Williams 1807 House [Mystic, CT]
If you have ever driven through the intersection in the hamlet of Old Mystic, you might’ve noticed a beautiful blue colonial home donning patriotic buntings and flag. Located across the street from the former Old Mystic general store, I’ve photographed this historical gem many times as well as the 1784 Denison House (formerly The Old Mystic Inn) next door.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that both houses are Airbnb rentals! You can actually stay in these historical home! I contacted the owners - Debbie and Paul who graciously gifted me a two nights stay in the 1807 Williams House. A spacious house with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bath, living room, common room, kitchen and more. It can fit up to 10 guests. The best part… it’s also dog friendly! I know how difficult it can be to find stays that allow dogs.
This was a home away from home! Well… beside the cozy King bed! I may have to beg for a King this upcoming holiday season! I enjoyed working at the desk in the bedroom as it faced the mural. There are murals throughout the house, representing Mystic Seaport. I loved this as I love to spending time walking around the Seaport with my pup! It was so fun to spot familiar buildings on the murals. Debbie put together an amazing guidebook for the area and she credits Susan Dywer Leach as the muralist.
The process of checking-in was so easy with a keyless entry and digital guidebook provided by Debbie and Paul via e-mail. I loved this digital guidebook and thought it was genius! It listed everything from house rules, WIFI information, explanations of how to use something in the house, to local recommendations. I used this digital guidebook a few times during the stay. Debbie and Paul really go out of their way to make you feel welcome and armed with this treasure trove of information about Mystic! I enjoyed a delicious apple pie they left.
As I mentioned there are murals dedicated to Mystic Seaport throughout the house, and the theme is complete with nautical decorations on display. It was cool to see some nautical antiques! Of course, I was like a moth to the flame when I saw the plethora of books presented in every room!
The house has a total of 3 floors. It felt like a fun maze to explore! My favorite rooms were the living room and kitchen on the main floor. The living room is donned in red, white and blue. Very patriotic! The kitchen is a very cozy space, there is a fireplace with two armchairs to lounge in. The house came with plenty of things for visitors such as puzzles, games, books, a high chair, pack-n-play and even a play area for kids in the attic.
The entire time during my stay here was cloudy and rainy. The house was veryyyy cozy for days like that! There’s just something about old houses being perfect for rainy days. It was comfortable to lounge around (when I wasn’t working). There was a small table right by the front windows in the living room that was perfect for playing games. There’s a cabinet full of games and puzzles. You will never get bored in this house with all it had to offer.
My dog enjoyed the walks we took around the neighborhood. There are walkable sidewalks right in front of the house and around Old Mystic. There is a park behind the house where my dog could run around. I saw kids playing there too. We could’ve went for a longer walk on River Road - the scenic route overlooking Mystic River if it was nicer outside. If you don’t have dogs with you, I would recommend a bike ride so you can see more of the route (it’s a really long route - 3 miles by car).
This stay is perfect for large families, as you can rent the house next door or The Smith Cottage. There was a connecting path between all houses. It’s also away from the busy bustle of Downtown so you get some peace in this adorable little hamlet! Plenty of parking spaces in the driveway (Williams House shares 5 parking spaces with The Smith Cottage).
If you’re thinking of a Fall getaway to Mystic - this house is a half mile down the road from B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill. How perfect would that be to wake up early and pop over for a cider donut?! It’s 2 minutes drive or 15 minutes walk. Olde Mistick Village is located 1.5 miles down the other direction from this house too. Olde Mistick Village is opened year-round offering shopping, a pizza restaurant, coffee shop, seasonal ice cream store, a movie theater and more.
Overall, I loved our stay at Williams 1807 house and would recommend this place! I was sad to leave. I drive through the intersection in Old Mystic on a daily basis so now it will make me smile when I recall the fun I had staying there! If you prefer something smaller, look into other properties owned by Debbie and Paul. They have another house with 3 bedrooms in Mystic and they rent out rooms in the Denison House (the former Old Mystic Inn). More information can be found here (website) or Airbnb here.
Thank you Debbie and Paul for being such a gracious host. All opinions are my own.