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Unique Schoolhouse*King Beds*Hot Tub*Game Room Coming Late May*Minutes to Lakes

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Toasty warm 7 person hot tub is newly covered by a pergola so you never have to worry about rain keeping you out of it.  A Heated mat leads to the tub from the sunporch to keep your feet from freezing during the winter!
You'll love cooking with the gas cooktop in the well stocked kitchen. Enough room for everyone to help!
Seating for 10 around the firepit!
From 1861 to 1958 the kids filed through the massive, newly restored doors of the schoolhouse which sits up on a hill. The original granite steps have been reset after shifting over the years. Be sure to ring the school bell on your way in!
The coffee and tea bar with several options for everyone.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10223.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Bridgton, ME
  • Narramissic Historic Farm
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Pondicherry Park
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Long Lake
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Fryeburg, ME (FRY-Eastern Slopes Regional)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bed and 1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Single Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Unique Schoolhouse*King Beds*Hot Tub*Game Room Coming Late May*Minutes to Lakes

****Coming late May 2025**** New 1200 sq ft barn game room with ping pong table, video consoles, large screen TV with comfy seating for movie night and more!

This lovingly restored schoolhouse is a unique mixture of historic charm, warmth, character and modern ease. Make memories together in the school's large classroom which is an impressive gathering spot for the whole group with the modern kitchen, massive dining table and comfy living room. Gather outside on the 7 acre property for a cookout, chat by the fire or relax in the hot tub after hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, dining or shopping - all within minutes of the school. Quiet & peaceful!

OVERVIEW

Far from a little one room schoolhouse, this 2400 square foot space built in 1861 feels bright and open with its 11 ft ceilings, open concept living area, 4 comfortable bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. It is the perfect mix of old and new. Natural light streams in through the massive original windows and the wood floors and butcher block counters and furnishings make it feel warm and homey. The school boasts unique features such as the original chalkboards and "good morning" staircase - well traveled by hundreds of little feet from the nearly 100 years that the school was open.

The property is a peaceful combination of fields and woods in a quiet, private setting. The outdoor space allows for grilling, roasting s'mores over the large seasonal granite fire pit or relaxing after a day of swimming, hiking, shopping or skiing in the 7 person year-round hot tub while looking at the stars.

BEDROOMS

There are four bedrooms in the house with an additional upstairs common area with a daybed that can be used for sleeping. The downstairs has one bedroom with a king bed with a comfy hybrid memory foam mattress. Please note there are 3 steps up to this room. The remaining bedrooms are on the second floor. One room has a queen bed with memory foam mattress, another has two twin beds and the primary bedroom includes a king hybrid memory foam bed plus a daybed. In total, the schoolhouse sleeps 10 comfortably.

BATHROOMS

The schoolhouse has three full bathrooms. One is located downstairs between the great room and king bedroom. The other two are located on the second floor, one for the queen and twin bedrooms to share (includes a full tub) and the other as part of the primary suite.

KITCHEN
The kitchen is located in the open concept great room and boasts a large island for gathering or prepping food with bar stool seating for 6. It is well stocked with cookware, bakeware, dishes and utensils as well as a toaster, blender, 2 crockpots, and electric skillet, some spices and cooking spray or oil. The gas cooktop is perfect for the chef in the family and the wall oven and microwave make cooking easy and convenient. There is plenty of storage.

We built a coffee and tea bar with the coffee lover in mind! Drip and French press coffee can be made to allow you to enjoy the perfect cup your way. A variety of tea is provided as well as regular and decaf coffee beans for grinding. While we provide enough to get you going for a few days, longer stays may require a trip to the grocery store to replenish the supplies.

The dining and living room areas are also in the great room. Enjoy meals or games as a whole group around the massive Restoration Hardware dining table. Gather in the living room for conversation or a movie on the 65" Roku tv with streaming apps and cable tv.

THE OUTDOOR AREA

Just outside the inviting sunporch is a small deck that leads to the 7 person hot tub. The hot tub is open year round and has a new pergola over top to protect you from rain! Down the steps is 2 picnic tables with umbrellas. Also in this area is the firepit made from large granite blocks with seasonal seating for 10 around the fire. This will be a favorite spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature! We do not supply firewood as a rule, but there may be some left behind from others and may get you started on your first night. Dry fire wood bundles can be bought at the Irving station about 6 minutes away and are generally about $8.

