Photo: Carter Wentworth

Opened as the "Seguinland" in June, 1904, the inn was built by Walter Reid, who later gave another parcel of his estate to become Reid State Park. The inn is believed to be the last classic "shingle-style" hotel still in operation on the Maine coast. In wonderfully original condition, it has been altered only enough to bow to modern ideas of comfort, with baseboard heat and plenty of bathrooms. In 1904, there were two baths for 26 guest-rooms.

We have deepwater anchorage, our own dock -- from which a guest caught a three pound flounder with a handline -- and as staggering a view of islands, lighthouses, harbor, bay, and open ocean as there is on earth.

The lobster boats haul their traps a few feet off our rocks. You can paddle over to an island nature preserve in our guest canoe or walk through a lovely Audubon sanctuary down the road.

Reid Park's spectacular cliffs and beaches are close by, as is the tiny village of Five Islands (with, reputedly, the best lobster in Maine) where you can rent boats and eat clams and lobsters on the fisherman's dock.

Quiet Georgetown Island is in the heart of the Mid-Coast. The important Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Boothbay Harbor's boat tours, Wiscasset's antique shops, Freeport's famous outlet center (and LL Bean), Bowdoin College's art museums, and a hundred other lovely destinations are a short drive away.

The big porch -- half of it screened -- wraps the inn on three sides. There you can watch the sun rise, eat your breakfast or just mark the tides all day long.

To the beautiful old "lounge" with its enormous rock fireplace and original 12-foot picture window (brought down from Rockland on an ice barge, it was the biggest piece of glass in Maine in 1904), we've added lots of good books, games, and music -- Bach to Gershwin. Most of our furnishings are antiques of a comfy "cottagey" sort.

Nearly all our rooms look on the water. Four are turret rooms with spectacular 180° views of the ocean.

Always included in the price of your room is that nice old Maine breakfast tradition: hot homemade blueberry muffins and breads, fresh fruit, cereals, juice, coffee and tea -- all you want.

A small but well-stocked bar is open to inn guests in the evening. Selections from our wine list are always available, as are soft drinks, coffee, tea, and ice.

On the National Register of Historic Places

Photos: Tiffany Dumas

© 2010 The Grey Havens Inn