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OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub

Family-friendly holiday home with outdoor pool and Hot tub

Photo gallery for OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub

Front
Living Room (3rd Floor)
Sunroom (3rd Floow SW)
Laundry Room (2nd Floor)
Master bath (3rd Floor)

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
5 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Dryer

Explore the area

View map
Corolla, NC
  • Place, Corolla Beach
  • Place, Virginia Beach Boardwalk
  • Place, Sandbridge Beach

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

1st Floor full with Large Shower

Toilet · Shower only

2nd Floor King On Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2nd Floor Queen On Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2nd Floor Shared Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Outdoor Shower

Shower only

top floor half bath

Toilet

Top Floor Master On Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub

Looking for a great family vacation in the OBX 4x4 area? This house is in the sand and you MUST have a 4x4 vehicle to access this property. It is mandatory that you air down your tires to 18PSI or less. Highly recommended that you carry a shovel in your vehicle. There is a FREE rapid air fill station 1.5 miles south of the beach entrance in the historic Corolla park.

This home boasts panoramic views and amenities that will make you never want to leave. "Once Upon A Tide" is the perfect place to call home for your stay. Beautiful views of the ocean to the East, awesome views of Penny Hill to the South (NC's 2nd largest sand dune), views of the community in the distance to the North, and great sunsets over the Sound from the top deck to the West.

Linens (bed sheets and towels) are NOT PROVIDED. Each bed has pillows, a quilt, and a light blanket. If you would like linens or towels we suggest renting from Moneysworth Beach Equipment and Linen Rentals in Corolla (they deliver).

We have made major renovations since we purchased this property in 2018. This home has five bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths with plenty of room for a large family and guests.

Some of the property highlights include a private pool (12x25), 6 person hot tub, new 3 zone AC, newer Water Treatment System, stainless steel kitchen appliances, renovated kitchenette in the game room on 1st floor, extra-large washer and dryer on 2nd floor, gas grill, parkside grill next to the pool area, clothesline, flat-panel Smart TV's in every bedroom, outdoor shower, ceiling fans, outdoor furniture, outdoor screened in sitting area 2nd floor, round dining set 1st floor next to the pool, all exterior lighting, exterior doors, this list keeps going on....

For your entertainment, there is a pool table, two official cornhole sets, large DVD movie collection, books/puzzles for your family to enjoy. This property is a hot spot for the local wild horses. They like the vegetation in the yard and walk under the deck on the 1st floor.

This four-wheel-drive home is under 4 miles North of the 4x4 beach access. The house is a short easy walk across to our pristine northern beaches (approximately 500 feet). Carova is renowned for its wide, clean beaches - some of the most beautiful on the OBX.

Experience the Outer Banks the way people did years ago! No roads, no distractions, no complications - just miles of gorgeous coastline. Relax, unwind and reconnect with loved ones. Keep an eye out for wild horses grazing or dolphins playing in the surf from the colorful dolphin-watching chairs on the top floor deck!

This home is only accessible with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Most All-wheel drive vehicles are not capable of navigating the soft sand and off-road beach driving conditions. A friendly reminder to "air down" your tires to 15lbs or less. To find out more about 4x4 access and driving on the beach visit www.visitcurrituck.com/visitor-info/beach-driving-tips.

The house is dog friendly. We allow up to 2 housebroken, pre-approved breed dogs (insurance restrictions) for a $250 fee per dog. NO CATS are allowed. The house has a keyless entry front door and a RING doorbell camera.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly

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Exterior
A Stone’s Throw
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
9.6 out of 10, (14 reviews)
A Stone’s Throw

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Child gates, sleep-n-go, tamper resistant outlets
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
2 Housebroken dogs - req approval - NO CATS
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Corolla

Located in Corolla, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. Outer Banks Beaches and Currituck National Wildlife Refuge reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education and Corolla Adventure Golf and Bumper Cars. Travelling with kids? Consider Corolla Raceway and Digger's Dungeon - Home of Grave Digger. Discover the area's water adventures with snorkelling, surfing/body boarding and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours.
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Map
Corolla, NC

Getting around

  • Norfolk, VA (ORF-Norfolk Intl.) - 154 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Uncle Ike's Sandbar & Grill - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Salty Rim - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Corolla Pizza & Deli - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Cosmo's Pizzeria - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪The Beer Garden - ‬22 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is OnceUponATide - 5BR 6BA OBX 4x4 Wild Horses - Ocean View Private Pool and HotTub located?