**Please note that the yard and outbuildings at the school are a work in progress! We have a barn, garage and sheds that all will be beautified over time, but currently aren't the prettiest to look at! We trust you will understand that it takes time to bring a rundown and neglected historic property back to life and we hope you forgive the appearance of some of our currently unused outbuildings.**

***Coming for summer 2025! The barn will be home to a new game room!***

Guests will have access to the schoolhouse and surrounding yard. As the outbuildings are currently unfinished, we ask that guests do not enter these structures. Guests are welcome to enjoy the yard, field and woods. Please keep in mind that this is Maine and there is wildlife in our area including ticks.

While I won't be available in person I do live nearby and am available to answer questions!

The Schoolhouse Retreat is located near many of the area's best attractions including:

Downtown Bridgton - 9 min
Naples Causeway - 10 min
Pleasant Mountain Ski Resort - 16 minute drive
Sebago Lake State Park - 16 min
North Conway - 42 min
Portland, Maine - 1 hr
Sunday River Ski Resort - 1 hr
Boston - 2.5 hrs

There are many wonderful restaurants close by in Bridgton and Naples. The closest restaurant, Campfire Grill (nothing fancy but so good!), is a 6 minute drive. The schoolhouse is also in the middle of many lakes and ponds including Long Lake, Sebago Lake, Moose Pond and Highland Lake with many places to swim, minutes from great hiking trails, the twin drive-in and a movie theater as well as shopping and all the White Mountains and North Conway have to offer.

Parking - 5 spaces. Please plan to car pool if necessary. Please note, the schoolhouse is up on a hill and one part of the driveway is steep - we block off the steep part during the winter for safety. We do our best to ensure the driveway and parking areas stay cleared but winter in Maine is unpredictable and there are times when we have to wait our turn to be plowed or shoveled out. Please reach out if there is any issue with snow and we will send someone as soon as possible.

***Rental contract and photo ID required for every booking! To be sent to guest upon booking with the 48 hour zero penalty cancellation period.***

***We require all guests (unless children accompanied by a parent) be at least 24 years old.***

The Schoolhouse Retreat is perfect for larger families or small groups of friends to relax and enjoy vacation together. It won't be the right place for you if you are interested in having an all day and night drinking fest. We trust you will treat this old girl with the respect she deserves!

*****Sorry, no pets, no parties or events and no smoking or vaping of any kind ($300 fine).******

Cooling is now provided by heat pumps in all bedrooms and the main living area.

Maine is home to ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, ladybugs, stinkbugs, spiders, deer, turkeys, bats, racoon, skunks, bees and more! While our housekeepers and pest control service work hard to keep things very clean and tidy, the reality is we are a 160+ year old building in the country in the mountains of Maine - so you may encounter some wildlife!

Please note that while we have a quiet 7+ acre property, the schoolhouse is located in a small rural Maine neighborhood with homes of all types and ALL conditions. There are a couple neighbors you can partially see through the woods and occasionally cars drive by. If your group does not also rent the Tiny Library next door, there will likely be guests there during your stay. It shares the property (but not any amenities - it has its own private hot tub and fire pit). The Library is about 100 ft away from the school on the side of the house opposite of the hot tub and firepit.

There are a few things we ask guests to do for checkout -

-load and start the dishwasher

-close any open windows, turn off lights and lock doors

-any full trash bags can be placed in the bin outside by the parking area

Property manager

Kari Doiron
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 11:00 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 is not permitted
Must sign rental agreement upon booking
Must follow all house rules including but not limited to no pets, no smoking, no parties

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 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

Bridgton

Located in Bridgton, this holiday home is in a rural area and near theme parks. Rufus Porter Museum and Gallery 302 are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Steamboat Landing Mini Golf and Shawnee Peak. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Bridgton, ME

What's nearby

  • Narramissic Historic Farm - 4 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Holt Pond Preserve - 5 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Pondicherry Park - 8 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Long Lake - 11 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Shawnee Peak - 19 min drive - 17.8 km

Getting around

  • Fryeburg, ME (FRY-Eastern Slopes Regional) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Lakeside Dairy Bar - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Randy's Wooster St Pizza - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Bald Pate Mountain - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪A La Mexicana 2 - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Unique Schoolhouse*King Beds*Hot Tub*Game Room Coming Late May*Minutes to Lakes pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Unique Schoolhouse*King Beds*Hot Tub*Game Room Coming Late May*Minutes to Lakes?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unique Schoolhouse*King Beds*Hot Tub*Game Room Coming Late May*Minutes to Lakes?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Unique Schoolhouse*King Beds*Hot Tub*Game Room Coming Late May*Minutes to Lakes located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Narramissic Historic Farm and within 3 miles (5 km) of Holt Pond Preserve and Wards Cove. Peabody Pond and Woods Pond are also within 6 miles (10 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. 30 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Fran B.

