Entire home

'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse

Photo gallery for 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse

Front of House
Porch View
Kitchen entrance
Front porch
Beach stairs

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
8 bedrooms6+ bathroomsSleeps 16371.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Parking available

Explore the area

Map
North Brooklin, ME
  • Acadia National Park
    ‪65 min drive‬
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center
    ‪66 min drive‬
  • Cadillac Mountain
    ‪80 min drive‬
  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪53 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

8 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Blue Twin Bedroom 7

2 Single Beds

Four Post Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Granny's Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Mustard Twin Bedroom 8

2 Single Beds

Violet Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Violet Twin Bedroom 6

2 Single Beds

YellowBedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

6 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Blue Twin Bathroom 6

Toilet · Shower only

Four Post Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Granny's Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Jetted bathtub

Half Bathroom 7

Toilet

Master Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Violet Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Yellow Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse

This 1800's beautifully renovated farmhouse features 8 bedrooms, 6 1/2 bathrooms and a gourmet country kitchen with a 36" gas stove, in-island electric oven, 2 refrigerators, ice maker, wine cooler and more. In addition the house is equipped with Wi-Fi, cable television, washer dryer and VCR and DVD library. Sitting on 35 acres overlooking Blue Hill Bay, it is just a short walk or drive, (800 ft.), to a private beach for sunning, beach combing, swimming, kayaking and boating (mooring available). The house is completely updated and charmingly furnished and is ideal for multi-family vacations. Located just 15 miles from historic Blue Hill and 40 miles from Acadia National Park.

Property manager

Bill Gray

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 40
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
NO smoking in the house, smoking allowed outside.
The VRBO Cancellation Policy does NOT reflect the current policy. See the Rental Agreement for details.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Brooklin

Located in North Brooklin, a neighbourhood in Brooklin, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. The Blue Hill Wine Shop and Edgar M. Tennis Preserve are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park and Barred Island Preserve. Blue Hill Books and The Barnacle are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
North Brooklin, ME

What's nearby

  • Haystack Mountain School of Crafts - 43 min drive - 34.6 km
  • Acadia National Park - 65 min drive - 64.7 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 66 min drive - 67.3 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching - 70 min drive - 70.0 km
  • Cadillac Mountain - 80 min drive - 77.3 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Morning Moon Cafe - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪El El Frijoles - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Lookout-Restaurant - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Sleigh Bell Shoppe and Lobster Crate - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Cave - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse located?

Located in North Brooklin, this holiday home is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) from Friend Memorial Public Library and within 9 miles (15 km) of Wooden Boat School and Deer Isle Bridge. Jonathan Fisher House and Blue Hill Books are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Paul C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Big Fun at the Big House
This was the best VRBO we have ever booked. It was huge, but we have rented huge places before. The difference here was in the tasteful, homelike quality of the rooms, bathrooms, furnishings and decor, and the vast amount of stuff that we had access to, from kids toys and books, to beach chairs and towels, and with more provided paper goods and linens/towels than any other place we have been. The house is an antique and charming, with a great front porch for rocking small children, and the backyard has a well equipped dining patio plus a vast expanse of soft green grass for kids and adults to play on. We used it for large dinner parties, wiffle ball games and special nights with conversation and music around the massive fire ring. The beach across the street was beautiful and good for swimming at high tide and strolling at low tide. The host, Bill Gray, was helpful and accommodating without being intrusive. It is rare that I have not found something missing in a rental-but the Big House lacked nothing you could possibly need in the large kitchen and usually was there in multiple versions (two fridges, two sinks, tons of cookware, tableware and cutlery). We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Larry B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous Family Vacation
Our entire family of 6 adults and 4 children absolutely loved this property!! The house is huge and spacious and extremely well furnished. There is everything you could ever want for a larger gathering! The backyard and fire pit were great in the evenings for roasting marshmallows and enjoying the great night air. It is a short walk to the beach and the kids found the shoreline to be very enjoyable. The owner is very responsive and extremely nice. We would recommend this property to anyone looking for a wonderful Maine vacation!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Timothy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Gathering
We had a great time staying at the Big House for a large multigenerational family gathering. The back yard was huge and tailor made cookouts and lawn games.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harris M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Reunion
A very enjoyable stay at the Big House for our 2024 Family Reunion, family from ME, CO, WI, TX and Finland. Highly recommend the Big House!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jc C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Returning again and again
Our hosts at the Big House are always welcoming and helpful. The house is very clean and well equipped. We love the location and the beautiful grounds. We always take a nice walk over to the ocean to enjoy the beauty of that spot.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

John R M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Reunion
It was a perfect week with our extended family.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melody B., Boardman usa

