Home of the Terrapin King

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Home of the Terrapin King

Photo gallery for Home of the Terrapin King

View from property
Property grounds
Exterior
5 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Dining

Overview of Home of the Terrapin King

Reviews
9.4

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Crisfield, MD
  • Popular LocationSomers Cove Marina3 min drive
  • Popular LocationJ. Millard Tawes Museum4 min drive
  • Popular LocationUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore30 min drive
  • AirportSalisbury, MD (SBY-Salisbury - Ocean City Wicomico Regional)46 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Crisfield

On the beach.Within 3 miles (5 km) of this Crisfield farm stay, you'll find Somers Cove Marina and J. Millard Tawes Museum. McCready Health Pavilion is within 6 miles (10 km) and Great Hope Golf Course is within 16 miles (25 km).

What's nearby

  • Somers Cove Marina - 3 min drive
  • J. Millard Tawes Museum - 4 min drive
  • McCready Health Pavilion - 6 min drive
  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore - 30 min drive
  • Salisbury University - 43 min drive

Getting around

  • Salisbury, MD (SBY-Salisbury - Ocean City Wicomico Regional) - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • McDonald's - 5 min drive
  • The Crab Place - 3 min drive
  • Water's Edge Cafe
  • Linton's Seafood - 7 min drive
  • Captain's Carry Out - 4 min drive

About this property

Home of the Terrapin King

HISTORIC, WATERFRONT HOME ON MARYLAND’S EASTERN SHORE (CRISFIELD, MD) – SECLUDED/QUAINT/PEACEFUL

The LaVallette House is where the Maryland terrapin originated! Albert Tallmadge LaVallette Jr. launched the terrapin soup industry from this very site. (You can still see the old terrapin pins beside the driveway.) In addition to the property’s historic charm, the location just can’t be beat. The five-bedroom house is completely private. Guests have to drive through wetlands to get to it, and the only neighbors in close proximity are the gulls and the fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The house is surrounded on three sides by water; you can see the Bay from all of its windows. Outside, you can sun yourself on the private beach, sit with a cool drink on the front porch, fish and crab from the bulkhead, or launch your boat or kayak from the dock. And the fishing’s great from the front yard! You hardly ever need to leave this place—but if do you want to get out, downtown Crisfield offers charming restaurants, shops, an ice cream parlor, and plenty of places to get fresh crabs. Crisfield is known as the “Crab Capital of the World.” This home is unlike any other. It’s a perfect spot for family vacations, friends’ getaways, or writing retreats. It’s been in our family for over 20 years. We love it dearly and know you will, too!

This Queen Anne Victorian was built in the late 1800's. The main floor features a large updated kitchen with seating for 8-10; a family room with a Visio TV, WiFi, Apple TV, Direct TV; a formal dining area; a sitting room with a futon that sleeps two; and a queen bedroom with panoramic views of the Bay. There is also a bedroom with two twin beds and another large bedroom with a king size bed.

Upstairs, the master bedroom features a widow's walk for two, a queen size bed, and furniture to lounge on. There is a full bath across the hall. The second upstairs bedroom features two double beds. The house is spacious with lots of room to spread out.

There is also two screened porches, and an outside shower! There are two kayaks for you to use, be sure to bring it to launch from the beach and explore the natural wonders that surround this local treasure.

Additionally, please do NOT use any fireplaces in the house except for the pellet stove. No weddings / large gatherings allowed on property. Please keep all cars within the parking area. All people accessing the house and PETS must be listed on the reservation.

Property manager

Dominic Liberatore

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: internet access

Things to do

  • Kayaking

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Cable/satellite channels
  • DVD player
  • Smart TV

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning
  • Bed sheets
  • Heating

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Outdoor shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels

Outdoor space

  • Balcony

Food and drink

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Dining room
  • Dining table
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

More

  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Iron/ironing board

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs and cats are allowed
  • Maximum 2 pets
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Cashless transactions are available
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions. Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

Property is also known as

Home Terrapin King House Crisfield
Home Terrapin King House
Home Terrapin King Crisfield
Home Terrapin King
Of The Terrapin King Crisfield
Home of the Terrapin King Crisfield
Home of the Terrapin King Agritourism property
Home of the Terrapin King Agritourism property Crisfield

