Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage
House in Salt Spring Island
12 guests · 6 bedrooms · 3 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
About this house rental
This is the very best of West Coast Canada!
Watch the seaplanes land and sailboats pass by as you relax on your private oceanfront estate. Gorgeous sweeping views of Ganges Harbour are visible from nearly all rooms of this one of a kind heritage retreat.
Built in 1906 by the pioneering Tolson family, this property was the first private school on the Gulf Islands and was later a creamery and then the private retreat of a technology billionaire and his family, during which time the property was greatly restored.
A vast variety of birds and other wildlife make this 4 acre property home. Watch the swans, eagles, hummingbirds, blue heron, quail and other exotic birds from the enormous picture window and expansive veranda. Raccoons, otters, deer and other critters are curious, safe and plentiful.
There is much to do here for all ages. On the property, there is plenty of exploring to do, and the 300 feet of private beach front to enjoy. The main lawn is large enough for a serious soccer game. Pick fruit and berries at several times of the year, then bake them into a pie in the great kitchen that looks into the gorgeous back gardens.
Various flowers are usually blooming all over the park-like gardens and landscaped terraces. Numerous exploration paths weave throughout the property.
Off the property, hiking, kayaking, sailing, golfing, fine dining, casual dining, patio drinking, swimming, shopping, scuba diving, a day at the spa, fishing, yoga, farmers markets, etc... are all close at hand.
The house is set up perfectly for entertaining and relaxing alike. With plenty of space indoors, the adults can enjoy the evening with a roaring fire in the main living room, while the kids use the spacious upper living room or the entertainment room to watch movies on the big screen and play games of all sorts. There are plenty of bedrooms to go around, all beautifully furnished and well appointed. The three full bathrooms mean that no one is waiting for their turn for a shower. The big gourmet kitchen provides the space to cook a grand meal while onlookers enjoy a glass of wine without every getting in the way.
I guarantee you will love your stay here as much as we do!
This house is operated by the Island Heritage Appreciation Club which allows members to use it to cover the costs. Membership is open to all those who appreciate well-maintained heritage properties.
Keywords: Rustic luxury, waterfront, view, views, Saltspring, Ganges, convenient, marina, island, private, landscaped, heritage, Vancouver, Victoria, British Columbia, acreage, farmers market, orchard, garden, family
Watch the seaplanes land and sailboats pass by as you relax on your private oceanfront estate. Gorgeous sweeping views of Ganges Harbour are visible from nearly all rooms of this one of a kind heritage retreat.
Built in 1906 by the pioneering Tolson family, this property was the first private school on the Gulf Islands and was later a creamery and then the private retreat of a technology billionaire and his family, during which time the property was greatly restored.
A vast variety of birds and other wildlife make this 4 acre property home. Watch the swans, eagles, hummingbirds, blue heron, quail and other exotic birds from the enormous picture window and expansive veranda. Raccoons, otters, deer and other critters are curious, safe and plentiful.
There is much to do here for all ages. On the property, there is plenty of exploring to do, and the 300 feet of private beach front to enjoy. The main lawn is large enough for a serious soccer game. Pick fruit and berries at several times of the year, then bake them into a pie in the great kitchen that looks into the gorgeous back gardens.
Various flowers are usually blooming all over the park-like gardens and landscaped terraces. Numerous exploration paths weave throughout the property.
Off the property, hiking, kayaking, sailing, golfing, fine dining, casual dining, patio drinking, swimming, shopping, scuba diving, a day at the spa, fishing, yoga, farmers markets, etc... are all close at hand.
The house is set up perfectly for entertaining and relaxing alike. With plenty of space indoors, the adults can enjoy the evening with a roaring fire in the main living room, while the kids use the spacious upper living room or the entertainment room to watch movies on the big screen and play games of all sorts. There are plenty of bedrooms to go around, all beautifully furnished and well appointed. The three full bathrooms mean that no one is waiting for their turn for a shower. The big gourmet kitchen provides the space to cook a grand meal while onlookers enjoy a glass of wine without every getting in the way.
I guarantee you will love your stay here as much as we do!
This house is operated by the Island Heritage Appreciation Club which allows members to use it to cover the costs. Membership is open to all those who appreciate well-maintained heritage properties.
