Visit Whimsical Gingerbread Cottages in Martha’s Vineyard
Photo by depositphotos.com
Oak Bluffs’ charming gingerbread cottages are one of Martha’s Vineyard’s most beloved attractions. Constructed in the mid-1800s by a group of Methodists who had long held tent camp meetings in the area, the cottages feature vibrant paint, delicate filigree, and flourishes such as hearts. Visitors can take a walking tour that showcases the cottages, visit a cottage-themed museum, or rent a gingerbread cottage for a summer getaway.
In the 19th century, the religious camp meeting movement swept North America. A Methodist preacher named Jeremiah Pease found half an acre of land in Oak Bluffs and pitched a tent that served as a makeshift tabernacle. As the 20th century approached, cottage owner J.W. Hoyt oversaw the construction of a cast iron tabernacle to replace the tent that still stands today. The stately tabernacle—which allows for panoramic outdoor views and plenty of natural light—hosts religious services and cultural events.
Photo by depositphotos.com
If you’re a lover of all things whimsical, consider paying a visit to the Flying Horses Carousel which is located a short distance from the gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs. Constructed in 1876 and adorned with the manes and tails of real horses, the Flying Horses Carousel is billed as America’s oldest platform carousel. The Flying Horses Carousel features a replica of a calliope—which once provided the soundtrack for the spinning horses—and murals of vintage ships. Coney Island enthusiasts love that the Flying Horses Carousel spent its first 8 years of operation at New York’s most celebrated amusement park.
Strolling among gingerbread houses and taking a spin on a vintage flying horse is sure to awaken your sweet tooth. Back Door Donuts is a beloved Oak Bluffs bakery that dates back to 1948. In the 1970s, Old Stone Bakery—as Back Door Donuts was known at the time—started a “back door” tradition where patrons could knock on the bakery’s door in the dead of night and request a sweet treat before sunrise. Thus, the Back Door Donuts tradition was born—and continues to thrive to this day.
Martha’s Vineyard is often considered an elite vacation spot for the wealthiest among us. Oak Bluffs is a sweet, whimsical corner of Martha’s Vineyard that is accessible to everyone. If you’re searching for a wholesome getaway where you can spend the night in a gingerbread cottage, ride on a flying horse, and eat a sweet treat at the stroke of midnight—a trip to Martha’s Vineyard is an absolute must.
Address:
62 Trinity Park,
Oak Bluffs,
MA 02557,
United States
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UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Wesleyan Grove / Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association campground, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts — with separate nearby Carousel and bakery stops
- Access
- The main attraction is the 34-acre Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association (MVCMA) Campground/Wesleyan Grove. Visitors may walk its roads and paths and photograph cottages from public walkways during the day. The cottages are private homes: do not enter yards, porches, or interiors. The Cottage Museum is the public way to see a cottage interior; MVCMA also offers scheduled guided walks. The Flying Horses Carousel and Back Door Donuts are separate Oak Bluffs stops, not inside the campground.
- Admission
- Walking the campground and viewing cottage exteriors from its roads and paths is free. MVCMA’s Cottage Museum lists admission at $3 for adults, 50¢ for ages 3–12, and free under age 3. Its public guided campground walk lists $15 per person, free for children 12 and under, with a museum pass included; verify the current season’s tour dates before going. Carousel rides and food purchases are separate and are not included in campground access.
- Time needed
- No duration is published for an independent campground stroll. MVCMA’s guided walking tour lasts about 1½ hours. The one-day 2026 Gingerbread Cottage Tour recommended 2–2½ hours, but that event (July 9, 2026) has passed; entry to private cottage interiors is not generally available. Allow separate time for the carousel and bakery if adding them.
- Best season
- For scheduled public programming, July and August are the MVCMA’s main season; its public/group guided walks run in those months. The campground itself is open to visitors year-round for daytime exterior viewing. Grand Illumination is an annual August event; the 2026 date was August 19, and the next date should be checked with MVCMA rather than assumed.
- Opening hours
- The campground is available year-round for daytime visits and photography from roads and walkways; private yards and porches are not visitor areas. MVCMA’s Cottage Museum is open Memorial Day weekend through mid-October: Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 1–4 p.m. Public/group guided walks are Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. in July and August; private tours are by appointment May–October. Back Door Donuts separately lists its front bakery Mon/Thu–Sun 8 a.m.–2 p.m. (closed Tue–Wed) and its back door Wed–Sun 7–11 p.m. Confirm each schedule before travel.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-01
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