Once again, Susanna’s beautiful home was the perfect haven for our work weary group. Plenty of space to spread out and quietly read, great family dining table for big group meals, the lovely side deck with koi pond and the large deck overlooking the water and magnificent sunsets. We hope to return again soon!

Lovely location, well stocked home, easy living.

Lovely location, well stocked home, easy living.

I've stayed at Susanna's wonderful home perhaps a half-dozen times over the years, and each time it's been a great experience. The house and setting are both perfect and, in my experience, unique for the vineyard. I assume the house was constructed in the 60s or 70s; it's open, high-ceilinged, airy and filled with light. It's set amidst a forest affording total seclusion; you can neither see nor hear neighbors. And of course there's a lovely view of the Sound. Susanna's home will continue to be my first choice when I come to the Vineyard.

I've stayed at Susanna's wonderful home perhaps a half-dozen times over the years, and each time it's been a great experience. The house and setting are both perfect and, in my experience, unique for the vineyard. I assume the house was constructed in the 60s or 70s; it's open, high-ceilinged, airy and filled with light. It's set amidst a forest affording total seclusion; you can neither see nor hear neighbors. And of course there's a lovely view of the Sound. Susanna's home will continue to be my first choice when I come to the Vineyard.

As a group of Vineyard alums, we're always looking to up our rental game and this year was certainly the year to do it. Not interested in being with tons of people, Susanna's home was the perfect place to hide out and safely enjoy the island's natural beauty. The house is a short drive to Menemsha for gorgeous fresh seafood and likewise to Tabor Farms for the greens that we dream about all year. With these and one or two trips down island for supplies, we were happy to enjoy all that this hidden gem offered. The house is big and airy. The deck overlooking the water offers tremendous views of the breathtaking sunsets. The private beach was a fun adventure...down a bumpy private road, through a padlocked gate...to paradise! The only downside to this spectacular week, was having to pack ourselves up to leave!

As a group of Vineyard alums, we're always looking to up our rental game and this year was certainly the year to do it. Not interested in being with tons of people, Susanna's home was the perfect place to hide out and safely enjoy the island's natural beauty. The house is a short drive to Menemsha for gorgeous fresh seafood and likewise to Tabor Farms for the greens that we dream about all year. With these and one or two trips down island for supplies, we were happy to enjoy all that this hidden gem offered. The house is big and airy. The deck overlooking the water offers tremendous views of the breathtaking sunsets. The private beach was a fun adventure...down a bumpy private road, through a padlocked gate...to paradise! The only downside to this spectacular week, was having to pack ourselves up to leave!

This lovely home had a stunning view and ultimate privacy. We loved the spacious layout of the house and the gorgeous deck area. We had a great week enjoying the quiet as well as the menemsha trails in which the house is located. We would definitely return! Thank you for an incredible week.

We loved staying at this incredible house for our annual week on the Vineyard. The house is spread out in a way that allows people to have privacy but also gather in the central locations. The backyard zen garden/coy pond area was a cool and relaxing place for drinks after outdoor showers after the beach. The sunset is unbeatable from the front deck. The house is set up to entertain and had all the serving dishes, a great sonos sound system, tons of towels, comfortable beds, nice pillows, plenty of closets and beautiful art. The one piece of feedback we had was that it could use a table and chairs to eat on the deck. There isn't a comfortable place to sit and watch the sunset which is a miss as the rest of the house is well thought out. That said, we hope to be back next year.

We loved staying at this incredible house for our annual week on the Vineyard. The house is spread out in a way that allows people to have privacy but also gather in the central locations. The backyard zen garden/coy pond area was a cool and relaxing place for drinks after outdoor showers after the beach. The sunset is unbeatable from the front deck. The house is set up to entertain and had all the serving dishes, a great sonos sound system, tons of towels, comfortable beds, nice pillows, plenty of closets and beautiful art. The one piece of feedback we had was that it could use a table and chairs to eat on the deck. There isn't a comfortable place to sit and watch the sunset which is a miss as the rest of the house is well thought out. That said, we hope to be back next year.

Lovely house, incredible views and location. The private beach was an extra bonus. Would love to come back!

