Play the lead in your very own seafaring fable when you stay at the 1784 Denison Home. Our lovingly restored, dog-friendly New England vacation home is located in the hamlet of Old Mystic near the head of the Mystic River~ around the corner from scenic River Rd. With 5 bedrooms/5 bathrooms, it accommodates 10 guests very comfortably. Think Colonial charm combined with modern amenities for 21st-century comfort and a splash of pure, homegrown hospitality to make your Mystic stay most relaxing! The space Hello and welcome to hospitality as sweet as Apple Pie! :-) We're delighted you found us and would love a moment to share what's special about this home! The history buff in you will love the antiques and original features that pay homage to the maritime heritage of Mystic~ nautical murals, wide-planked floors, a beehive oven, square head nails, period trim, and a large center chimney that powers five working fireplaces! The 1784 Denison Home, built by John Denison, a prominent family name who settled in colonial Mystic, CT, was a hat maker by trade (or did he ever become a “mad hatter?” The first floor of this home was most likely a hat store while he lived there. After various owners, Charles Vincent purchased this house in the 1960s and turned the first floor into the Old Mystic Bookstore and when he turned 80 he sold it and moved to Maine~ he specialized in obscure 1st edition books and maritime maps, housing over 20,000-30,000 pieces. The locals remember the bookstore well and said you could hardly move through the rooms as books and maps rambled along on all surfaces from top to bottom but Vincent always new were his books and maps were when a customer put in a request. You can still see his maps in the front hallway preserved to this day! This wonderful home was then renovated to a bed & breakfast and ran as the Old Mystic Inn for 33 years until 2019 when Michael, chef and last innkeeper, served his last guests his famous scrumptious breakfast. This dear antique house has much history and many stories to tell over its 250 years and is meant to continue to open it’s doors to visitors who desire experiencing a piece of that history too! If only walls had ears, imagine the stories they could recount~ perhaps you can listen and hear the walls whisper words of the past! HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS * Nautical touches, antiques, modern amenities, and an eye for detail fill each room * Perfect setup for family and friend gatherings * Five en suite bedrooms set over the first and second floors * Fully equipped kitchen * Central Mystic location is within a few minutes drive of attractions and the Mystic River * Library room filled with books and Sonos music system * New super comfy Casper memory foam mattresses and fresh pillows in every bedroom * TVs in every bedroom * High-speed internet (Two AmpliFI Instant Dual-Band Mesh WiFi Routers) * Whimsical nautical murals by artist Susan Leach grace the walls of the Keeping Room, and each Guest Room, depicting * Mystic history and the vessels the rooms are named after. * Outdoor firepit with a starter wood bundle * Multiple outdoor seating areas to gather and relax * Plenty of parking available~ up to 5 spaces in the driveway and overflow parking available at the park next door LOCATION Located in the hamlet of Old Mystic at the head of the Mystic River. The 1784 Denison is just a 3-mile ride to the Mystic Seaport, shops, and restaurants. Enjoy seaport history and walk, or take a bike ride on the scenic River Road just around the corner from this Mystic vacation home. The Denison Home is just around the corner from scenic River Road to downtown Mystic- a great bike ride if you plan on bringing your bikes~ we also have bikes available for our guests. Haley's Way Playground and field are located behind the property- a great place to bring the kids and your pup to run. Please note that the property is on Main Street and across from the Old Mystic Post Office, which is busy during the day but a quiet and peaceful hamlet in the evenings. LIVING & ENTERTAINING Various common rooms and a library mean that your family or friend group can spread out and relax completely during your stay. Whether you want to come together as a group or take some ‘you’ time in a relaxing, private nook, there is space for everyone. The Keeping Room (1st floor) An intimate room for gathering and connecting featuring a historic working wood-burning beehive oven, panoramic mural by artist, Susan Leach, Sonos speaker, and board games. Library & Sitting Room (2nd floor) For the bookworms of your group, our library features a great book collection with nautical books aplenty. There is a work desk (for catching up with the office) and a Sonos speaker for streaming music. The library leads into a warm and welcoming sitting room with a 43” Sony Smart Android TV. Enjoy movie night or cozy up for an intimate catch-up. COOKING & DINING Cook from the heart in our first-floor kitchen, which is fully equipped with everything you need to whip up fabulous meals during your stay. Open plan to the dining room with a country-style dining table to seat 10 guests, enjoy laughter, love, and conversation, and a Sonos music system for background music. SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS - Five ensuite bedrooms In honor of the Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum, we named our five ensuite guest rooms after the five National Registered Historic Vessels that call Mystic their home. All bedrooms feature historically themed Susan Leach murals, new Casper memory foam mattresses, fresh pillows and beautiful linens, 32” Smart TVs with Roku Stick, alarm clocks with sleep sounds, USB charger ports on each bedside, plenty of soft fluffy towels, and complimentary toiletries so that you can pack lighter. Bedroom 1: Charles Morgan, Last Wooden Whaleship (first floor) Sleeps two with a well-appointed pencil post-queen-size bed, a closet, a work desk, and a working wood-burning fireplace (October-April). There is a cozy sitting area for two and an adjacent private bath with a shower/tub. Bedroom 2: Joseph Conrad Full-Rigged Ship (1st floor) Sleeps two with a well-appointed queen-size