Keywords: Rustic luxury, waterfront, view, views, Saltspring, Ganges, convenient, marina, island, private, landscaped, heritage, Vancouver, Victoria, British Columbia, acreage, farmers market, orchard, garden, family
Amenities
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Salt Spring Island
$$$$
Reviews
10.0
What a wonderful house and location; we couldn’t have asked for better. Our family of 12 were easily accommodated- there was plenty of room to rest and play and cook fantastic meals. We would not hesitate to return!
10.0
What an incredible property! We stayed with family friends, 5 kids and two dogs in total and everyone had a blast. The pictures don't do the grounds justice, truly a magical piece of land. The location cannot be beat, you can walk to everything you need in Ganges, you have total privacy and room to roam. Excellent service by the host and their team. We can't wait to come back.
10.0
Excellent stay at this amazing property. Beach access and proximity to Ganges are unmatched. Michael was great with communication and the house is well stocked with everything you’ll need. I would gladly stay here again.
10.0
This gem was clean and inviting. You are going to love the peace and quiet… relax on the porch or just gaze through at the ocean from any window. There was plenty of room for all our family (10 of us!) walking distance to all the local shops and restaurants. We enjoyed the weekend market too… so much to see and do. Thank you.
10.0
Absolutely fabulous all around :]]
8.0
Great location, gorgeous views, relaxing stay
10.0
Great three day stay, warm, welcoming and comfortable house. Location excellent, loved the architecture, with original windows all around the main floor, awesome fireplace and lots of wood for evening fires. Liked the modern art glass and cozy furniture. Wonderful stay.
10.0
Amazing property. Very close to Ganges. Wonderful old house and great surroundings.
10.0
the couch
10.0
Old heritage home with amazing outdoor property and view. Within walking distance to Ganges. Kitchen well equipped and dining room worked for a large family. Host was very responsive and accommodating. If travelling to Salt Spring again we would not hesitate to stay there again.
6.0
Located in the heart of the very interesting village. Lots to see and do. The house is a lovely old home, but requires two updates in particular . None of the beds were comfortable…a couple were close to okay but most not. Second was the dining room light fixture. Delightful to look at ….if only one could see when trying to play cards and games in the evenings. Overall, my children and grandchildren enjoyed the week.
8.0
This property and home is advertised - it is a stunning estate overlooking the harbour, perfectly positioned in the heart of Salt Spring Island. Our family had a wonderful time here creating new memories and taking in the surroundings. If were to pick one issue, it was that the home wasn't as clean as we had hoped. This could be personal preference for our family, others may not have been as concerned!
10.0
Loved our stay, hope to visit again!
10.0
This property is perfect for a group of friends or a family gathering. The kitchen is very well equipped, lots of bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, ample room to spread out or have a quiet time area.
The location couldn’t be better with wonderful outside areas and easy beach access.
We are looking forward to a return visit.
10.0
Very good place. Big yard to play bocce in. Could use a hot tub 😜 but otherwise perfect.
10.0
We had such a lovely stay at your home. It was absolutely perfect for our family. We enjoyed cooking in the spacious kitchen, playing bocce in the garden and having coffee on the front porch each morning. It was great being so close to town and yet it felt so private and quiet. We wished we could have stayed longer.
6.0
It is really beautiful and great for a small gathering, comfortable rooms, beautiful patios and grassy areas. Accessibility is not great, stairs and uneven ground. I don't like that we are expected to do all of the laundry for 5 sets of sheets, towels for two bathrooms and kitchen cloths, all before 11am checkout.
10.0
We feel so lucky to have spent time in this wonderful house. It was comfortable, and roomy, and well equipped.
10.0
Large older heritage home on large property.
Easy short walk into Ganges.
On site parking.
Private yards for kids to play in.
Large kitchen with good appliances.
Nice dining area with view to harbour.
10.0
We had a really great time with our children and grand children. The property was perfect for us. Close enough to all the amenities one might want yet far enough away. Easy to check in, clear rules and everything we could need. Lots of different bedroom configurations
8.0
Great place to stay for our family of 13 adults and 4 dogs. Lots of room to set up games and space for the dogs to run around...room for everyone and cooking meals
10.0
The house was amazing but even more stunning were the grounds with multiple different areas from beach to lawn to flower gardens with a pond, a bridge and creek (with a visiting otter) and gorgeous 100 year old trees. There was only one drawback and that was that a couple of the nights there were groups loudly partying until the wee hours on the beach next to the one on the property. And although you could not see them, you could definitely hear them, one night they even managed to remove the lock from the gate to the property and threw it in the grass, seems to be all they did though and there was no damage. Unfortunately, there is little the owners can do about this. However, the pros far outweighed the one con, it was great to be able to walk to Ganges and all it had to offer (great coffee shops and restaurants, groceries, harbour walk and of course the farmers market 😊) and the sushi place just across the road was also fantastic.
