Large Private Waterfront Estate Near Newport & Narragansett

The photographs do not do this historical house justice. The furniture, books, and historic objects of the author who built the house, as well as the ancestors who were signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution create a beautiful and magical atmosphere. The house was ingeniously designed to bring 18 to 21 people together very comfortably, with plenty of space for everyone. There are spaces all over in which everyone can gather together as a group for dining, talking, and engaging in various sports, as well as more spaces for gatherings of smaller groups. It is dignified, but not cold. It is appealing, sunny, and cozy. The numerous serious tennis players in our group found the tennis court excellent; everyone played some tennis just about every day. The house is hidden in a beautiful, quiet pocket, with its own private beach, yet it is close to Newport and the major beaches of southern Rhode Island. And somehow the grocery stores know how to find the house to make deliveries. We chose to spend most of our time at the house because there was so much to do in it.

My family selected "Wister House" for a large family reunion in August that included grandchildren, aunts, uncles, parents, totally 16 in all. We were thrilled with the home. It has a lovely view of Jamestown and the Narragansett Bay, tennis court, swing set, croquet, large front and side lawns plus access to a private beach, so plenty of options for activity. Of course, many of us relaxed in the library, front room, spacious patio or elsewhere with a book or newspaper! The owners were gracious, knowledgeable and so helpful getting us oriented with the area and their special home (National Register of Historic Places--summer home of novelist Owen Wister built in the early 1900s). Architecture, literature and/or history buffs will love exploring and admiring "Wister House" too. Lastly, this grand home has wonderful privacy but also terrific proximity to Newport, Wickford and Providence (nearby airport TF Green). A day trip to Block Island and/or Watch Hill can be easily accomplished.

Our family of 16 had an amazing, memorable and happy time. Our children loved played with the toys provided as well as the jungle gym and enormous lawn and field for soccer, baseball, slip and slide etc. And the adults loved escaping to Newport! This historic home is close to so many summer activities. A terrific time by all. We can't wait to return to this special home and to the RI shore.

Our family of 18, ranging in age from 2yrs to 67yrs, spent a wonderful week at Wister House. From the spacious, incredible house to the magnificent, extremely large grounds, this was a fantastic vacation property. The walk to the private beach was fun, and adventurous. Some really enjoyed exploring the property, following the paths, spending time at the revolutionary war cemetery, and just being lazy in the hammock. A favorite for the 5yr old was the swing hanging from a tree near the porch, the first thing she did when she got up in the morning was rush downstairs, out the door, and onto the swing. One of our favorite things was the very large dining room with a table that seated 12, and another table that seated all the kids. We could all eat together, and in the evening it was a great place to play board games. There are great places to just sit and read a book, or spend time together playing games, running around outside, a play structure for the kids, a tennis court, a croquet lawn, and we had plenty of lawn for our family vacation corn hole game tournaments. The house is perfect if you want a little time to yourself, or if you want to join in fun and games with others. I would highly recommend a vacation at Wister House, it has something for everyone. Alice is a wonderful person, she explained everything we needed to know, walked with us to the beach to show the way, and told us the history of the house and property. We had a wonderful time, and the only thing someone might need is more time for more exploring. Thank you Alice for sharing this treasure. The McHugh family