Beautiful Upstairs Suite in The Historic Firehouse At 5th Ave. & Castle St. - Vacation rental home in Wilmington, NC

About this Property

• Sleeps 6
• 2 Bedrooms
• 1 Bathrooms
• Apartment
• Approximately 1709 square feet

This one of a kind property is really the way to experience historic Wilmington. Note: this is a second story unit without an elevator; the unit is not handicapped accessible; you must be able to climb stairs to access the unit.

In April 1915, Engine Company 2 began operation at 5th and Castle Streets. Their new station housed six men, two horses, and a two-horse hose wagon. Designed by local architect James F. Gause, Jr., the Italianate structure also housed a bell relocated from the corner of 4th and Dock Streets. The bell sounded alarms until the last fire horse was retired in 1918. In 1956, Engine 2 relocated to the new Headquarters Station on Dock Street. Downstairs is our handsome Station No. 2 venue. No events are held while you are staying upstairs in the Firehouse Suite.

Once the bunk home to the firemen, this cavernous second floor apartment with open floor plan, has newly undergone an amazing remodel. The gracious apartment is 1709 square feet of light & luxury. Decorated by an acclaimed designer, with understated historic detail throughout, this unique and very enormous space combines comfort and privacy with a refreshingly hip style.

The unit offers 14 foot ceilings, wood floors, exposed brick walls, concrete counter-tops, stainless steel appliances along with alluring furnishings and finishes. Original art work hangs in every room, including most pieces by renown local artists.

This is a pet-friendly building. (Those with severe allergies should consider a different rental.) We ask that family pets are kept off of the furnishings. There is a pet fee.

The living room offers quality and luxury including a huge flat screen T.V. with DVD, calming seating for your group and a dining area sizable enough to seat 10 comfortably. Reading nook in the tower and an office set up for those who still have to get work done.

The Firehouse is charmingly located at the gateway to the Castle Street Art & Antique District. Appreciate the Saturday Peddlers Market while perusing unique antique stores, vintage clothiers, retro furnishings, wine stores, art galleries and eateries.

Only a few blocks further you can savor the activity and excitement of historic downtown Wilmington after a peaceful nighttime’s sleep in the historic Castle Street Firehouse located 5 blocks from the waterfront. You can take a handsome walk through the gorgeous historic homes or jump on the District Trolley which will pick you up at the corner or 5th and Castle. The location is convenient to everything downtown Wilmington has to offer: Thalian Hall, The Brooklyn Arts Center, casual to fine dining, hip coffee homes, art galleries, elegant county library, horse drawn carriage rides, Stores of Old Wilmington or the Cotton Exchange, historic tours, Screen Gems Studio tours, Ghosts of Wilmington Tour, haunted pub crawls, Wilmington’s Farmer’s Market (April – December), the Azalea Festival (April), Riverfest (October) and the NC Battleship. PPD, Cape Fear Community College and the new convention center are within simple walking distance. You can experience the nighttime life, then walk a couple of blocks back to the apartment and spend a safe and peaceful evening in your elegantly furnished unit. If you have a car, there is an abundance of complimentary on-street parking . No need to pay for parking.

About the Area

Located in Wilmington, this apartment is in the city center. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. Children's Museum of Wilmington and Greenfield Lake Park and Gardens are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.

Special Instructions

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Know Before you Go

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Pet Policy

2 total pets

Strategies to get the optimal vacation property experience:

When to visit Wilmington & When to reserve a rental home:

• In the Cape Fear area area, The sooner your group can reserve a vacation rental, the better your selection will be. The best vacation rentals are reserved very early. Reserving your rental up to 12 months before your vacation is recommended. Winter holidays are excellent times to plan and reserve your rental.
• Summer is the most expensive season in the Cape Fear area area. To find the most suitable vacation home within budget, we suggest booking in the Fall or Spring shoulder seasons. You'll enjoy lower rates, greater selection, beautiful weather and the absence of large crowds at the beach and popular Cape Fear area attractions. Speaking of the off-season, don't overlook Winter holidays for a Cape Fear area vacation! Who wouldn't love a holiday vacation near the ocean? Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years Eve are great times to gather with family and friends at the beach.
• Some property managers offer discounts for active duty military and veterans. Ask your property manager if special offers are available for your family.
• Management companies and individual rental owners often offer guests an option to obtain trip insurance. Trip insurance, which will generally cost 1% - 5% of the stay price, offers visitors reimbursement of their vacation costs for any days missed as a result of medical-related issues or weather, as well as ensuing additional evacuation costs or charges, such as an unexpected hotel overnight or additional gasoline expenses. Trip insurance can be a a life-saver if the unforeseen happens. Ask your property manager for program terms and fees.
• Look for your local Cape Fear area visitors guide when you check-in. If your rental doesn't have a copy, you can find them at local grocery stores and visitor centers. In addition to great information, travel guide magazines contain discounts for local tours, shops, and attractions.

Choosing the perfect vacation home in the Cape Fear area area:

• Select your dates and budget.
• Determine how many beds and the configuration your family needs. Beautiful Upstairs Suite in The Historic Firehouse At 5th Ave. & Castle St. has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms.
• Precise descriptions of bedrooms and bed counts & types is regularly accessible online. If you don't see them listed, reach out to the host before you book the vacation property. Remember that most property listings specify the maximum guest capacity, which typically includes pull out couches in living rooms.
• Some properties allow pets, but others don't. Allowable types of pet, weight and breeds may be restricted, and added costs may apply. Ask your host about allowable breeds and types before booking.
• Are you visiting for a single event? If so, use a map search to find nearby properties.
• Appropriate accessibility amenities can make or break a vacation for guests that require the use of a wheelchair. Remember to confirm all required amenities are available and included before booking

Considerations for your stay:

• Add the owner's contact info to your smartphone. Understand and take a copy of arrival/departure procedures.
• Ask questions. You may need instructions for a fireplace, television set or coffee maker. Contact your property manager. They are there to help! A brief text message prevents quite a few concerns.
• Protect the rental owner (and your things!) by keeping the rental locked up when you are out, just like you would at home.
• To make sure that damages aren't attributed to your family's stay, make note of any problem areas when you arrive. Call the host immediately to report any pre-existing damages. If there is a dispute, having the recorded problems and contact attempts will be useful.
• Be respectful. Often, nearby homes are filled by local residents. Respecting quiet hours and parking policies is the right thing to do.
• Speaking of neighbors... Ask a local! Neighbors can typically help you find the best spots in town. Who better to ask where to get the best breakfast in town, have a great night out, or the best spots for BBQ?
• Re-check the vacation property to make sure that you've packed everything at check-out. Re-check garages, decks, and cabinets for hidden items. Clean the refrigerator and take any leftovers home.
• Please make sure to walk through the rental one final time and look for any damage. We recommend walking through with the host whenever you can (often this isn't possible). If the manager is not available, ensure that you take video and pictures of the rental to record its condition.
• After your trip, leave feedback! Hosts rely on excellent feedback to stimulate more reservations. They'll be grateful for your review. Alternatively, if something went awry, other vacationing families will appreciate that you share your review and help them have the best future vacation. Please be fair with your feedback If something fell short of expectations, consider whether the manager could control the issue, and if so, whether they responded reasonably to solve it.