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Historic Hilltop Home/Panoramic Ocean & Sound View/Event Friendly/One-of-a-kind!

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Outdoor dining
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 12372 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Ocean view
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer

Explore the area

View in a map
Ocean Isle Beach, NC
  • Place, Ocean Isle Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Museum of Coastal Carolina
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Holden Beach
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Airport, North Myrtle Beach, SC (CRE-Grand Strand)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Room options

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Historic Hilltop Home/Panoramic Ocean & Sound View/Event Friendly/One-of-a-kind!

Founder's Manor is the home of Ocean Isle Beach founder, Odell Williamson and his wife Virginia. The home sits atop a 4-lot tract known as Gause's Hill. It is surrounded by undeveloped land and offers a panoramic, unobstructed view of both the Atlantic Ocean and Jink's Creek. Founder’s Manor is centrally located and is less than 1/4 mile (2-4 minute walk) from many of the island’s most popular destinations. Some of these include: the Ocean Isle Beach Town Park, The Museum of Coastal Carolina, The Ocean Isle Beach Pier, River Country Mini Golf, Sunset Slush, Ocean Isle Beach Creamery, Jink’s Creek Waterfront Grille, Pelican’s Perch, the Islander Inn and the Ocean Isle Inn. Additionally, the Ocean Isle Beach Chapel is across the street for those who are interested in a destination wedding or attending a local church service while visiting. The split level home has 4 floors offering: 5 bedrooms, 3 and ½ baths, two kitchens, a formal dining room, a formal living room, a den/reading room, a sun porch, and the Island’s only basement. All bedrooms have a view of the ocean or Jink's Creek. There is a sizable concrete patio space for outdoor entertaining as well as large grassy areas suitable for an ocean or sound view tent should you wish to host a celebration (permit required depending on tent size). Rentals will also include access to the exclusive Isles Beach Club for the duration of your stay. Whether you are a family traveling from out of town, a bridal party looking for a beautiful setting for your celebration, or an individual looking for a local getaway, Founder’s Manor offers a unique, picturesque location that is truly one of a kind.
During your stay at this holiday home, you're just a quick walk from Ocean Isle Beach. Enjoy features like 1 hot tub and laundry facilities. Free WiFi and a kitchen are available in the holiday home.
  • Air-conditioned home with kitchen, washing machine and 3.5 bathrooms
  • Free WiFi
  • Amenities include laundry facilities
  • Just a 4-minute walk from Ocean Isle Beach and 5 minutes on foot from Museum of Coastal Carolina
Historic Hilltop Home/Panoramic Ocean & Sound View/Event Friendly/One-of-a-kind! offers its guests a hot tub, barbecue grills, and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Basketball nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector or gas appliances (host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 4,000 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds, gather used towels and store extra beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please put clean dishes away.
Please leave stripped sheets by bed and comforters/shams on top of bed.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

Events for more than 20 guests require prior authorization from the owner, payment of the site fee and a signed event contract.
Noise ordinance: Town fines for noise disturbances between10p.m. to 7:30 a.m. are from $100- $1,000 for1st offense. 2nd offense is $200-$1,200.

Pets

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

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Town tent permit required if larger than 20 x 20

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 99
Note from host: Town tent permit required if larger than 20 x 20
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

4000 sq. ft. Historic Hilltop Home/Panoramic Ocean & Sound View/Event Friendly Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 24 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 24 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 24 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bart N.

Liked: Cleanliness
From the day I booked Founders Manor many months back, Host Marnie and I have been in contact with each other. She graciously let me in the house when there were no renters, so that my family could see the layout and assign bedrooms ahead of time for our thanksgiving vacation. FM is not your typical “beach house”, but a wonderful home at the beach, which just makes it better!
Thanksgiving Dinner! The best with family!
They really played chess!
Football in the front lawn.
And cousin Eddie stopped by before the Christmas parade!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly P.

Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yvonne O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect perfect perfect for a wedding!!! just beautiful
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie J.