This family-friendly Corolla holiday home is located near the beach, within 2 mi (3 km) of Outer Banks Beaches, Currituck National Wildlife Refuge and Estuarine Nature Walk. Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education and Currituck Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 27 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 27 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Anthony M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Vacation Home

Me and my Family stayed here the beach home was very clean, the host was so nice he called to make sure you got in ok made sure that the beach house was clean, and answered any questions. Same as the day we left he made sure that everything was good.We will definitely be back agian.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

jessica m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Home!!

The property manager was very accommodating and great with communication throughout the whole trip! The house was clean we loved the views and enjoyed the horse viewing from our deck. I would most definitely come back and stay. Perfect location!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susie K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

We had a wonderful vacation at OnceUponATide in June. We had 7 adults and 4 children for our stay. The house was spacious, clean, well equipped and close to the beach. We saw the wild horses almost every day and enjoyed the wrap-around porches, screened in porch, game room and lovely views. We had gorgeous weather every day and enjoyed the quiet beach. Thanks for a wonderful week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

mike f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Nice house and location. The owner has everything you need in the kitchen. The pool and hot tub are a great asset to this property. We had an issue with the washer not spinning the clothes and the owner came the next day and replaced the washer. The horses were around 4 days. I have never been to a beach house that the owner contacted you personally to ask about how your stay has been going! Thanks Tom!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Trip

We had a great stay! The kitchen is very well equipped, we cooked every meal here for a week and never needed anything. I do suggest picking up drinking water before you go to the house (either bottles or the jugs from the Ace Hardward by the beach entrance). The owners do have this in their welcome brochure, but wanted to put it here too for others to see! The pool area is perfect for relaxing, as is the hammock on the second floor. We traveled with an infant and always felt that the house was safe for them. There are baby gates provided which was great! You can walk or drive to the beach. Can't forget the horses! The whole reason we stayed here. You will see horses daily both around the house and on the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine W.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property

We enjoyed this house. It has all that we needed and more. The owners have done an outstanding job of including special touches. They were very easy to work with and super quick to respond to email or text messages. I would say that the pictures do not do the house justice. It was way better then we expected. The water pressure and temperature is the best we have had in any house we have rented in the OBX. We NEVER ran out of hot water. We would rent this house again without question. Thank you Tom and Dianne for sharing your home with us.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Courtney W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Such a great location

We loved this house. It was so clean and organized when we arrived. Had some trouble with the lock but the owner was really easy to get ahold of and we worked it out quickly. We enjoyed the closeness to the beach and the pool was perfect to hang out in. We had three kids with us under 8 and they had plenty of space to play. Outdoor shower was key after the beach so the sand stayed out of the house. Owners had games and books there and the layout of the home gave everyone privacy if they wanted to go lay down. WiFi worked with no issues! We saw the horses each morning along with the beautiful sunrise off the top deck. We will be returning next year and can’t wait to make more memories!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome

This large home is strategically laid out so multiple families can stay and still have privacy. The game room and kitchenette on the 1st floor made playing pool or enjoying the theater area perfect. The 2nd floor is laid out perfectly for 2 families, complete with 1 of the largest washers I have ever seen! The top floor had an amazing master, large seating area, huge kitchen table - we had 11 at it every day, a very well stocked kitchen, complete with a handy water cooler, and a sun room with lots of extra seating and a pull out sofa. The pool is large and easily accessible along with the outdoor shower and hot tub. This house truly has it all. 1st world problem, got stuck in the house for about an hour 1 morning as the wild horses were under the deck! This is the perfect house for any vacation!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

November S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location/dog friendly

Our stay was great. The house is in a great location...the view to the ocean is good. The top deck is perfect to sit and chill...very quiet and relaxing. The horses came by the house a couple mornings. We saw them everyday of our stay either on the beach or in the area. The house was clean. The kitchen has everything you need to make meals. The house is very dog friendly. Carpet in the living area and on the stairs was a huge plus for our dog. He does not like coming down bare indoor stairs... So having the carpet was SO nice! The beach was great... plenty of parking room. A little busier with traffic compared to farther up the beach but nothing to deter a stay in that area. It is a huge plus being only a few miles from access road. You definitely need a 4x4 vehicle! And don't forget to deflate to 20 psi. Tom was very nice to talk with and quick to resolve an issue we had with entry (our bad). Overall it was a nice time spent at OnceUponATime and I would recommend staying there.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bobby B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great First time in 4x4 Area!

