Historic Borden Retreat: 6BR|Hot Tub|Sauna|Pets OK

Galveston, US

Sleeps 16 · 6 bedrooms · 6 baths

About this place

Historic 6BR/5.5BA Galveston compound located on the Gail Borden farm site in the Kempner Park neighborhood. The 1895 Borden House & 2023 Carriage House sleeps 16. 8+ vehicle parking. Private hot tub • Wet/dry sauna • Pets stay free • Level 2 EV charger Ideal for large families, corporate offsites, church & academic retreats, group vacations, and reunions. You are 6 blocks from the beach and a short drive from the Strand. Need fewer bedrooms? See our Borden House or Carriage House listings. The Space This listing is both homes on one fenced lot: the historic 4-bedroom Gail Borden House (renovated 2023) and the new 2-bedroom Carriage House (built 2023). Each home has its own kitchen, living room, and entrance. You book the entire property. Step Inside • Gail Borden House living room with a grand piano • Classic front porch swing • Upstairs Living Room/Game Room with board games & poker table • Full kitchen with premium appliances in each house • Bathrooms with soaking tubs and walk-in showers • Carriage House with two ensuite bedrooms and a modern kitchen • Three living rooms, so the group can split when you want quiet Step Outside • Fully fenced resort-style backyard shared by both homes • 6-person hot tub • 8-person wet/dry sauna • Outdoor shower after the beach • Gas grill and fire pit • Two patio seating areas plus a high-top table Sleeping arrangements (sleeps up to 16) Gail Borden House (4 bedrooms) Bedroom 1 (First Floor): Queen bed with ensuite bath Bedroom 2 (Upstairs): Queen bed Bedroom 3 (Upstairs): Queen bed Bedroom 4 (Upstairs): Two twin beds Upstairs living area: Queen sleeper sofa + Air mattress available on request Carriage House (2 bedrooms) Bedroom 5: Queen bed Bedroom 6: Queen bed Living room: Queen sleeper sofa Work & Stay Connected • Fast WiFi in both homes • Dedicated workspace • Level 2 EV charger in the driveway This stay fits large families, reunions, corporate offsites, church and academic groups, and multi-generational trips. Well-behaved dogs are welcome — up to 2 total. Your hosts, Terry, Alma, and Eduardo, are Galveston locals. They reply fast and a digital guidebook lists restaurants, beaches, walking tours, and island tips. Extended Stay Bonuses We love longer visits and reward them: 7+ nights: $25 gift card to Mario's Ristorante (per guest) 14+ nights: $50 gift card to Rudy & Paco (per guest) Need a Different Size? • 2–6 guests who want a standalone cottage: see the Borden Carriage House • 2 Ensuite bedrooms inside the historic house: see the Borden Ensuites • Up to 12 guests who want only the historic house: book the Borden House Pets Welcome Up to 2 well-behaved dogs stay free. They can use the fully fenced backyard. Please read our pet rules before you book. Peace of Mind Booking during hurricane season? We have you covered. If the National Hurricane Center issues a Tropical Storm Watch or Hurricane Warning for Galveston County within 7 days of your arrival, contact us. You can: • Move your stay to new dates within 12 months, based on availability. Every payment you made, including your deposit, moves to the new reservation. • Get a full refund of what you paid (Airbnb processing fees are not included). This only applies to a watch or warning issued within 7 days of arrival. Long-range forecasts often change. For any other cancel or weather issue, the standard Airbnb policy applies. Registration Number: GVR-09307 What’s Included • The entire property — both homes and the shared backyard • Gail Borden House (4 bedrooms) and Carriage House (2 bedrooms) • Both full kitchens and both living rooms • Fenced backyard with hot tub, sauna, outdoor shower, grill, and fire pit • Private driveway parking for 6+ vehicles • Level 2 EV charger What’s Not Included This is the combined booking. You receive both homes. Other Borden listings are not rented separately while you have the Retreat. Check-In Check-in is self-service at both homes. You will get smart lock codes and instructions before you arrive. Driveway Note The property sits on a one-way street. Arrival notes will show the right way