The Home Buyer’s Guide to Vineyard Haven

Sponsored by MV Buyer Agents

As the main transportation and commercial hub for the entire Island of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven is a beautifully preserved town dating back to the mid-1600s that is alive with history and small-scale commerce.  Vineyard Haven is protected by two promontories of land known as East Chop and West Chop, and due to this geographical anomaly and its strategic location on shipping routes, Vineyard Haven, also known as Tisbury, was once one of the busiest ports in the world.

Homes for Sale in Vineyard Haven

Vineyard Haven is home to a wide variety of residential properties.  There are historic homes on Main and William Streets, as well as cottages and land for sale on Lake Tashmoo, the Lagoon, Vineyard Sound, and West Chop.  Whether you are looking for an expansive Martha’s Vineyard estate, a recently constructed luxury home complete with modern amenities, a small cottage, or a parcel of vacant land, Martha’s Vineyard Buyer Agents is ready to help.

Sights to See Around Town

Owen Park, off Main Street in the center of town dates back to 1911, and its beach is a great place to watch the ships come in and get a feel for the pulse of life in Tisbury.  The park also has a bandstand and small playground.  Other scenic public beaches in the area include Tisbury Town Beach and Lake Tashmoo Town Beach.

The Old Schoolhouse Museum, built in 1828, has served as a carpentry shop, a school, and a Congregational Church.  In front of the museum stands the tall white Liberty Pole, commemorating the revolutionary act of three young women who inserted gunpowder into the town’s liberty pole in 1778 and blew it up, to keep it from being used as a spar for a British warship.  The Vineyard Playhouse on Church Street, built in 1833 originally as a Methodist meeting house, is home to the Island’s only year-round professional theater company.

There are scenic views all around town, with some of the most popular spots including the Tashmoo Lake overlook on State Road, the nearby Tisbury Water Works, West Chop Lighthouse, and the area around the drawbridge on Beach Road.

Nearby Amenities

In addition to its many historic landmarks, Tisbury has many excellent shops, fine restaurants, and small art galleries.  The Art Cliff Diner is a classic New England Diner serving, among other favorites, pecan pancakes with rum raisins, stuffed French toast, and sweet potato crepes.  For something upscale for dinner try La Sofitta Italian Restaurant, or the waterfront dining room at Garde East.  An how can you possibly leave Martha’s Vineyard without the famous Black Dog t-shirt for everyone back home.

The town of Tisbury is home to only about 2,000 year-round residents, with a much greater influx of tourists in the summer.  Many of Tisbury’s residents live outside of town on huge estates looking out to the ocean, often with private beach access, and drive into town for culture, community, and commerce.  If you’re one of the lucky ones who have the opportunity to buy a home in Tisbury, you’ll be able to experience the scenic beauty of Vineyard Haven, along with its local historic charm and tight-knit community all year round!