We usually stay in the south beaches (Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo) and we've been wanting to stay in the 4x4 area for years. This was a great family reunion and first 4x4 trip! The house was easy to find, clean, description was accurate, and everything was great! We had family from three states converge to stay the week, with kids from 1-13 and everyone was happy and had plenty to do/play! Owner communication was excellent, especially considering we had an issue (our end) receiving the digital entry codes for check-in, but the owner responded quickly and reissued the codes. The only other problem was the water system needed to be flushed and the owners had the service tech out immediately and we were good to go! The location to the beach was fantastic for it not being ocean front. You could see the ocean and it was just a quick jaunt to get to the water. The only wish is that the trees in front of the house (actually in between the two houses in the oceanfront row) were trimmed a couple of feet to make the ocean view that much more spectacular! Of all the houses we've rented in OBX, we loved this one just as much (or more) and will definitely keep it in mind for our next trip!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Visited for a wedding at the Chesapeake but needed to bring pets.

The house was well appointed, the pool was nice and the hot tub was huge. The one child (a 4 year old) enjoyed her time tremendously as we did too. It was nice to be able to work from the top floor kitchen table and see the ocean since we were there for a wedding and the only day I took off the as the actual wedding day. There is some really nice furniture on the front porch, we loved the extra fridge in the basement! Some tips if you rent this house, bring your own coffee pot we ended up going out to get a reusable k-cup and just shared that in the Keurig coffee pot for the week since the pots built in grinder pot doesn’t grind enough coffee for a whole pot. Show up with at least 1 Primo water jug since the water in the house is very salty and the house has an amazing primo dispenser. With salty water in mind, if you don’t want salty ice, at least bring some ice trays - luckily we had our friends bring an ice maker with distilled water. Also check out on YouTube how to program the door because the directions in the package were challenging and once we set the code to 1234 by mistake we just stuck with that for the week. Every house has its quirks and the owners were very responsive with other issues we had. I wish them the best with this rental!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Location

Experience was great from the moment I booked this property. We had a truly enjoyable week and I felt reassured that if I had any issues the property owners would be there for me and my family.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Connie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome Experience!!

The property was way more than expected. Kitchen was well equipped to cook, rooms were spotless and cleaned beyond expectations, spectacular view of the ocean. The owners were more than responsive to any questions and they are top notch to say the least. I hope we can book for next year. If you love the ocean, nature and horses, pool, hot tub with an amazing house and awesome owners, this is your place to rent.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelly C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best vacation yet!!

House was perfect, location was perfect and the owners were very quick to reply to any questions we had. Would highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exceptional location, great house and uncrowded beaches

We had a great vacation staying at this property. The house was nice, especially the pool and hot tub. We were able to see horses from our hot tub and porches regularly. I was able to easily access the property and beaches with my VW Atlas (but you must have 4 wheel drive). The beach was amazing and not crowded. It was nice to be able to drive up to the beach and unload without walking forever. I would highly recommend this property for a family or group of friends looking for a chill place to relax and reconnect.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bob S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family fun on wild horse beach Corolla

Let me just start by saying this house was perfectly located a short drive to the beach or steps from the the house. The private pool was great to have after a day at the beach along with the hot tub. The views were amazing for seeing the wild horses come right up to the property. Sunsets and sun rises were also beautiful. Accomodations were for 12 which we had and had plenty of room .I would recommend this house to anyone who has a 4x4 and wants to stay on the wild horse beach. If for any reason you need to contact the owners sending a short text to them was easy and received a response back right away. I felt like these were owners who like to keep in touch with there guest if needed without hesitation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Beach Vacation- Say HI to Moose