to reach the double-wide driveway and the Carriage House parking area. Our level of interaction is up to you. We are always available through the Airbnb App, text or a call away! Borden Retreat sits in Galveston’s Kempner Park / Midtown Historic District — two homes on one fenced lot. Quiet streets, historic homes, and a short walk to parks make this a calm base for a large-group beach trip. You are minutes from the Seawall, Pleasure Pier, The Strand, UTMB, Moody Gardens, and many restaurants. Distances Beach: About 6 blocks (10-minute walk) Historic Pleasure Pier: About a 15-20-minute walk The Strand (shopping, dining, nightlife): About a 5-minute drive Restaurants and bars within half a mile: Brick House, The Spot, and others Getting There Galveston is about a 1-hour drive from downtown Houston via I-45 South. The closest major airport is Houston Hobby (HOU), about 50 minutes away. George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) is about 75–90 minutes away. Your exact address is shared after booking, and smart-lock self check-in means no meet-up is needed on arrival. Major Annual Events Galveston hosts festivals and events all year. Here are some of the biggest: Winter Galveston Museum Weekend — January Mardi Gras! Galveston — February (Texas's largest Mardi Gras celebration) Spring FeatherFest — April (birding and nature photography festival) Galveston Historic Homes Tour — May (guided tours of private historic homes) Summer Juneteenth Festival & Celebration — June Galveston Island Steampunk Festival — June Galveston Restaurant Week — dates vary by season Fall Galveston Island Shrimp Festival — September ARToberFEST — October (fine arts festival in the historic downtown arts district) Galveston Island Greek Festival — October Winter Holidays Dickens on The Strand — December (Victorian-era holiday festival) The Polar Express Train Ride at the Galveston Railroad Museum — mid-November through late December Parking Private off-street parking for 6+ vehicles in the double-wide driveway and the dedicated Carriage House parking area. A Level 2 EV charger is in the driveway. The property sits on a one-way street; arrival notes show the correct approach. On Foot The neighborhood is easy to walk. The beach is about 6 blocks away (about a 10-minute walk). Parks, coffee shops, and several restaurants are close. By Car The Strand is about a 5-minute drive (1.5 miles). Uber and Lyft are easy to find. The Island Trolley runs in peak season. Is this pet-friendly? YES Up to 2 well-behaved dogs are welcome with no pet fee. The fenced backyard gives pets room to roam safely. Are all the home's bedrooms included in this listing? YES This listing includes the 6 bedrooms, 3 with a private ensuite bath, in both Bordon House and Carriage House. The other 2 bedrooms are locked and reserved for guests booking the full Borden House. What outdoor amenities are included? A Sundance 6-person hot tub, a Redwood Outdoors 8-person wet/dry sauna, an outdoor shower, a Vision gas grill, a fire pit, and a fully fenced, mud-free synthetic turf yard. What if there's a tropical storm or hurricane watch? If a tropical storm watch or hurricane warning is issued for Galveston County within 7 days of arrival, flexible rescheduling is available. Full details are in the cancellation policy. Traveling with a bigger group or want a fully separate space? Ask about the standalone Borden Carriage House, the full 4-bedroom Borden House (up to 12 guests), or the Borden Retreat (up to 16 guests) — all at the same address. Neighborhood The home sits on a quiet one-way street in Kempner Park. It is a safe, established Galveston neighborhood with historic houses and tree-lined streets. History The house stands on the original farm site of Gail Borden Jr. It was remodeled for modern comfort while keeping its 1895 character. What’s Nearby • Beach: about a 10-minute walk (6 blocks) • The Strand: about a 5-minute drive (1.5 miles) • Restaurants and parks: a few blocks away Good to Know • Quiet hours: 10 PM – 8 AM • No smoking indoors • Exterior security cameras on the property perimeter • Carbon monoxide and smoke alarms throughout

Availability

Next available: 2026-09-16.