Eas

This is a beautiful and unique property with spectacular views. Our ten person multi-generational crew was very comfortable and had a wonderful week! The kitchen is well stocked with all the supplies we needed. The location is supremely private and offers a lovely retreat in and of itself. You could spend the week exploring the immediate area and simply admiring the view from the deck. The owner and property manager were very responsive to our handful of questions. One note, the two downstairs rooms are best for kids as one has twin beds and the other a pullout couch. Also, there is some lingering moisture/mold smell, particularly downstairs. Not surprising given location and era of the house and as long as we had windows open it was totally manageable. But worth noting if you have allergies or are highly sensitive to such things. Overall, a unique and beautiful home-base for a memorable vacation!

Lovely location in Chilmark. Beautiful views from back porch of menemsha harbor. Nicely secluded area. Nicely designed house w koi pond. Well stocked kitchen. Does get a little hot bc on hilltop ( but it is summer). Susanna is very responsive.

Pros: The house was last renovated circa 1985. Lots of vintage details, the owners carefully curated art collection and beautiful ceramics all give a great aesthetic and the feeling of a home well-loved. Fans of the decor of this time period will love it. We also really appreciated the beautiful water view from the deck. The house is also incredibly private and well-situated for those who love nature and the wild side of Martha's Vineyard. Cons: The house was last renovated circa 1985. Saying this as kindly as possible, it is time to invest money in upgrades and refurbishing the home to bring it up to the norms renters are expecting from a home rental at this price. (Screen doors struggle to slide open, interior recessed lighting fixtures are stained with rust, materials such as linoleum and drop ceilings are present in the living areas of the house.) Of five bedrooms in the listing, only three can comfortably receive guests-- two in the basement smelled badly of mold and one "bedroom" had a pull-out sofa that was simply not an acceptable sleeping accommodation. In addition, there were rodents running through the ceiling between the two floors of the house. After alerting the owner to these issues she was incredibly prompt in her response and was kind enough to come over personally to the house to discuss the concerns, yet she offered no real solution: moisture in basements and critters in wall were "normal" for Martha's Vineyard and we should do our best to enjoy our vacation by "getting outside more." Again, the owner was very kind but has maybe been on the Vineyard too long if all of this seemed "normal"! After 5 years renting in the summer on both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, we've developed a good sense of "what you get for the money" and I must say that there is a big disconnect between the quality and comfort of this house and the price we paid versus our rentals in other years. It seems the house has been in the owner's family for a few generations; I hope she'll consider investing the money required to keep future renters happy and make this a family heirloom for the generations to come.

Lots of windows and light. Always a breeze. Great sunset views. Lots of hiking around and never crowded.

fit our entire family. looking ro come back next year

My husband, our parents, and our two dogs spent an amazing week at Susanna's place. The house is extremely comfortable and we spent much of our time sitting on the deck sunning and reading. The private beach is about a ten minute walk away and while it is rocky, you can walk to the left to a sandier part. There are also beautiful trails in the Menemesha hills, great for walks or runs. The location cannot be beat. The kitchen is well stocked and we cooking amazing meals on the grill. Susanna quickly responded to the few issues we had. I'm so glad she opened her house to us and we definitely plan to return next summer. As for the wifi, it was sufficient for both me and my husband to do a little bit of work, maybe not enough to stream Netflix in 4K, but with such nature around you it doesn't really matter.

This place was perfect for our family. We went with our 5 adult children and their spouses or friends and our dog. We were totally comfortable and had a great week. The Brickyard beach was perfect. If the house is up for rental we will hope to return.

Beautiful property, setting and view. The home could use some updating. The internet service must be upgraded. I couldn't get any work done in the two weeks I was there. I would return next year, but only if the internet service is upgraded.

Magnificent abode with stupendous view! Would recommend to all.

The house has a great deck with a beautiful view and a nice open flow and living room/dining room. It's set on a very quiet and secluded piece of property with no background noise or direct neighbors. The owner's artwork collection is impressive and adds an unexpected visual dimension to your stay. The kitchen is very open and well-appointed with everything one could need--very conducive to family cooking. It was helpful to have DirecTV, as well as a great sound system, though the wifi and cell service were spotty and weak (probably fault of the services and beyond the control of the owner). The private beach is a nice bonus, but you probably won't use it as your primary beach, as it's a 25 minute hike and a very rocky beach. The back deck with grill and coi pond is a relaxing retreat, too. Overall, we had a lovely stay and would definitely consider this house for future Vineyard visits.