This was our first time staying in the 4x4 area and it was a breeze! Even before the trip, Tom updated us on driving conditions and gave us pointers on getting to the house. Tom was very easy to communicate with and helpful. Plan on packing everything in, staying around the house, and enjoying the laid back atmosphere. Although it is pretty convenient to drive out if you need to. The public air down/ air up facilities can have a wait, but people were friendly and it moved quickly. The house was clean and cozy with plenty to do. There are lots of steps, which could be a concern for some. The beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space for our extended family of 9. We didn't watch much TV, but there were enough that kids and grownups could have their own space and do their own thing. The wet bar on the lower level and refrigerator were handy to have by the pool, hot tub and pool table. The pool, hot tub, and sand to play in everywhere kept us close to home with young kids but we felt like we were "at the beach" the whole time. The kitchen was the best equipped of any other rental house we've stayed at. One of the best features is the tall Adirondack chairs on the top deck. Great ocean views!! The beach is easy to walk or drive to and the parking permits are provided. Being closer to the paved road, everyone heading in or out does drive by, so there is a bit more traffic. At high tide the beach can be pretty narrow, but it wasn't crowded. We found some cool shells and sea glass beach combing. There is a lot of wildlife aside from the horses that we saw every day! Hummingbirds, osprey, egrets, and the good boy next door... Moose! Moose is a big, loveable doggo who stopped by all the houses to say hi. We enjoyed his visits. We would definitely recommend staying at Once Upon a Tide and hope to come back another time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chrissy E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highly recommend

Everything about this house was absolutely perfect. Definitely make sure you have 4WD to navigate to this house. The view, house, location, host communication will not disappoint.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heather N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible vacation

I feel horrible it’s been almost a year for me to write this review. We loved the home. Clean. Spacious. Had everything we needed and then some. Great views. And we loved being able to have our pup there. Tom, Greg is still ready to come and build you your tiki bar!!!!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Home

Great location and beautiful home! We really enjoyed our stay, the house had plenty of room and was properly updated, felt right at home...would return again!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sam & Lisa C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Beach Home with Beautiful view

This beach home was very relaxing & in a good location. The top deck had wonderful views. We loved the top deck & the colorful chairs. The pool & hot tub were very nice. Highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A beautiful view!

The home was very spacious for a family vacation. Very comfortable beds, plenty of bathrooms that had hot water for all showers after a beach day! Big and spacious screened in porch was a big plus! The pool was great for the kids. I’ve stayed on the 4x4 multiple times and this was one of my favorite rentals. One of the best views we had yet. Tom was very nice and a pleasure to talk to. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Danielle C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Family Vacation

We stayed in this home for a week in August. It was a beautiful experience. The entire family enjoyed it and we plan on coming back. Thank you to the ODonnells for being great hosts!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

HILLARY B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short 4x4 drive

Overall, property was nice and a good location. Owners are making updates to the house. The pool and hot tub are nice. Kitchen was fully stocked, which is rare to find. We would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Yuliya M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great beach house!

We stayed in this house a few years ago before the current owners bought the house and we were pleased to see that the current new owners had given this home so much love with the updates and renovations. The colorful chairs on the top deck were a hit with the kids. The house had everything we needed and more. We'll definitely be back again! Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

About the host

Hosted by Tom & Dianne O'Donnell

Host profile image
We are a family of 5 from NJ and love the beach. We bought this home in need of a lot of TLC. We really love this home and want to share it with our guests. Every improvement is made with one simple question in mind - "if we rented this house, what would we like".

Ideally, our guests love their stay and come back to visit our home year after year. We would love to see the same family coming back every year as part of our extended rental family.

Why they chose this property

The views from the top floor are great. The flow of the house works really well. The house is perfect for entertaining and has dedicated space for the kids on the 1st floor and everything adults need on the top floor. The wild horses hang around our property and we've learned that they like to snack on the vegetation in the front yard and on the side. The property is close to the "pavement" and it's a short walk to the beach.

We knew we had to have a nice size pool and a hot tub. As a bonus, there is a swing set in the backyard for the little ones. Our goal is to improve the property every year in the off-season, so our returning guests have something new to look forward to.

We take pride in making our home a great vacation house for our guests!

What makes this property unique

The house is very spacious and has a great flow. The wild horses like to visit this property. The outdoor living spaces are very nice and the house has all the amenities you would expect.
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