Liked: Cleanliness
We were very pleased with our decision to stay at Founders Manor. The house is dated but it keeps with its history and nostalgia. There were a few very minor hiccups but Marnie, the property owner, was there in a flash to handle it. If you are a big TV watcher when you go to bed, beware there isnt a TV in every bedroom or the main living area. There is a big one in the basement which is a great area for kids to hang out. The pups loved the huge yard and the side patio area was ideal to watch the waves. We will definitely rent from Marnie again if we are ever in the area.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Megan B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Founder’s Manor is a beautiful property that is perfect for a short weekend getaway or week long stay at the beautiful, family friendly Ocean Isle Beach. The home is unique and perfect for a family vacation. Not even the cloudy weather and rain showers from Hurricane Erin could put a damper on our weekend trip. The entire family LOVED the house with all its unique character and charm, plenty of space for everyone (our group of 12), lots of room to cook, plenty of sleeping space, and plenty of areas to escape and have your own me time. The outdoor space is beautiful with plenty of seating. It was nice to be able to sit outside and just relax all while taking in the views that the property has to offer. The beautiful landscaping, lush green grass, ocean and creek views that surround the property were all breathtaking. I literally have nothing negative to say about the home and could continue to write about all the things that we enjoyed about the home. I selfishly wish that this home and property could be just my little secret but everyone should get the opportunity to experience the magic of Founder’s Manor at least once. Marine Williamson was extremely kind, caring and absolutely the best to work with. Communication with Marine was a breeze.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

FELISHA M.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a wonderful time. The house was lovely and within walking distance to shops and family friendly actives. Plenty of room to have your own space but still be together. We enjoyed the view of the ocean which was just across the street. Our hosts were amazing and very attentive to anything we needed and any concerns we had. Thank you for sharing your lovely home.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vuthy I.

Liked: Cleanliness
It’s always a pleasure to stay at Founder’s Manor. Marnie is great letting us know anything we needed to know to make our stay incredible. We love it there and look forward to many stays going forward!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our family really enjoyed our visit to Ocean Isle Beach! It was fun staying in a house with so much history. The house was in a great location, within walking distance to the beach, ice cream shops and a playground for the kids. We loved that our extended family of 12 could all eat our meals together around the large dining table, and could gather for games and conversation in the large living room. The outdoor space was lovely as well! If I could make one improvement, it would be to make the downstairs bath more private since the shower door opens directly into the bedroom. Overall, this was a great gathering space for our family!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Denise F.

Liked: Cleanliness
We absolutely loved our stay at Founder's Manor. Marnie was very responsive and helpful throughout the week. The house was phenomenal and large enough for our family. The kitchen was well equipped with everything we needed. The outside areas were fantastic, and we had ample room to park our cars and the golf carts we rented. We also enjoyed how close we were to everything and that we could walk to restaurants, the pier, the beach, etc. It was a perfect week, and I would strongly recommend Founder's Manor as a wonderful home in OIB!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our family had the pleasure of staying one week at Founder's Manor. We have been visiting OIB off and on since 2007, and this house has always intrigued us. The inside was exactly like the photos shown, and the furnishings are authentic and beautiful. We had more than enough room for our family. The beds and pillows are extremely comfortable. Having two full kitchens in the house was an added bonus. The most amazing part for us was the amount of privacy you have with such an enormous lot. Although not technically oceanfront, you have unobstructed views of the ocean, and also Jink's Creek. It was so nice not having loud neighbors right on top of you. So much of OIB has been developed in the last few years so we enjoyed this extra space. Marnie is extremely easy to communicate with and offered additional information about the Tuesday market and Friday night concert without us even asking. One of our favorite parts was attending church on Sunday just after Tropical Storm Chantal had passed by. This was our first visit to the chapel built in honor of Mrs. Williamson and that made it even more special. We would definitely stay here again. Thank you for sharing your piece of family and history with our family.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun for the whole family.

Our stay was absolutely fantastic. The house is huge and located close to restaurants, activities and most importantly the beach. Marnie was great. She and her husband were responsive, friendly and very helpful. I would definitely recommend staying here. Especially if you have a large group.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

stephanie g.

