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The Chalet - Family-Friendly Waterfront Vacation Home on Crystal Lake

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Great Room with comfy oversize couches and a large wood burning fireplace
Walk down our boardwalk to kayak off our private dock
Our dock and swim platform are installed by Memorial Day to Columbus Day
Take in the views of the water from our private dock
Crystal Lake is breathtaking in the fall

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14343.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Harrison, ME
  • Long Lake
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Pondicherry Park
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Highland Lake
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Fryeburg, ME (FRY-Eastern Slopes Regional)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Lower Level Bunk Room

3 Single Bunk Beds

Lower Level King

1 King Bed

Main Floor King

1 King Bed

Main Floor Queen

1 Queen Bed

Primary Bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Lower Level Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Main Floor Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Primary Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Chalet - Family-Friendly Waterfront Vacation Home on Crystal Lake

WATERFRONT on Crystal Lake! This quintessential chalet-style home sits on quiet Crystal Lake with 150 feet of private shoreline, private dock and swim platform for guest use, and close to a public town beach perfect for swimming! Perfect for your family getaway.

Maximum of 8 adults age 21+. Bunk beds are for children only.

Our large 3,700 square ft open-floor plan home has space for the whole family! Enjoy our walk-out lower level game room with Foosball and ping pong tables, plenty of games and puzzles, and a large TV viewing area with variety of DVDs to keep the kids occupied while the adults lounge on our comfy over-sized sofas on the main level in front of our large wood burning fireplace or enjoy a glass of wine on the deck while listening to music using our built-in Sonos sound system. Prepare gourmet meals in the expansive fully-equipped chef's kitchen with seating for everyone.

In the warmer weather months, take one of our 3 kayaks out on the calm water, grill burgers on our large 6-burner grill connected to our house propane system, and enjoy the evening in our screened-in gazebo. Feel free to tie off your boat on our dock or rent a boat from Harrison Marina 5 minutes away on Long Lake.

In cooler weather, jump on your snowmobile and ride on a local trail right on the frozen lake and take it to access 10,000+ miles of Maine's Interconnected Trail System (ITS) or drive 20 minutes to Shawnee Peak to ski on one of their over 40 trails, 7 glades, and 3 terrain parks - nighttime skiing too! Ice fishing is available on Crystal Lake and Long Lake. Cozy up to our one of a kind suspended wood fireplace while you watch the snow fall through our floor to ceiling windows.

House Rules:
• Maximum occupancy is 14 with up to 8 adults maximum.
• No smoking indoors or outside. Smoking of tobacco, marijuana, or other similar products that rely on vaporization or aerosolization in or on the premises is not permitted.
• No pets. No dogs, cats, birds, or other animals may be kept in the house or allowed anywhere else on the property. Our son is highly allergic.
• No parties or events. Any assessed fines will be passed along to violators.
• No loud, rowdy interactions. Please be respectful of our neighbors in our quiet neighborhood. Sound can carry quite easily across the lake. Per Association Bylaws, no excessive noise from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and no excessive noise all day on Sundays. Any fines incurred will be passed along to violators.
• No parking on grass. Please only park on the paved driveway.
• No visitors or extra guests beyond number of guests on your original reservation.
• No fireworks. Although fireworks are legal in the state of Maine, the town of Harrison has an ordinance banning the use of fireworks on private property.
• All trash and recycling must be bagged before being placed in the trash/recycling cans outside. This is a requirement by our trash removal service. Extra fees may be assessed for violations.
• Do not move furniture. Is something amiss upon arrival? Please let us know.

Property manager

John
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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  • Washer
  • Dryer
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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We bought this home for our own family in mind!
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Events

No events allowed
No visitors/ extra guests beyond number in booking
default

Pets

No pets allowed
Our son is highly allergic.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside or on our premises.
No parking on grass. Please only park on the paved driveway.
No excessive noise from 7pm to 7am Monday through Saturday and no excessive noise all day on Sunday, per association's bylaws.
No fireworks. Although legal in Maine, the town of Harrison has an ordinance banning the use of fireworks on private property.

