The Boat House
T11993Amenities
Featured in this Home
No longer available for the 2024 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 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.
This home is approximately 7.5 miles up the beach.
Click here for satellite parking information.
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
"Simple honest hideaway"
"Location!"
"Though tiny, this quintessential and historic beach cottage is our idea of an idyllic get away. Just steps from the beach, and offering everything our family needs to forget the stresses of everyday life. Its our 4th stay here, we were married on the beach in front of the house this May. We've reserved next year's visit already."
"We started staying at the Boathouse three years ago, and what drew us the sparseness of the location, like camping but with running water. The idea of "roughing" it appealed to us. The additions of a TV and a park grill over the last year was a cool addition, adding to the camping feel to the house. This year, we are kind of turned off by the idea that there was a 2nd TV and now a propane grill, which in our minds, hinder not only the views, but the rustic charm of the house, If you need more amenities, look to the larger properties. The allure of the Boathouse is in the rustic and non-amenity charm of the house."
"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"