Home of the Terrapin King Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 77 out of 103 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 23 out of 103 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 103 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 103 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 103 reviews" "

9.2/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Annette V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great sunsets
Very relaxing spot and the view is spectacular!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gerald Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
location, location, location
Mesmerizing views of the water and surrounding marshland. Quick and easy drive to town for groceries and take-out. The Wi-Fi was a little glitchy but cellular reception was good enough so it did not matter. I loved the rustic feel to it, with many antique and vintage furnishings. The amount of maintenance on the place must be enormous considering it is surrounded by brackish bay water and no wind breaks. But, the owner appears to handle that responsibility. There were some items that could use refreshing both inside and out, but in no way took away from our enjoyment. One of the charms of staying in a place like this is getting to relax in a unique environment and then go home and not worry about thing! Also, since everyone wonders, here is a note about cameras: there appeared to be two outdoor Ring cameras, one at the front door, and one on the front porch. The front door one might be able to see through a window into part of the kitchen only, the porch one sees only the front yard and parking area. It would be nice if all vrbo owners would disclose cameras, but I totally understand needing them especially considering this remote location.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great getaway for friends/extended family
This wonderful, isolated, 100-plus-year-old house was just the ticket for a group of four women who wanted to get away relax. It is literally on the Chesapeake Bay, minutes from Crisfield. The house has beautiful views of sunrise and sunset from its many windows, a nice screened porch and another side porch for sitting outside in milder weather, and so many interesting touches! Lots of lovely antique pieces and curios. Comfortable beds, very well appointed kitchen, tons of bottled water and basic supply needs. Could easily host a larger family gathering with still lots of room for people to have privacy. The large lawn, bordered by the bay, offers some opportunities for playing outdoor games (weather permitting; with lots of rain, the grounds can be soggy). Coming from the DC area, we had meals in St Michaels on the way to and Kent Island on the way back, and lunch at Dockside in Pocomoke City while there. Many local places were closed when we went off-season, so look forward to hitting these again when they're open. All in all just a delight, really relaxing and a fun location.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tim C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unexpected trip
The house has a ton of character, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there even if it was for one night. We got in right at sunset, which was beautiful. If you’ve ever watched the sun set in Crisfield you know they’re some of best. It was early enough to cook a pot of gumbo and all of us sat at the nice long table and enjoyed a hot meal after a long day of travel. Watched the sunrise the next day with some heavy weather that made our day interesting for sure. The host kept us posted on the weather and made sure we were aware of what to do. In the end we were glad we took their advice. Being born and raised in the area, the terapin house, with its panoramic view of Crisfield and Smith Island, was a great place to stay and talk about the “old days.”
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Josh K.

Liked: Cleanliness
What a property! Terrapin King for the win!
We had a wonderful stay at this property on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The house was situated on a private peninsula, surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay and beautiful marshlands. We enjoyed the views of the town of Crisfield in the distance and the privacy of the location. The house was spacious and cozy, and it felt like we were on a boat. We loved exploring the trails around the property and learning about the history of the terrapin king who used to live there. This was a perfect getaway for us and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and scenic vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house on the water
Thank you for sharing your house with us. It was beautiful and the rooms were very big. We enjoyed exploring outside and listening to the animals at night while we sat around the fire. It was a perfect Christmas with my family.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret R., Washington, DC

Liked: Cleanliness
Simply Breathtaking
We had the most wonderful experience/vacation from start to finish. The historic home is welcoming and warm with all the comforts of a home away from home. The ambiance is relaxing and private. We enjoyed kayaking, fishing, oyster shell hunting and playing with our dogs on the little stretch of beach/bank. The hosts are hospitable and easy to get in touch with—very accommodating! We went to Linton’s Seafood and grabbed a bushel of crabs to bring home. Best crabs we’ve ever had (even as Marylanders)! We walked downtown to the gift shops, harbor, and the art galleries, even when to a local history talk at the Corbin Gallery one evening! The Crisfield folks are kind and welcoming. We can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Girls trip
We had an amazing time. The views are beautiful. We would love to return in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Annette V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful Home
Wow what a view! We saw porpoises on our last day!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

april w.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful
I absolutely enjoyed this stay. Everything was very clean. We had everything needed to cook meals. Beds were comfortable. Only complaint was water pressure in shower wasn't that great.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023