, Essex Village Steam Train and RiverBoat, Gillette Castle State Park, Ivoryton Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Chamard & Stonington Vineyards, Haight Winery, Children's Museum, Florence Griswold Museum, Connecticut River Museum, Nautilus Museum, Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Foxwoods Casino, Mohegan Sun, Newport Mansions, ferry to Block Island or Fisher's Island, Lighthouse tours, Stonington Village, and Lighthouse Museum.
