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

Outdoor dining
Terrace/patio
Exterior
Property grounds
Sport court
9.7
Outstanding(96 Reviews)

House in Inverness, CA

9 guests · 5 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

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 or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
Garden
Family friendly

Map of Inverness, CA

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Reviews

9.7
Outstanding(96 Reviews)
10.0
Sep 2024
What a dream! We felt like we were at adult summer camp. Perfect space for a small gathering or friends and family and secure for animals. We hope to be back! Highly recommend
6.0
Aug 2024
We arrived expecting to see the property as pristine as the photos indicated, especially the outdoor and it was under kept, some animal feces around, bones and overall a bit shabby. The living/dining area were great as gathering places for 6 women. The bedroom layouts are interesting. They are situation in a row, with a toilet between two of the rooms, and one full bathroom for another two of the rooms on the main floor. There is access to the outside porch with each of the rooms which is nice. We also used the suite above the garage which was a nice big room, but had critters in the attic every night. Perhaps raccoons? It was disturbing to sleep. There is also a urine smell as you open the door to the suite area as you go up the stairs. The home is old with character but the cleaning was not done well. Cobwebs around the lamp sconces, behind the doors, and the window seals. It felt the home needed some attention as well as the grounds. It also felt someone had not been in it in a while to notice these things. The price is not worth what we received honestly. It would be better to state what it is, not elaborated on what it is not. To better prepare the guest that it's not as tidy as one would expect, than the guest would be prepared for that and not be disappointed. A price that reflected this is important. The beds were good and linens were good too. The kitchen had good cookware and appliances. Plenty of plates, cups and dining utensils that was nice.
10.0
Jul 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Inverness. This is a quirky house which is perfect to escape the heat of the bay and unwind and a beautiful part of northern California’s coastline.
10.0
May 2024
My dad, aunts and several cousins from Mexico made this their home base during my wedding weekend. It was exactly what they needed
10.0
Apr 2024
Perfect place to have the family fly in from out of state to celebrate the head of the family 90th birthday
10.0
Apr 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this beautiful property with lots of room for the kids and dogs to run around.
10.0
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!
10.0
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.

FAQs

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

The average price for a rental in Inverness is R 8,967 per night. This rental is R 3,876 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 or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.

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