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The best house i ever stayed at.
Amazing
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexis F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful Vacation!
We had a wonderful stay at The Big House! Bill and Cathy were great hosts and their beautifully kept home was spacious enough to accommodate our family of 16 yet super cozy! The kids loved exploring the house and playing in the enormous backyard. There are books for everyone and games to keep the little ones happy. The trip to the oh-so-lovely beach across the road was perfect for the in-between trips to Acadia National Park and other local hiking trails. The kitchen was equipped with all the appliances and pots and pans we needed to make breakfast and several at home dinners (great stove!). All in all, a wonderful place to stay. We had a great time and can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Russell K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
DownEast Family Reunion
We loved our stay at The Big House for our 5 families to get together and enjoy favorite spots on MDI as well as amazing places on the Blue Hill/Deer Isle peninsula. The rooms were perfect for the grandparents and the 4 families whose children include teenagers, preschoolers, and infants. The common rooms were large enough for all to play games, share meals, and hang out together. The kitchen is large and very well equipped with everything needed and beyond. The house itself is huge, as is the property that surrounds it, plus it has a private shoreline down a path across Bay Road, which was a perfect spot for kayaking. Bill and Cathy Gray are wonderful and gracious hosts that are willing to help with any needs. They have restored this wonderful 19th Century home in a tasteful fashion, with all the modern conveniences, but still embracing its original charm and period architecture. You will not be disappointed with this unique and special place.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniela O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family reunion
We had a great time discovering the beauty of Acadia National park with our reunited families from 3 different countries❤️♥️. The Big House was perfect for all of us, very well stocked with everything you’d need to feel like home! Bill and Cathy were wonderful hosts and we’d love to return sometimes in the fall. Thank you for sharing your home with us !
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeananne G., Topsfield, Ma USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Reunion and Celebration of Life
We recently gathered as a family at The Big House to celebrate my mother’s life. The Big House is the perfect home to host a large family gathering. Plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone as well as common areas for everyone to gather. We especially enjoyed the large kitchen which is very well stocked and allowed us to prepare meals for our group of 18.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jc C., Tucson, Arizona

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Returned Again!
We are a group of 10 friends who vacation together in Maine every July for a week. We just finished our 8th stay at the Big House. We love coming back every year to the always clean, always welcoming home. We all have our private bedrooms and private bathrooms. There's a front porch with great rockers and a private back patio. We even have room for a full croquet court. This is a great getaway for us, and we always appreciate the hospitality of our hosts!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maryann H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Big Great House
This house was perfect for our annual family vacation: me, my 3 children, 2 daughter-in laws, a granddaughter and her husband, an adult grandson, and 3 "littles" The house gave us lots of room, comfy beds, a closet full of games, a huge back yard, and a front porch that became the adult hang out with rocking chairs for all. Bill and Cathy Gray couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. We had easy access to the bay, and relatively short drives to Acadia, Bar Harbor, and exploring in general. I would rate this house as one of my top three vacations, and sincerely hope to visit there again. Maybe in early fall to see the trees changing?
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place to get away!
This house was perfect for our family getaway. It is better stocked than any other rental property that we've ever stayed at and we travel alot. We loved the original style of this old house and the many staircases kept everyone in their own space which was an added bonus. Wish we could've stayed longer.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Donald G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Home away from home.
We the Big House to be amazing. It was big enough to accommodate our family. We found it to be peaceful and restful. We liked the large front porch and the large backyard. It served as a good base for exploring the Blue Hill peninsula and Acadia.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome Family Vacation Home
From the moment we arrived we were charmed by this old but very well kept home. The kitchen was awesome with plenty refrigerator, storage and prep space. It had everything we needed and then some. So spacious, there was plenty room for privacy when wanted. Fit our family of 13, 3 generations including 5 children, perfectly. Plenty parking. Although a little far from Acadia, it was very doable. The proximity to typical Maine attractions, fresh lobster for purchase at a great price, restaurants and groceries in Blue Hill, and the beaches across the street and in the area left little need to venture far unless we really wanted to. Loved every minute of our time there, especially the one lazy day spent reading in a front porch rocker.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Make a little magic!
My wife and I rented the Big House to bring us together with our three children and their spouses and our seven grandchildren. Everyone, especially the kids, loved it from the moment we walked in and began to explore where the three staircases led. The kids found a dress up box upstairs and the party began. Mornings started with coffee on the porch and then we were off for the day for more adventures. Hiking on Harriman Point, in Acadia National Park, lobsters from the coop in Stoneington, shopping in Bar Harbor, the fort and observatory in Bucksport—so much to do here. And don’t miss Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies where the off-beat sculptures are a hoot! Days ended in the kitchen cooking and sharing stories over wine. And the last night ended when the kids went back to the dress up box and put on a play they made up. A little like slipping into the pages of Little Women! You’ll live this place!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Betty K., Wales, Maine USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family “Big House” Vacay 2022
The Big House” and property are fantastic. Our only issue was there was no indoor dining area where our large family group could eat together - somewhat important to us as coming together at dinner each day is always a feature of our family vacations. Fortunately the outside patio is excellent for this purpose . Together with the wonderful back yard was perfect for us - unless the weather didn’t cooperate as there is no cover. Bill the owner lives across the street and is readily available if needed but not intrusive. The area is glorious. The beach is close - a short walk across the street. - typical downeast coastal beach- fairly small but private, mix of rock and some sand- with fairly large tidal zone.. Mooring is available and sailing is superb! Overall we had a grand time - and would definitely return!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bob L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great for large gatherings
If you need a house with lots of space this is perfect.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Philip h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic
We are a group of seniors who vacation each Sept. somewhere in the US. This house is one of the best places we have stayed. Large house, private, well equiped and clean. The owners met us upon arrival and gave us the grand tour. They were most helpful with directions and recommendations and very friendly. If you are looking for a quiet restful place to stay, this is it.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