From $710/night (2 nights minimum).

Open dates in the next 60 days:

2026-09-16 to 2026-09-17 (2 nights)
2026-09-20 to 2026-09-21 (2 nights)
2026-10-13 to 2026-10-13 (1 night)
2026-10-26 to 2026-10-30 (5 nights)
2026-11-03 to 2026-11-03 (1 night)
2026-11-09 to 2026-11-09 (1 night)

Check availability and book

Good to know

Check-in: 16:00
Check-out: 11:00

House rules

1. If you are local and/or under the age of 23, please notify us before making your reservation. 2. Guests acknowledge that they will keep their noise level to a minimum after 10:00 PM; please be respectful of the neighbors. 3. Large parties, loud gatherings, or disruptive events are strictly prohibited. Unapproved events may result in cancellation of the reservation. 4. Events are allowed with prior approval. We welcome small, calm gatherings such as baby showers, family birthdays, and similar events. However, all events must be pre-approved in advance. Please provide details, including the number of guests and duration, for consideration. 5. Guests are responsible for ensuring all approved event attendees respect house rules and neighborhood quiet hours. 6. Guests must report within 2 hours of arrival if anything regarding cleanliness does not meet their standards so we can address the situation as quickly as possible. 7. NO SMOKING or use of fire is permitted in the rental. Guests acknowledge that “no smoking” includes the use of vape pens and marijuana, and “use of fire” includes lighting candles, incense, or sage. There will be a $200 charge per day of the reservation if this rule is not followed. 8. There cannot be more than the allowed number of overnight guests in or on the property at any time. Violations may result in the immediate removal of all guests without a refund. Visitors are allowed but may not stay overnight. 9. A late check-out fee of $50 (if not authorized) applies for check-outs after 11:00 AM. We apologize for this policy, but our housekeepers are scheduled based on the agreed checkout time and must still be paid if delays occur. 10. Please close and lock all windows and doors when you check out and leave the property. 11. Guests who make reservations for over 30 days must sign our standard lease agreement and agree to a background check before check-in (this will be provided prior to arrival). 12. As part of our commitment to maintaining a clean and comfortable environment, we require a midterm cleaning for reservations lasting 30 days or longer. This cleaning will take place on the 15th day of your stay and is mandatory to ensure continued cleanliness and hygiene of the property. 13. The cleaning fee for the mandatory mid-stay clean will be deducted from your security deposit or processed through Airbnb Resolution Center if booked via Airbnb. 14. This is a pet-friendly property! We’re happy to host your pet, but please review the following additional rules: 14.1 A $75 pet fee will be applied per stay. 14.2 Pets must be disclosed at the time of booking and added to your reservation so the applicable fee can be applied. 14.3 We are unable to host cats or dog breeds deemed aggressive, per our insurance policy. 14.4 No more than TWO (2) animals are allowed. 14.5 Pets are not allowed on furniture, and guests must clean up after their pets (doggy bags are provided). 14.6 Do not leave your pet unattended unless crated. 15. Excessively dirty units will incur an additional cleaning fee, supported by photo documentation. 16. For your security and protection, the property is equipped with exterior cameras. 17. Guests who fail to arrive for their reservation, for any reason, will be considered no-shows. No-shows are non-refundable, and no credits, reschedules, or exceptions will be provided under any circumstances. 18. Please remember to take all of your belongings upon checkout. Any items left behind will incur a $25 mailing fee (separate from postage). We will do our best to return items within one week. 19. If failure to follow any of our rules results in us having to refund or discount an upcoming or current guest, you will be held liable for those costs. 20. If you are a previous or current guest who did not respect our house rules and/or property, we reserve the right to decline future reservations. Thank you for your understanding.