bed, armoire, dresser, desk, and a working wood-burning fireplace (October-April). There is a cozy sitting area for two and an adjacent private bath with a shower/tub. Bedroom 3: L.A. Dunton: Fishing Schooner (2nd floor) Sleeps two with a well-appointed king-size bed, armoire, dresser, table with two chairs, and a loveseat. There is a cozy sitting area for two, a private balcony, and an adjacent private bath with a shower/tub. Bedroom 4: Sabino: Steamboat (2nd floor) Sleeps two with a well-appointed king-size bed, armoire, dresser, desk/table, and a working wood-burning fireplace (October-April). There is a cozy sitting area for two and a detached private bathroom. Bedroom 5: Emma C. Berry: Noank Smack (2nd floor) Sleeps two with a well-appointed pencil post-queen-size bed, armoire, dresser, desk/table, and a working wood-burning fireplace (October-April). There is a cozy sitting area for two and an adjacent private bath with a shower/tub. STAIRWAYS Two stairways lead to the 2nd floor. The front stairwell leading up to the Sabino and the Emma C. Berry Guest Rooms is narrow and typical of an antique colonial home of this period (think of the people that have climbed those stairs!) The back stairwell, which leads to the Library Room, a common room, is wider and has a more modern feel. OUTDOOR SPACES Chill out in the side yard with the gazebo, around the fire pit (bundle of wood provided), furnished with 6 Adirondack chairs, two hammocks, patio tables, an outside couch with a fire table, and a large propane grill (propane provided). FAMILY & DOG At the 1784 Denison, we love to welcome children and your furry family members. You’ll find a high chair, pack-n-play, baby tub for little guests, and plenty of board games and books to keep younger guests occupied. We welcome two well-behaved dogs of small to medium size. Please check out our house rules and confirm dog guests when you book. Our fee is $75/pet, which will be requested at your confirmed reservation. ______________________________________________________ LARGER GROUPS? In addition, we have two other adjacent properties in Old Mystic, CT. The Carriage House offers four charming first-floor individual rooms. On the second floor is a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, dining room, living room, and one full bathroom with shower/tub that can accommodate four more guests~ the Carriage House can accommodate 12-14 guests, depending on your needs and what you’d like to reserve. The 1807 Williams Home & Smith Cottage, an antique center colonial historic gem and additional guesthouse, can accommodate up to 14 guests and is adjacent to the Denison Home property. We can accommodate 36-38 guests in the three adjacent properties. Reserving any combination of these nautically-themed New England homes will offer you flexibility and a unique stay unlike anything else in Mystic. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, family reunion, or traveling for a wedding, we can guide you in your selection. Message us if you have questions about booking our other properties to check on availability and pricing for your group. We are sure you would love to stay at the 1784 Denison Home, and we would love to host you! One last thing we'd like to mention. Our oldest son took all the interior and exterior photos. We think he did a superb job and would like to acknowledge him for his fine work- Thank you, Johnathan!! Guest access Guests have access to the entire 1784 Denison Home~ inside and outside. Please note: the side yard with the gazebo is a shared space with our Carriage House guests behind the Denison Home. You will receive full check-in instructions 4 days before your arrival date. You will receive your lockbox keypad code 24 hours before arrival and you'll have a flexible check-in time. The driveway accommodates five cars. Please park behind the Denison Home, the red house, not in front of the Carriage House, as that parking is for the Carriage House guests. The side street, Haley's Way, adjacent to our side yard, and Haley's Way playground lot are available for parking as well. Other things to note VERIFICATION/SECURITY DEPOSIT Guest ID Verification: We are committed to protecting our guests, properties, and ourselves which is why we’ve partnered with Know Your Guest, SUPERHOG, the leading vacation rental-guest screening provider. After you book, you will receive a Know Your Guest email or text message from SUPERHOG. Kindly complete the guest screening once you receive the email or text message~ it should take about 5 minutes and is easiest done from your mobile device. (You’ll be asked to provide your name, date of birth, address, contact details, and picture of you and your driver’s license~ nothing more.) Damage Deposit or Damage Waiver: You’ll be given the choice between a refundable $500 security deposit, less a $15 processing fee charged to your credit card two weeks prior to arrival~ or purchasing a non-refundable $35 damage waiver, which will cover any incidental damages up to $500. You can choose the best option for you. We thank you kindly for your participation in our trust and safety program~ we’re here to provide a worry-free experience for all parties involved. PROPERTY TRUTHS The Denison Home is on Main Street across from the Old Mystic Post Office. It's busy during the day but a quiet and peaceful hamlet in the evenings. The Denison Home is down the street from the Old Mystic Fire Station, so it's possible you'll hear sirens during your stay. However, it's a comfort to know they're so close too:-) As the 1784 Denison Home is circa 1784, the floorboards are wide and do move and creak a bit, but I think you'll appreciate how it adds to the charm and character of an antique home. With wooden homes, sometimes doors stick and need a push or a pull, as wood naturally expands and contracts with the New England weather. Original glass windows can be drafty in the wintertime. The Denison Home driveway connects to the Carriage House driveway and occasionally guests might not have read all the information about parking~ if you have one of our Carriage House guests accidently park in your area and you prefer they don't, please let us know, so we can take care of it for you :-)