This Waterfront Massachusetts Rental Is so Stunning It Doesn’t Feel Real

Whenever I'm hunting for vacation rentals on the water, I have a short mental checklist: sliding doors or big windows that pull the view right inside, a deck or dock where I can sip my coffee while the morning's still quiet, and enough personality that the place becomes part of the trip itself. The Film Shack checks every box, and then some. One of the most spectacular waterfront rentals in Massachusetts, this five-bedroom escape (one of them a separate cabin down by the water) sits right on the shore of Tully Pond in the small town of Orange, where Tully Mountain reflects so perfectly in the glassy water you'll do a double take. It's the rare stay that feels like a destination all on its own.

A Waterfront Cottage That Doubles as an Art Installation

From the outside, The Film Shack looks like a classic New England cottage on the water, its black timber siding melting right into the pines at the pond's edge. Step inside, though, and you're somewhere else entirely.

This is the personal home of a filmmaking family and a former HGTV host, and every room is styled in a bold “Atomic Age” theme, featuring spaceship-silver metal walls, aviation and cargo-inspired furniture, and gallery walls layered with vintage posters, framed photography, and film memorabilia. More than one guest has admitted to spending the first hour simply wandering room to room, taking it all in. If you love characterful, design-forward, beautiful cabins, this one sets a high bar.

A Private Movie Theater, a Gaming Nook, and Five Themed Bedrooms

The true showstopper is the screening room. It’s a genuine mini-theater with a 75-inch smart TV, surround sound, red velvet curtains, and reclining leather seats washed in a ribbon of red LED light. There’s also a video-game room upstairs with a console and gaming chairs.

The property sleeps up to 10 guests, has two baths, and includes five bedrooms, each with its own personality. The aviation-themed primary bedroom features a king bed, while a cozy comic-book room offers a double bed. A bunk room includes two more doubles, and the Star Wars–themed kids’ room comes with twin bunks.

Then there’s the fifth bedroom, the real surprise. A separate adults-only cabin set down the path toward the pond, complete with a queen bed and walls dressed in vintage 1950s pin-up art (available for a small nightly fee). Between the main house and the cabin, there’s space for the whole crew, from group getaways to multigenerational trips to long-overdue friend reunions.

Step Outside to the Dock and the Tully Mountain View

The backyard is what makes this one of the better waterfront vacations in the state. A big deck looks straight across at Tully Mountain, and a private dock runs down to the water, where you can cast a line (you'll need a Massachusetts fishing license), lie out in the sun, or do a little sunrise yoga.

It’s a natural pond, so the water is clean but shallow and a bit weedy, and with no motorboats allowed, it stays beautifully calm. For me, that’s the appeal. It has that easygoing, childhood-summer feel—birds in the trees, kids wading in the shallows, a kayak gliding by every so often. You can take a quick dip right off the dock, but if you want a real swim, the beach at Tully Lake is only three miles away. The Tully Lake Loop and dog-friendly Tully Mountain Loop trails are also nearby.

Plan Your Stay

As a highly rated "Guest Favorite" with more than 140 reviews, this stay tends to book up fast, especially in summer and peak leaf-peeping weeks. Warm months mean long, lazy days on the water and bass fishing once the season opens; autumn delivers that classic Western Massachusetts foliage mirrored in the pond; and the wood stove turns winter snug when snow blankets the shore. Pets are welcome when added to your reservation, and there's even a family-run distillery about 14 miles north if you're up for a tasting and tour.

Between the mirror-still water, the mountain backdrop, and an interior that feels like a movie set you get to sleep in, The Film Shack is proof that some of the dreamiest waterfront towns and stays are hiding in plain sight right here in Massachusetts. If you've been quietly building a list of unique Airbnbs for your someday travels, move this one to the top, then go find out for yourself why guests keep coming back.

Ready to plan your trip? View the full Airbnb listing for rates, availability, and everything you need to know before booking one of the most memorable waterfront rentals in Massachusetts.