Clingstone: The Charming 105-year-old House Surrounded by Water
The coastal state of Rhode Island hosts a wide range of sightseeing spots, that could make even the most stressed tourists relax and forget about their worries. Besides the amazing view, the coast hosts an unique sightseeing objective known as “The house on the rock.”
Built over 100 years ago, Clingstone is a massive cottage style mansion, with an impressive surface of 10,000 square-feet.
At the beginning of the 1900s, J. S. Lovering Wharton took advantage of the fort enlargement nearby Jamestown. So, he intended to build a house, where no one could bother him.
Even though the publication The Philadelphia Press, as well as locals, stated that “Mr. Wharton will not stay in the house more than one season,” they were quite wrong. Not only did the owner build a huge house covering the entire surface of a small island, but he also lived there each summer until 1938, when he passed away.
During the same year, a massive hurricane hit the entire Rhode Island coast and destroyed a considerable amount of buildings in the area. Clingstone, however, was among the lucky houses, as there was no major damage to it. Then, Wharton’s wife took care of the house until her last day, in 1941.
But the treasure remained in the family. Twenty years later, the architect Henry Wood purchased the house for only $3,500. Henry Wood, who used to live in Boston, was a distant cousin of the Wharton family. At the time of the purchase, the house was dramatically damaged by local vandals, who sometimes went there to have fun. Still, there is one interesting thing that was kept even after all these decades: many marbles covering the interior shingles at the second floor.
Another sign that reminds tourists of the wide history of Clingstone, lays on a ladder close to the roof. The cautionary sign says “No entry after 3 drinks or 86 years of age.” In fact, the original message referred to 80 year old people, but it was later changed by Henry Wood because a weekend worker at the house was 84 years old.
The worker wasn’t the only person welcomed at the house, though. From boat companies renting the space to special guests or weekend workers, the 23 rooms still are often occupied by visitors and locals. As for Wood’s two wives, the first one immediately fell in love with the house, just like his three children. But the second wife was not having warm feeling toward the hose.
Today, every visitor who spends some time on the Rhode Island coast, hears about “the house on the rock:” a charming construction surrounded by sparkling water.
Visitor update (October 2026): Clingstone is a private residence and is not open to the public. Do not land on the island, approach the house, or enter without the owner’s permission. Some sightseeing boats pass the house; those cruises do not provide access to it. Check the operator’s current itinerary.
Inside Clingstone, the house on a rock.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Clingstone, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
- Access
- Clingstone is a privately owned island home, not a public visitor attraction. Newport Sailing School and Tours currently lists Clingstone among sights on its Newport harbor/bay sails. The boat trip views the home from the water; it does not offer landing or entry. Check the operator’s current route and departure before booking, and do not approach or land on the island without the owners’ permission.
- Admission
- There is no public admission to the private house. Newport Sailing School and Tours separately advertises a 75-minute group sail for $60 per person (May–November); this is the boat-trip price, not an entry fee or Clingstone-specific tour ticket. Confirm the current fare and sailing date on the operator’s booking page.
- Time needed
- No house visit or house-specific visit duration is available. The current Newport Sailing group day sail lasts 75 minutes overall and lists Clingstone among the sights; the operator does not state how long the boat pauses near the house.
- Best season
- The private house has no published visitor season. Newport Sailing lists sightseeing sails from May through November; that is the operator’s sailing season, not an opening season for the house.
- Opening hours
- No public opening hours apply to the private house. Newport Sailing lists seasonal boat departures, including group day-sail slots at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00 and 17:30; verify the selected date and route with the operator.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-27
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