Liked: Cleanliness
We couldn’t be happier with our stay in this house. The home and property were clean and the location can’t be beat! The views could not be beat and the proximity to the ocean was fantastic! It was the perfect house to use as our son got married at the Ocean Isle Chapel. There was tons of space that allowed people to spread out. Marnie, the owner, couldn’t have been more fantastic and we appreciated her recommendations!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristofer W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fantastic Stay

Great house in an ideal location. Perfect for the dogs who loved having a yard to play in. Short walk to the beach and to the local town center. The house had everything we needed and was very comfortable to stay in. We also appreciated the welcome baskets with snacks and other useful items. Marnie made sure we had everything we needed and was very friendly. Would definitely come back again.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Billie Jean M.

Liked: Cleanliness

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE this property!

The Manor House of Ocean Isle Beach checked all of our boxes for my son's wedding rehearsal dinner and out of town guest stay. A lovely private home with ocean and waterway views that was beautifully furnished and wee equipped. The ample parking with central location is hard to find on the island. I loved the mid century vibes and house history. Perfect place to get together with all of your extended family or special occaision
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christy C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful home full of history

This is an amazing house and property. It’s clean and well-stocked. Marnie is so kind and responsive. I would highly recommend this house to anyone looking for a special vacation in Ocean Isle.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bethany F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wedding

I absolutely love Marnie & this house! Me & my husband had our wedding here & the entire bridal party was able to stay here for the weekend, along with having our ceremony and reception here too. Marnie was a phenomenal host throughout the entire process. The house is absolutely stunning and in pristine condition!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Angela S.

Liked: Cleanliness

20th Reunion

The property is very retro and cool! Great views of the ocean and the inter coastal waterway. Kitchen and all of the home was as clean. Plenty of room for a big group.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chad N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent Vacation

This house was perfect for our family. Plenty of room and great location!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristie D., Holly Springs, NC

Liked: Cleanliness

Great House

We just returned from our trip to Founder’s Manor and we had the best time! The house was beautiful and the location was perfect. Having access to the Isles Beach Club was such a nice bonus and the staff there was amazing! Marnie was a wonderful host! We will definitely be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harry R., USA

Liked: Cleanliness

Founder’s Manor

We attended a wedding on Ocean Isle and stayed 4 days at this property. Family included - 8 adults and an 18 mo old. Property was superb in every way - location (church was across the street) and close to ocean and town, very clean, property was exactly as described, owner was a pleasure to deal with and communication via text was immediate. An added benefit - a family pass to the Ocean Isle Beach Club - 1 1/4 mile away. Club was on the ocean with pool and offered food & drinks. Would definitely recommend for a family or group of 6-12 guests. Plenty of space and 2 kitchens.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Teeya S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Extraordinary!!

Our family traveled from several states to share a long weekend at this beautiful home. The views are spectacular, and the layout is perfect for making the best memories! Spacious enough to accommodate a large group, this home boasted a fully stocked kitchen, and areas both inside and out to seat the entire family for meals. The home has a prime location, in walking distance to many of the island's activities, and enough outside space to feel like you have privacy. Our family loved that the main family spaces did not have televisions, which encouraged family bonding time! Thank you to the amazing host for great communication and for sharing a part of OIB history. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

scott b.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Location

Location could not have been better. We had a great time.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Founders Manor

The house was beautiful and has a lot of history and neat things in it. Lots of space inside and out. Fully stocked with everything you can think of. Only a short walk to the beach and shops, restaurants, ice cream , the pier, the town park and other attractions. The host Marnie is super nice and very welcoming.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vuthy I.

Liked: Cleanliness

Charming, Historical Home that is second to none!!!

Our annual trip to Ocean Isle Beach this year led us to be the very first guests to stay at Historical Founders Manor, home to Odell Williamson, founder of Ocean Isle Beach. It wasn't your typical "beach house" but it offered a charm that was unmatched. Waking up to the ocean view and watching the sunset all from the comfort of the home was amazing!!! Everything is in walking distance or a short bike ride. We've grown to love Ocean Isle beach and to be able to stay in the home of the founder was truly special. You can see and feel the history and southern charm in this home. We will definitely look forward to staying here again!!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024