James B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great week in Maine
We all loved it

10/10 Excellent

Liz S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Big House is amazing!
This is truly an amazing property and we will cherish our week in the Big House for a long time! We had everything we needed! We constantly challenged ourselves to find something that wasn’t there that we needed! We felt pampered from the minute we got there till the time we left. We had 10 adults and six kids and it accommodated every one of our needs. The rooms were charming and spacious as well as well as a real treat for our kids who loved exploring the many aspects that made it charming (3 stair cases, bathrooms around ever corner, closet full of toys and games, etc). They would tell anybody to check out the little Secret door in one of the upstairs bedrooms. The road is busy but the house is set back far enough so it was safe for our little ones and we spent most of our time in the huge backyard. There is a little bit of a walk to the beach but the beach was a huge surprise. It is absolutely stunning! It kept our little (and big) folks happily busy collecting shells, discovering sea stars and there were places to sit even at high tide! Finally, I can’t say enough to Bill and Kathy and how accommodating, friendly and generally happy to have us there. They were the perfect hosts! The big house was a perfect way for our large family to spend quality time together! Liz and Dave
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Babak H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome place for a great vacation!
The big house was well prepared by Bill for hosting 16 people conveniently.In addition to the beautiful and historic house and location, the host was very willing to share information to makes our vacation even more pleasurable. Thank you Bill and family for being such a great host. I definitely recommend this great house for your next trip to Maine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Samie A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful Vacation
The house was large and easily accommodated my family of 9. The house was fully stocked with everything that we needed for making meals minus the food - even had two refrigerators. We took daily walks to the beach and had a few smore nights at the fire pit. The host, Bill, was super friendly, helpful, and had a long history with the area that he shared. The house was a great find.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Isaac E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spacious
House was huge and we equipped, we had 11 people total for a family vacation and never needed a thing while we stayed.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

About the host

Hosted by Bill Gray

Host profile image
Although I was born and raised in New York, growing up I spent all my summers across the street from the Big House (dad was a school teacher). My family has deep roots here and to this date most of my relatives live in the area.
We have been renting to Big House for many years now and have an opportunity to meet some of the guests and have found each encounter to be rewarding. It is fun to meet people who are on vacation! We hope we have a chance to meet you.

Why they chose this property

The original cape cod part of this house was built in the early 1800's. As was typical of these salt water farms additions were added expanding the house as needed. It was built and owned by the Sherman family. It has been a farm, bed and breakfast, post office, and summer rental property since then. Off to the right (as you are facing the house) there use to be a dance hall and movie theatre; (currently there is a barn/boat house). This was during the time of silent movies. Laura Sherman ran this business and played the piano for the silent pictures. Down the street 'a piece' was the Grovehurst Inn and cottages. The inn was torn down a long time ago but the cottages remain and are still owned by descendants of the Sherman family. If you look to the left when you reached the beach you will see three big rocks; there is a pier by these rocks. That was the site of a steam boat landing. It brought summer guest from New York, Boston and beyond.

This area is steeped in beautiful vistas, abundant nature and never ending hospitality. It has been a treasure chest of delight for my family, both current and prior generations. We know you will find the same.

What makes this property unique

Long walks on the beach, exploring game trails in the 35 acres behind the house, trips to Deer Island and Stonington, visiting Acadia National Park, baking and cooking in the expansive kitchen or enjoying cocktails on the wrap around porch all make this house feel like home to all who stay here.

Languages:

English