10.0
Everything about our week at this property was awesome. The house was large enough for our family of 7; everyone was able to have their space. The kitchen was very well equipped to suit all of our needs. Would definitely book this property again!
10.0
The view was spectacular! Enough comfy beds for everyone. Great flow to the house so even though it was busy with people was weren’t running into each other. Massive property with tons to do. Handy location
8.0
Beautiful & Spacious!
Michael's house is well laid out for a multi generational family! We enjoyed the beach and we were able to walk to town for ice cream, groceries & fresh seafood! Great communication & parking! Thanks so much!!
10.0
June 2022
We stayed at the property for a 4 day period in June 2022. Location has a great view of the harbour, is excellent for a quick walk into Ganges and is easily accessible from the Ferry terminals on Saltspring Island.. (thank you for the detailed instructions on how to enter onto the property).
The house is as advertised and made for a very pleasant holiday with ample room for 8 adults and 2 dogs.
The house has all necessary appliances, dishware, boardgames and a fabulous library.
Upon arrival it was noted that there was a slow leak underneath the kitchen sink. A phonecall to the caretaker and the issue was immediately resolved.
We made use of the BBQ and noted that the right burner needs to be replaced as the flame/heat is inadequate to cook.
Communication from time of booking with Michael was excellent as he was quick to respond to any questions.
Overall rating is 4.9 out of 5.0 and would highly recommend this property.
10.0
Family Get Away
Our family enjoyed our time on Salt Spring Island. We were a party of 6 adults, 4 children and 2 dogs. The proximity of the property was amazing for everyone to come and go on adventures and return for nap time. There was ample space in the home to find a quiet corner if needing a break from kids and all the excitement in the home. The kitchen was very well stocked. We found everything we needed to even bake cupcakes to celebrate a birthday. Amazing views. The fenced yard down below was wonderful for our dogs to play fetch and burn off some energy. The gardens were just starting to bloom and I can only imagine how pretty it will be later in the summer.
As a suggestion to management it would have been nice to have had a high chair or booster seat with a tray for our little one. Having a crib was great. Although we did bring a playpen as well so we could set the baby up in different rooms. (These items are easily found at garage sales and would make it easier for parents) Also being in a beautiful heritage home there is lots of creaking floors and noisy doors so bring something for white noise if you have little ones that nap or go to bed early.
Linens on the beds were lovely and lots of pillows could be found. Everyone had different reviews of their assigned beds. This one is hard to please everyone. The king bed that can be split into 2 singles was the least comfortable. Might of been ok for kids but not for 2 adults. Others commented their beds were comfortable.
This next comment is really difficult for the owners/property managers to make change on. The beach in front of the property is crown land and anyone can use it. Saying this it was hard to have little kids and our dogs wanting to be on the beach with camps on both sides of property being occupied by individuals in tents and under tarps. The folks living there did not bother us but their dogs were aggressive and not under control. I went down with 3 of my grandchildren to do a scavengerhunt and 2 dogs came charging at us bearing their teeth. So we stayed off the beach which was disappointing. On-site management said if we had any problems to let them know and the police could be called. We choose to stay off the beach as we didn't want the kids to hear the poor language/ uncontrolled dogs/ or come across any needles (not on the scavengerhunt list lol) The one gentleman living in the tent, Phil, did help me look for my dogs ball and we exchanged pleasantries. Thank for the holiday.
10.0
Fantastic
Wonderful property, amazing views of the water and super convenient access to central village with only minutes walking.
10.0
Beautiful place to stay
Lovely well equipped spacious house with spectacular location and views and large private property
10.0
Heritage Beach house
Our group of 7 had plenty of room in this beautiful heritage house right on the beach. Beautifully furnished and well equipped, we had everything we needed. Only a short walk to Ganges’ shops and restaurants help make this a perfect vacation get away
10.0
Location, location, location
We were group made up of 2 families for a total 8 people. The house was spaciousand flexible sleeping arrangements for all. The 3 bathrooms were very appreciated for the 2 teenage girls.