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
Note from host: No visitors/ extra guests beyond number in booking
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Harrison

Located in Harrison, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Civil War Monument and Rufus Porter Museum are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Shawnee Peak and Steamboat Landing Mini Golf. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Harrison, ME

What's nearby

  • Long Lake - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Center - 5 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Pondicherry Park - 11 min drive - 9.0 km
  • Highland Lake - 13 min drive - 7.7 km
  • Shawnee Peak - 21 min drive - 19.6 km

Getting around

  • Fryeburg, ME (FRY-Eastern Slopes Regional) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪A La Mexicana 2 - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Fluvial Brewing - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Maine Lobster Express - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Tannery Pub - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Chalet - Family-Friendly Waterfront Vacation Home on Crystal Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Chalet - Family-Friendly Waterfront Vacation Home on Crystal Lake?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Chalet - Family-Friendly Waterfront Vacation Home on Crystal Lake?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Chalet - Family-Friendly Waterfront Vacation Home on Crystal Lake located?

This family-friendly Harrison holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 2 mi (3 km) of Long Lake and Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Center. Highland Lake and Pondicherry Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 28 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Sarah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great multi-family getaway

Booked the chalet for our annual multi family getaway, and the location could not have been more perfect. The house is perfect for gathering people together, gave each couple a private area and plenty of play space for the kids. The property had everything we needed and was very clean upon arrival. Would highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

pat w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

lake house family vacation

Our family enjoyed a week at the Chalet. We swam in the clean, cool lake every day. The kids fished & saw a large snapping turtle, There were plenty of activities in close proximity to the house to keep everyone busy. Pictures don't so the lake house justice. John is an attentive host, & was always available. We hope to return soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leanne E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Crystal Lake Paradise

Our family truly enjoyed our stay at this custom Crystal Lake home. It has a large open concept that is plenty of room for our group of 12. It was clean and well stocked. Linens and bath towels were provided as well. The lake was perfect for swimming and fishing. There were alot of steps to get to and from the lake but it was mostly a gradual climb. The decking is in need of updating but that would not deter me from renting. It was older but safe. The owners were quick with a response for all of our questions. I would highly recommend this property for your next family getaway.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sharon W., Foxboro

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Room for the whole family

This was our second time renting this house. It is beautiful and fully equipped with everything we needed. The lake is gorgeous and everyone enjoyed their stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gem of Maine!

We stayed at this location for a family vacation with 8 adults and could not have been more pleased with our accommodations. Spacious yet very comfortable and welcoming. The open concept allowed for togetherness without being too crowded. The sleeping accommodations were ideal and the lake is beautiful!! There is a nice large dock for sunning and swimming. I highly recommend this property for anyone that is looking for a beautiful lake vacation with comfortable accommodations!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Allison K., Middlebury, CT

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquil and Spacious

We loved the beautiful, private location on the lake and enjoyed hanging out on the deck, the dock and swimming platform. The house has tons of room- it’s hard to find rentals that have 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, and seating for all in the kitchen and common areas and this fit the bill perfectly. John is very responsive and proactively checked in with us during our stay to see if we needed anything. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wesley A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

positive experience

very nice house
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Anna L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The house was perfect for us

Our favorite part was the fireplace, the big windows watching it snow was a hit especially for my family from SC. We didn’t catch any fish but had fun on the lake. We skated, tubed behind a snowmobile, we played hockey. John wad always prompt at getting back to us with any questions… We would rent this house again for sure
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Timothy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Vacation

The house was set up well for our extended family of 14 to enjoy. Excellent large living room and deck for hanging out. Boat dock was terrific for swimming, boating (we rented a pontoon boat for the week), and fishing (caught a ton of bass and sunfish right off the shoreline. Lake was clean and quiet with almost no mid-week traffic. We booked again right away. Recommend highly.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Aaron P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Maine Lakehouse