My daughter and I spent the second week of August, 2016 at Susanna's wonderful home. It's situated up Island, atop Prospect Hill in Chilmark with wonderful views of Vineyard Sound from the front deck. If seclusion, privacy and quick access to the beautiful beaches, Brickyard (a short walk from the house), Lucy Vincent, Squibnocket, Menemsha, Aquinnah and Gay Head are your objectives..well, this is the place! It's not just my opinion.. The POTUS and his family were our neighbors for the week. The Secret Service has it down and the security was friendly and welcoming, not disruptive at all. Chelsea and I enjoyed meeting Susanna. She's an artist, a Vineyard historian, a birder and responsive to your vacation needs. BTW, Everything in the house works! No surprises... David McLarnon

This review is late in coming but my memories of this magical property are still fresh because I've thought about it so often since. I'll start with what was my biggest criterion: the location. The house is nestled in the Menemsha Hills Reservation, which is my favorite part of Martha's Vineyard, which in turn is my favorite place in the world (and I've explored nearly all of the vineyard, including almost the entire coastline). Menemsha Hills combines staggering natural beauty of great variety (panoramic vantage points, lush forest, gorgeous beaches) with a surprising but welcome lack of people. Even at the height of the season, one rarely sees more than two or three other people in this vast reservation. I've never found anyplace more beautiful, anywhere. Aside from MHR, the house is located near all the best parts of the island. It's close enough to South Shore beaches that you can actually hear the crashing waves on windless nights, very near to Menemsha village if you desire a touch of civilization, and also near Aquinnah and the phenomenal beaches there. The house itself is the most secluded I've stayed at on the island. You can neither see nor hear any neighbors, or any signs of humanity at all. Well, except for the twinkling lights of the Elizabeth islands and the mainland beyond. That's right, the house is at such a high elevation that you can actually see over the Elizabeths. The views are exceptional from the deck, all the living areas, and even some of the bedrooms. And entire house is extremely comfortable, roomy and tranquil. I was there alone, but I'd imagine it could accommodate a large group comfortably. The bed in the master is among the most comfortable I've ever slept on. Oh, and it has heat. I didn't think this would be necessary, and usually, at the time of year I visited, it wouldn't be, but I happened to hit a stretch of severe weather (downpours every day for a solid week, very unusual) which brought nightime temps into the upper 40s. So the heat was a godsend. The owner was a pleasure to work with - very responsive and helpful. All in all, a great house in a spectacular location. Stay here if you can.

We enjoyed our stay very much. The house is well equipped with everything you need to have a great time. Nice kitchen and grill made our cookouts fantastic. Loved the outdoor showers. The view of the sunsets over the Elizabeth islands were priceless. Nice path from the house to the beach was like a having our own private paradise. Can't say enough good things about our stay and we thank Susanna for sharing her home with us. Would love to go back right now!!

Lovely spot and airy comfortable easy house. Great place to relax and recharge the property has an almost Zen like quality. It's a little like staying in a friend's home, you can feel at ease and find everything you need. The views are amazing, beds comfortable, cooking indoors or out a delight. The house has a great outdoor shower. It's roomy so members of our family could each find private space as well as gathering for meals and game night. Wifi friendly. We would definitely recommend this home. The owner is helpful and responsive if you need something.

This was our first time staying on Martha's Vineyard and didn't know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful island and the tucked away house. The views from the deck were spectacular. We also enjoyed late afternoon sitting by the pond watching the hummingbirds. Susanna was great at getting back to us with answers to questions. The private beach was beautiful and we rarely saw anybody else. I would recommend getting water shoes as the beach is rocky. A four wheeled drive vehicle is needed if you choose to drive to the beach instead of walking. If you are looking for a complete getaway and a place to recharge- this is it! We had plenty of room in the house for my adult children, and really loved the unique outdoor showers!