The Setting
A wildlife estuary, the osprey nest, and sunsets over the Mystic River.
The house sits on Mason’s Island, between the Mystic River and a protected tidal estuary that opens into Fishers Island Sound. Surrounded by wetlands and abundant wildlife, the island’s quiet roads are ideal for walking, running, and cycling. Although the setting feels wonderfully secluded, downtown Mystic, grocery stores, and I-95 are all just minutes away. Facing west across the Mystic River, the house also enjoys spectacular sunsets throughout the year.
The estuary
The abundance of birds and wildlife is one of the real joys of this place. There is an osprey nest just off the back of the house. It has been there as long as anyone can remember, and watching the babies grow and finally leave the nest is a season-long show. The parents are here from mid-April to mid-October, then winter in South America. You can sit in the rocker by the back bedroom window and watch them all day.
We have a resident mink under the dock. Egrets and herons work the marsh grass. There is a healthy coyote population in the estuary across the road. You will likely only ever hear them, at night, and it is quite something. Bobcats and foxes are around too, though you are unlikely to see either. Two practical notes that come with real wildlife: keep pets inside the fenced area, and check for ticks after time outside. The island runs a tick-prevention program and cases here are rare, but this is New England.
The seasons
Summer is the season everyone books, and it earns it, but the house is a year-round place. Autumn in Mystic is simply gorgeous: no traffic, no lines, and foliage to die for. Winter is incredible on the water: picturesque beauty from every window, a different display every day, and inside it is always warm, with a gas fireplace for chilly nights. Off-season means easy restaurant reservations, empty beaches, and the same sunsets.
“Closer to shore and in the salt water marsh through the backyard, nature lovers will appreciate the diversity of birds. There's even an osprey nest in a stand across the street.”
The sunsets
The house faces west over the water, and the sunsets are the best show in Mystic: every night, from the dock, the porch, or the rooftop deck. One of the best photographs ever taken here came from a guest: the sun burning orange in the upper left, the dock answering it in the lower right, and the whole sky reflected off winter ice. Bring a camera. See the Sunsets gallery for what you are in for.
Getting here
Seclusion here does not mean remote: the house is minutes from Route 1, with easy access to I-95. Stonington and downtown Mystic are about ten minutes away, and New London, with Amtrak and the ferries, is about twenty.
Favorite photo stops nearby: Noank, the Stonington fishing docks, the farm on Cove Road, Stonington Borough, Watch Hill, and Eastern Point Beach. The sunsets at the house beat them all.
Fishing
You can fish right off the dock. Bottom fishing with frozen mackerel and a sliding sinker does the trick. The Area Guide lists the tackle shops and the party-boat options for going further out.
“I loved watching the osprey nest from the upper bedroom window. Rare opportunity to see three osprey chicks take their first flights. Talk about a bird’s eye view!”
Come stay with us
Book direct with the owners: no platform fees, and we answer every inquiry ourselves, usually within a day.