Great property for our family vacation. Beautiful house with fantastic living area, we had 8 adults and 6 kids and never felt cramped. House has lots of toys for kids and is very clearly a vacation home that’s also rented out, not just an investment property like so many places you get now. Huge fridge for all the groceries and kitchen overall was great. The lake is perfect, smaller body of water compared to the surrounding lakes, which means water temps are great and very little choppiness / boat traffic. The dock is in great shape and the kids basically lived down there all week. Some of the other reviews critiqued the beds and the deck. We all thought the beds were comfortable, and while I wouldn’t host a charity WWE tournament on the deck, it’s in good shape for a deck that has to live through Maine winters. Plenty of room for 4 vehicles to park, which is not common in this area given the slope of the terrain. Has central a/c which was a lifesaver during the heat wave. Would definitely stay here again, close to town and groceries. Great spot.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alena K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Vacation

Nice big house with plenty of space for 3 family with kids. There is space for having meals, playing board games, TV, etc. Some of the things in the house are dated (appliances) and the outside deck can use some TLC, but overall it's a wonderful place to spend a week in the summer. Beautiful lake with a nice aluminum dock and three kayaks. Fishing right from the dock was great. The owner was very responsive to questions and small issues that we had during our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dave G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect home base for Leaf Peepers

The Chalet was a perfect site for our senior citizen leaf peeping reunion. Just 90 minutes from some of the finest mountain fall colors and 90 minutes from coastal villages, this home base provided a lakefront retreat center each night before the next adventure. The home, on beautiful Crystal Lake, featured a unique fireplace that warmed our hearts and bodies in the evening. The huge refrigerator was big enough to hold food for our gathering. The high-end master suite bathroom was professionally remodeled and sparkled with modern features. The huge recreation area was well equipped with a big screen TV, ping pong, foosball and table games. We fell in love with New England and can’t wait for our next trip.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

2/10 Terrible

Sebastian P.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Wrong amenities listed

Overall we were very disappointed. The owner has a hot tub listed. When you get there the hot tub is OOO. We contacted him and we got in an argument as he claimed it was not listed. Well, it was. We selected the property for that amenity and paid a premium. No refund was provided. The house also needs of wood repair. The deck railing is falling apart and it is dangerous! Poor or no maintenance of the property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Ally M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Week at the Chalet

While it’s a beautiful property on a stunning lake, the house itself is a bit run down. We stayed with 4 families & kids ranging 8mo-12. The kids had a blast jumping off the dock, the lake was warm. The downstairs was great for kids, lots of toys, games and movies. However there was a very musty smell when we arrived.Turns out the bathroom toilet was leaking & the floor was soaked when we arrived.We turned the water off so it was OOO, but all the kids were on that level as well as one couple so it was disruptive to not have a working bathroom for all the guests on their level.The owner was very responsive and was able to get a plumber over pretty quickly, however the problem was only fixed for a short time and the toilet started running and leaking again. We had to turn the water off and could not use the bathroom the entire trip. The appliances were very temperamental and we had a hard time cooking on the stove. It’s a beautiful wolf stove but very old and a lot of burners don’t work. That being said, it did the job.Most every bed was so uncomfortable every guest was complaining by day 2. People were taking turns sleeping on the couches, which were comfortable.The biggest issue I had with the house was the deck. It was beautiful but so old and rotted. It was extremely dangerous and honestly should not be in use at all. If you leaned up against after a few drinks it could’ve easily snapped resulting in a very bad outcome. All and all I would give the house a 6/10.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

Elizabeth R.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Not what it appears & terrible communication