Contact with the owner was prompt and the house was fully equipped and in all working order. The location is pretty much in Ganges and couldn't be anymore convenient but yet seemed secluded. Watch the boats as you drink coffee or a beverage of choice.
The house is a heritage house with so much character and charm right down to the endless book library where anyone can find a title to enjoy. Some may mistake this house as tired and old but they are most likely people who are enamoured by shiny countertops and hardware.
Definitely would stay again with another family to share the space.
10.0
Relaxing weekend getaway for multi-generational family!
Lovely property, as advertised. Easy & quick access to Ganges, central for activities but removed from the road and very private. Well equipped for our needs (February) and comfortable. Charming!
4.0
It was a great property until it wasn’t - read before booking
Let me start by sharing that my family, 4 adults and two kids under two, were very excited for this stay. The house and beach (we sadly couldn’t use it because the flooding in November meant that the island had to release overflowing sewage onto the beach sadly, but this was more fluke) are represented fairly in the listing but a few things are not divulged when you read about your potential stay.
1) the noise from the pub across the water output (stream) is quite bad across the day/night and sadly there is a large homeless population who stay in that park and sleep on that point in the heart of Ganges. I would especially warn that off season travellers should expect quite a large transient population in the town (which this property is very close to).
2) is that there was a tent on the property / property line which houses a couple of individuals who live there and that was never mentioned to us, even when we got in contact with the owner ahead of our stay. The people living in this tent woke us up both nights that we stayed with screaming about sexual assault and abuse…we also heard people walking up and down the driveway at night, almost as if the people occupying the tent had visitors. As a mother of two young children and hosting my parents for a holiday, this was very scary. After arriving the first day, I did contact the property caretaker to ask her about the tent and she said they “had never had any issues”. But after the second night of horrible noise and people coming and going… I called the caretaker back and it turns out the owner and property manager knew of this tent and had previously had issues - including needing to involve the RCMP.
Full transparency: my family and I left after the second night stay in what should have been 5 nights. Our cost for the 5 nights was around $2900 CAD (paid extra for cleaning services ahead of time to make checkout easier) and we only got refunded $650 from the owner despite leaving 3 nights early.
I dont agree with how the owner handled this very startling situation for us and honestly, I didn’t feel very safe or relaxed, which was a shame because the house and especially the view of Ganges harbour was beautiful.
10.0
This is a great house for a family get together!
Great location, easy walk to stores and cafes, yet property is still very private. Amazing views from the front windows. We will need to come back in the summer to enjoy the gardens.
10.0
Thanks
Great
10.0
A great place for a large family group
This old house is perfect to host a large family. Makes one think of how people used to live in large stately homes. The windows faced the harbour and the location made it easy for everyone to access the town. Great kitchen, books and games everywhere!
The fall colours in the garden and forest were phenomenal!
Lots of action in the harbour in the morning with the local people and dogs on boats coming ashore. Also on the beach each night as there were rowdy parties adjacent to the property. The beach would have been pleasant if there wasn't so much garbage (that is a global problem not one easily solved).
10.0
Amazing Place!
We were two families staying for the week and can’t say enough about this amazing place. Photos look great but it’s even better in person. Loads of space and a very well equipped kitchen. Literally can wander into Ganges or hop in the car for 10 minutes if you want to get out of the buzz. This place was the ticket!
10.0
Family summer vacation
Was perfect for us. Our 4 year old grandson did not want to leave forever....
10.0
Beautiful spot
Fabulous stay for our group of 7. Kitchen, dining room, living room, and outdoor spaces in particular filled our needs. Literally steps to the farmer's market and downtown Ganges.
5.0
Beautiful view and lots of room for our family reunion. We enjoyed playing games on the lawn and being able to walk into Ganges and get a coffee or ice cream or go shopping. Host and property manager both very helpful and quick to respond. Everyone had a really good time!!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Salt Spring Island?
The average price for a rental in Salt Spring Island is $240 per night. This rental is $601 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage. 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 Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage 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 Waterfront Heritage Estate W/5 Bedrooms on Stunning Acreage?
We found 11 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.
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