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

wonderful historic building

This historic building was the perfect spot to host our bookclub with the schoolhouse theme carried tastefully throughout. The large common rooms and hot tub made for a wonderful weekend! A very clean, beautifully restored building with attentive hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenna F.

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

Wonderful property!

We were a group of 6 moms needing a weekend away. The place was great! Nice and big and very well appointed! The hot tub was perfect! the kitchen, dining and sitting area were ask really great. Very very happy with this property and the host was very responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Torie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gary B.

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

Perfect

We had an amazing stay at the schoolhouse. We were visiting for a very important family function and we could not have asked for a more perfect home to stay in during this time. It was spacious but still intimate. Newly updated but still had incredible character. Thank you for the special experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Carol L.

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

Schoolhouse Retreat

Appears recently renovated; very modern, functional interior - especially kitchen, bathrooms, heating, cooling, lighting. Comfortable bedrooms for 4 elderly couples. Very clean throughout. (Front entrance steps somewhat difficult for elderly.)
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wendy L.

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

Best Family Trip Yet!!

The Schoolhouse Retreat was PERFECTLY suited for our group of 7 adults and 2 children. It was so fun to stay here just before the grandchildren (5 and 8) went back to real school! The schoolhouse is lovingly restored and cared for.. close to beautiful Bridgton Center and lovely beaches and hikes. We’ve stayed at gorgeous homes in NH and the Cape but nothing beats this home in Maine for this mountains and lakes family.. so grateful to have found the Schoolhouse retreat
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lauren K.

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

Schoolhouse with spirit of love and a breath of fresh air

What an incredible experience to stay in an old schoolhouse updated in the most thoughtful and thorough way. Absolute perfection!! Beautiful decore. It was clean and everything my family could need on our getaway. I have 3 older children whose ages range from 16-20 and a 3 year old. It was incredibly important for me to have my family come together without the hecticiness of everyday life. Our time together brought laughter and connection and I know this special schoolhouse was part of this for us. It is exactly as advertised and I thank the owners from the bottom of my heart for creating such a beautiful place. I would most definitely like to stay here again. Communication with the owner was amazing. You can tell the care, love, and appreciation the owner has and we are so grateful for this experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Santosh A.

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

Family get-together

Awesome property. Everything exceeded our expectations,
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

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

Wonderful Stay

We had a very pleasant stay and experience at the school house in Bridgton. We had all of the expected creature comforts and then some! With several teachers in our group, we enjoyed the historic building, the school themes and the variety of books sprinkled about. We look forward to returning and would whole heartedly choose to book the same accommodation during our next trip!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane B.

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

10 adults 1 school house excellent!

We absolutely loved the School house. My husband and i stayed with our grown children. So 10 adults stayed. Owner checked in with us to be sure everything was going as planned. Close to activities and town. Hiking was excellent. We would stay there again. Hot tub and hammock swings a big hit! Also would be children friendly. Thanks
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vonda B.

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

Perfect Girlfriend Getaway!

We recently chose the Schoolhouse to celebrate one of our friends becoming Kennebec County Teacher of the Year. It was the perfect venue for our girls trip and we were in awe of how tastefully decorated the entire rental was. It easily accommodated our large group and everyone had their own comfy bed to sleep in. The kitchen was well stocked and we cooked all of our meals at the property. The gorgeous table inside sat 10 of us easily. The outside area was our favorite hangout. The hot tub was huge and seats 7. The fire pit and 10 chairs were also used nightly. We brought our own wood but there was some there when we arrived. S’mores and friends around the fire… perfection! Such a peaceful slice of heaven…close to downtown Naples and fun shops. Check in and out were simple and Kari was able to offer us an early check in. She went above and beyond to help us when we had any issue. We definitely can’t wait to go back!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Molly D.