While there are some lovely things about this place (see below), we were really disappointed with the quality of the appliances and the general state of many of the rooms. Although the owners list benefits like a wolf oven and sub-zero range, they fail to mention that these appliances are probably 30 years old. The oven is hard to get working and smells like gas the entire time, several of the burners can only be lit w/ a lighter, the dryer doesn't dry, etc. The bathrooms haven't been updated in a long time and several have cracks in the tile. Only 1 shower can be used at a time with sufficient water pressure. The basement smells strongly of mildew when it rains - you get the picture. The deck is in need of repair and we did have an issue w/ kids getting splinters. For the rate charged, we were surprised by the lack of updates and if you choose to rent, you should just be aware. The other big challenge was communication. We left expensive sunglasses in the room and couldn't get them sent back (they said they would look and then never got back to us). We also received a notice from a third party telling us that the owners submitted a claim of theft, alleging that we stole a comforter. The comforters were fine, but certainly not worth taking home, and it's frustrating to get a message from a 3rd party vs. communication from the owners. The other struggle was the temperature. The owners have this set to change temp 5-6 times per day automatically so during the middle of the night the temp would be set to 90 degrees and the AC would turn off, eventually waking us up. This would similarly happen throughout the day and one of us, after wondering why it was getting so warm, would have to go change it. They told us that this was recommended by the HVAC company and were unwilling to allow us to change the program. Now for the good. The lake is wonderful and the windows are great. The fireplace is unique, though there wasn't a ton of firewood to actually use. The deck and the swimming platform were particularly great for the kids and we used them daily. We also enjoyed the park down the street. Otherwise, there isn't a lot to do in the town of Harrison or immediate surroundings.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maggie w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for multiple families

The owner was very thorough and responsive. Plenty of space, quiet neighborhood, beautiful lake with things to do, ice cream/ convenience store close enough to walk.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Scott T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

Great property and owners. Many thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Timothy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another good trip

Second time here, another good vacation. John has made improvements to house since last year and it was great for the 14 of us. Quiet, clean lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sharon W., Foxboro

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Enjoyed every minute

The chalet is incredibly beautiful and equipped with everything you could need for a family vacation! The lake is clear and the kids had a fabulous time swimming and jumping off the raft! Plenty of choices for restaurants, outings, hikes, and boat rentals. Can't wait to go back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Theresa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Annual Family Vacation

This home is awesome with respect to families having fun together as well as relaxing together. The setting is simply beautiful. The house was well stocked and had lots of space to spread out and to have some privacy and quiet time. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing family get away on Crystal Lake

This house was perfect for a relaxing family retreat. Beautiful home with gorgeous wall of windows looking out to the lake. We kayaked every day right out the backdoor, and the house is a 2 minute drive to town beach and ice cream shop. Super close to Long Lake for bigger boating outing. We had 3 babies and a 4 year old and the house was well stocked on toys, packnplays, infant life jackets, etc.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

pamela e.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Vacation

Location was great! Loved the house, property & proximity to the lake. Kitchen very well stocked.. Mattresses in the basement not the most comfortable. Missed having cable for sports. Loved all the games, ping pong, fusball, movies etc. Big hit was fireplace. Beautful home. Our family loved it & the time in Me & NH. They can't wait to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Susan C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

House is large and spacious

Very comfortable home with a great indoor fire place. Place could use a little TLC especially the deck. Beds were comfortable and neighbors were quiet so we all slept well. Kitchen had all the cooking equipment you could ask for. Needs someone with a little attention to the small things as we had no kitchen towels or typical seasonings.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Meghan D., Abington, MA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun time on the water!

Great house
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Masha S., Newton, MA, US

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Amazing house with everything you need, phenomenal kitchen, we were able to serve 8-10 people regularly, and all of the conveniences you need. The lake is beautiful and very clean. We didn't catch much in terms of fish but that might be our (lack of) skills vs lack of fish. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by John

Host profile image
Husband. Father. Avid Bowler. Owner of a financial planning practice and investment properties in MA and ME.

Why they chose this property

We wanted the "wow" factor - and we got it! When you first walk into The Chalet, you will notice the one-of-a-kind large suspended wood burning fireplace in front of large floor to ceiling windows! This home will be where we will bring our two boys and family for summer vacations and eventually where we will retire to.

Languages:

English

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