The Boat House
T11993Amenities
Featured in this Home
No longer available for the 2023 season
Bed & Bath
Entertainment
Kitchen
Outdoor
Others
Home details
Sunday, 4:00pm
Office
Sunday, 10:00am
Looking for a unique 4x4 getaway with a side of Outer Banks history? Search no further than The Boat House. The Wash Woods boat house is in the heart of 4x4 and has a rich history. Located on the oceanfront in North Swan Beach, this intimate cottage is perfect for your next couples retreat, girls' weekend, or small family vacation!
Featuring one bedroom, one full bathroom, a built in twin bed, a full kitchen, and dining area, The Boat House is the perfect setting for a truly unique Outer Banks vacation experience. The kitchen faces east and allows the ocean view into the home. The kitchen doors open to a dreamy covered porch with panoramic ocean views, perfect for enjoying a tall glass of sweet tea or afternoon cocktail.
Wash Woods Station was originally built in 1917 by the United States Coast Guard and many guardsmen served there over the years until the station was officially decommissioned in 1954 or 1955. In 1988, the owners of Wash Woods Station sold the landmark to the Twiddy family. The Wash Woods Boat House is another extension of the Twiddy family’s dedication to restoring and maintaining the rich history of the Outer Banks.
The Boat House was rebuilt in 2007 in the footprint of the original structure just 150 yards from where the original structure sat. Shortly after in 2008, the cisterns that lay next to The Boat House were rebuilt. The original cisterns were used to collect and store rainwater from the roof to serve as the water supply for the guardsmen. Check out our Wash Woods history page to learn and see more about Wash Woods Station. Experience an Outer Banks vacation to remember at The Boat House, a stunning piece of 4x4 history!
While standard in most homes, this unique property does not provide a TV or cable/satellite service, blender, dishwasher, washer, dryer, iron, or telephone. The replica watch tower is located on the property adjacent to The Boat House and is not available for use.
Main House layout
Bedroom DefinitionsLevel 1
Bedroom 1
Oceanside, Queen w/ built-in Twin bed, Deck access
Full Bath
Standing shower
Great room; kitchen; dining area.
Map
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Guest recommendations
"Location! Right on the beach with dunes for privacy - being able to hear and see the ocean. My husband and I were saying that although we were only there for one week, it felt longer as we were able to immediately decompress from our busy lives."
"The Boat House was an amazing place to stay to disconnect from every day life. The rich history also gives it a special feeling. Being able to see the waves crash while there was beautiful!"
"This is our second stay at The Boat House, and we plan to return again! This historic cottage is everything we could possibly want for a beach escape. We love the expansive Carova beaches, the tranquility, the classic decor, the views, and the breezy but snug little house. Perfect for 2."
"Very charming and private house right on the beach. Ample kitchen cookware and other household necessities. They did add a TV, though my wife and I never used it ; )"
"I can’t say enough about the Boat House. It is such a beautiful home and in a great location. It was super clean and had everything we needed and then some. We loved the history and getting the see the wild horses almost every night from the deck. My family and I never wanted to leave. This was our first time in the 4x4 area and we can’t wait to come back!"
"Amazing vacation! We were so fortunate to stumble upon an opening at the great cottage. Location was fabulous-horses came right up to the house daily. Loved the close proximity to the ocean- made it super convenient to go back and forth with the kids. Home was nicely updated, neat and clean. Will absolutely make this an annual trip."
"Beautiful house and location. We really loved the history of the house and it was the perfect place to celebrate our anniversary! We spent our honeymoon in Carova in 2012 and it was a wonderful to come back to Carova for our tenth wedding anniversary. The Boat house was unique and comfortable and we felt completely at home there."
"We love The Boat House. It's just right for two people looking for a relaxing, low key vacation. The location is amazing. We just booked our third vacation there."
"The remote location and the quaintness of this property"
"Had a great week and enjoyed every moment. The boathouse, place and the people are wonderful. We booked for another week in the next October. We are so looking forward to our next stay,,,😎"
"Perfect little piece of History. We were delighted to note that the beach tours pause while passing here, and tell a bit of the location's history to its passengers. indeed this house is very tiny, but slept three comfortably. We found the kitchen to be well equiped, and enjoyed the comfy beds. Spectacular views, and literally steps from the ocean. We appreciated this house's cozy rustic decor, which is in keeping with the timeless feel of this house. This is the perfect place for an unplugged week of reading, reflecting and reconnecting. Be sure to note that there is no tv, and internet was unavailable for our first few days. Eagerly anticipating next year's visit."
Thanks Jacqueline! Outstanding idea to include the story of the boathouse. Maybe a few old pictures and the story about how or why it was built. We've got the best internet plan available up there, but still thinking about additional options. We've strongly considered adding a smart TV, but feel it could distract from the vacation. However, another guest mentioned this and we'll think about adding it to the list for 2022. Thank you again for the feedback!
"What a unique Outer Banks experience! This is a small cottage right on the dunes on the historic grounds of Wash Woods Coast Guard Station. Nicely put together place for a couple or small family who want something different. No TV but strong wifi. A good place to disconnect and enjoy the beach. We loved it! Twiddy is also very easy to work with. Great communication and response. Highly recommended."
Thanks Michael, we appreciate your feedback and excited to hear about your wonderful experience. We've strongly considered adding a smart TV that lets you watch with the Wifi. However, might be too easy to connect back to reality and distract from the vacation. But if more guests ask for it, we'll include for 2022. Thank you!
"An absolutely perfect spot for a quiet vacation! Everything about the house is charming and it is tastefully decorated. We hope to return... sooner rather than later!"
"Adorable house and unbeatable view. We loved The Boat House."
"This is a really unique property and we had a great stay. It was the perfect size for two of us. Everything was almost perfect, but there were a few small changes that could improve the home. A hook for hand towels would have been really helpful in the kitchen- in a small space it's hard to cook efficiently. Also the baking pan provided didn't actually fit in the oven. The only other factor that stopped things from being perfect is that the shower barely had hot water and to get it you had to have the shower just dripping. The point of this home is to be a cool place right on the beach- it delivers in views and outdoor spaces, just might have to sacrifice a few living luxuries."
So happy to hear you had a good time! You're right the kitchen is small and we're trying to make the best experience. We had a few more baking pans delivered this past Sunday. We also had a new hot water heater installed immediately after being notified. Thank you again for the feedback:)
