Historic Inverness Retreat with Tennis Court near Point Reyes

This is a tough review to write as there were multiple issues with our stay that resulted from an old VRBO booking that wasn't updated. This lead to massive miscommunication about the check-in, no wifi info, and no heat. So for the first 24 hours we were disconnected and freezing but also not supposed to build a fire based on instructions. The manager was responsive but mostly about the fact that it was VRBOs fault and not the current managements' when all we wanted was immediate resolution to the issues. SO frustrating and made our stay really crummy overall. There was also lots of dog and other animal feces all over the property which we stepped in several times and that was also really frustrating--it's the country yes but the dog poop was unacceptable and not fun to be picking up on vacation. Lastly I would say that the house is more than rustic it is truly like summer camp--all of the rooms open to the outside and also to each other so you have VERY little privacy and can only access the one main bathroom that four of the bedrooms share from the OUTSIDE deck or you have to walk through everyone else's rooms. It was clean and has a lot of charm in keeping with the area but I would call it more of a glamping-like experience with a big lounge room for a group. Sinks only had cold running water too, and it's just really really old/funky. Might be more charming in the summer when things can be open for sure but in the winter it's literally freezing and not much fun at all!

Relaxing, quiet, comfortable, altogether delightful! We loved the tennis and ping pong.

Beautiful and storied place, great for a trip with friendskids. Kitchen is well-stocked, living room great for dinners and games, the yard and tennis court are stellar.

WE love this place! Gorgeous location and old construction. Fireplace is magnificent. Great enclosed yard for our small dog. Great deck with deck chairs in the sun. We've stayed here twice and hope to stay here again.

We had an amzing time

We had plenty of room for 6. Unfortunately the water heater for the main bedroom and bath went down and we never had hot water in that bathroom. The place was a very comfortable and authentic throwback in time. We had a great time. If you are going for the tennis, ask the host to clean the court prior. We received a discount from the host to compensate for the lack of hot water....great genture!

The location is great, very pretty area and close to Point Reyes Station and lots of trails. The property is also very dog friendly and the kitchen is well stocked. Downsides were that the lighting is very dim in the kitchen and main room (which made things gloomy) and the layout of the home is like a motel with four of the bedrooms opening to the outside and laid out sequentially without a hallway so you have to walk through all of the bedrooms to move from one side of the house to the other. For the price we thought it would be overall better maintained and functional.

A warm, rustic setting for our family celebration -- a big birthday and Thanksgiving -- the Colby House was perfect for the occasion. We gathered in the large living room, where we ate, read, enjoyed the fireplace on the cold winter days, played games and the old piano, a special treat. Kitchen was well equipped, and bedrooms generally comfortable, with exception of one queen bed with its sloping mattress. We navigated the unusual circulation system -- en suite bedrooms and bathrooms (with exception of the master suite over the garage), with option to access bedrooms from the outdoor deck -- as we were an informal family group. Hope to return someday.

This was the absolute perfect spot for us to sit around and play games by the fire, play the piano, and be together. Loved it!

We loved the Colby House! It's really such a special hidden retreat. The location is amazing and very close to Point Reyes and the Cypress Tree Tunnel which is a must see..We'd be delighted to stay there again!

Everything went smoothly. Very comfortable. Classic Inverness.

What a dream! We felt like we were at adult summer camp. Perfect space for a small gathering or friends and family and secure for animals. We hope to be back! Highly recommend

We arrived expecting to see the property as pristine as the photos indicated, especially the outdoor and it was under kept, some animal feces around, bones and overall a bit shabby. The living/dining area were great as gathering places for 6 women. The bedroom layouts are interesting. They are situation in a row, with a toilet between two of the rooms, and one full bathroom for another two of the rooms on the main floor. There is access to the outside porch with each of the rooms which is nice. We also used the suite above the garage which was a nice big room, but had critters in the attic every night. Perhaps raccoons? It was disturbing to sleep. There is also a urine smell as you open the door to the suite area as you go up the stairs. The home is old with character but the cleaning was not done well. Cobwebs around the lamp sconces, behind the doors, and the window seals. It felt the home needed some attention as well as the grounds. It also felt someone had not been in it in a while to notice these things. The price is not worth what we received honestly. It would be better to state what it is, not elaborated on what it is not. To better prepare the guest that it's not as tidy as one would expect, than the guest would be prepared for that and not be disappointed. A price that reflected this is important. The beds were good and linens were good too. The kitchen had good cookware and appliances. Plenty of plates, cups and dining utensils that was nice.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Inverness. This is a quirky house which is perfect to escape the heat of the bay and unwind and a beautiful part of northern California’s coastline.

My dad, aunts and several cousins from Mexico made this their home base during my wedding weekend. It was exactly what they needed