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

Absolutely adorable

My friends and I stayed for a winter weekend away. The schoolhouse was even more adorable in person than in the pictures. Everything is very thought out. It was clean and spacious and cozy and the hot tub was great. The owner was super communicative and the check out process was simple. Our group is already talking about coming back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna P.

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

Excellent stay in stunning property

Absolutely fabulous stay at the Schoolhouse in Bridgton - plenty of space for 8 of us, all the amenities we needed and close to town, ski areas etc - would highly recommend. Host was excellent and even gave early check-in which we very much appreciated!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leah C.

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

Perfect family stay

We loved the Schoolhouse for our three families. Plenty of space to spread out, but huge common area and dining table that easily fit all of us. The photos are an accurate representation and the place is gorgeous!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynn B.

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

Perfect Vacation Retreat

This home is perfect in every way! It is well appointed, has all the amenities and is beautifully designed and decorated. We felt well looked after and truly enjoyed our family stay !
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christine C.

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

Bright, welcoming, unique property.

The school house vacation home was fabulous. The owners have done a fantastic job in keeping the vision of an old school. The double stair case is something you won't find anywhere else!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

amanda s.

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

School House Stay

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the school house this fall.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

John S., LA, CA USA

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

schoolhouse rocks

Our stay was successful the whole way. This was a trip to bury my husbands ashes in our Palmer Ingalls cemetery which was very close to the VRBO. We enjoyed all the amenities such as the jacuzzi and the fire pit. One suggestion is you need more glasses such as wine glasses There were 6 of us living there and only three wine glasses. Although it was a sad time we were comfortable in the house. One of my cousins looked at your property when it had been for sale. He thought you had done a remarkable renovation.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donn R.

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

Fantastic

My wife, 3 adult children, their spouses and our granddaughter spent 4 nights at this location for my sons wedding. Location was exactly as described and property manager was fantastic at checking on us to make sure our stay was as we expected. Hopefully we will make it back to Maine in the future and have the opportunity to stay at the schoolhouse again. Don’t miss out on this one, it is fantastic!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jared P.

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

Unique, Historic Property in the Lake Region of Maine!

We had a wonderful time in this beautifully restored authentic Schoolhouse in Maine. The property has been appointed with design-friendly finishings and modern amenities to make this historic property feel new and current. We loved the bucolic setting and the many activities in the surrounding area. Thank you Kari!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Zoe M.

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

Most Amazing Schoolhouse!

My girlfriends and I had the most amazing stay. It was a gorgeous space, extremely clean, the most comfortable beds, close proximity to lakes and restaurants. We can't say enough great things about it. Thank you for creating an amazing get away!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gretchen S.

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

Amazing Property!

Six of us stayed for a family reunion...what an AMAZING property! The attention to detail was noted. What a beautiful restoration they did to the old schoolhouse to make it functional for 2023. Love ♥ the original slate chalkboard original to the schoolhouse. The beds were VERY comfortable. Some very nice personal touches such as providing coffee beans and a smores' kit! GREAT communication with the owner. Can’t wait to come back! Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Landa B.

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

Spacious, unique property

We really enjoyed our stay at the Schoolhouse. Owner of the property was very responsive and helpful. The house was fully stocked as described and plenty of space for 5 adults and 5 children. Definitely would recommend this property to others!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen P.

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

Quiet Geataway

The house was beautifully redone. They provided everything we needed for our stay. We had a wonderful time there!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie S.

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

Unforgettable Stay!

We had family visiting from the Midwest and this home was the perfect spot for us all to enjoy! The house is charming, comfortable and well equipped with so many great personal touches. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Kari Doiron

Host profile image
I've worn many hats in my life including teacher, chef, entrepreneur and avid DIYer. I'm beyond thrilled to have created a special place for families and friends to rest, relax and create amazing memories.

Why they chose this property

When I decided I wanted to own and manage a vacation property, I wanted it to be something unique in a great 4-season location in Maine. I saw this old run down schoolhouse and knew this was it! I spent 8 months renovating and getting it ready for guests. I hope you'll find it just as special as I do!

What makes this property unique

This historic schoolhouse vacation rental in Maine lets you step back in time a little, all while still enjoying modern comforts and conveniences. It's a truly unique experience!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests