Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains

Photo gallery for Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains

West Face
Property grounds
Property grounds
Exterior
Exterior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
16 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 32836.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Breakfast available
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Andover, ME
  • Black Mountain
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Sunday River
    ‪31 min drive‬
  • Sunday River
    ‪34 min drive‬
  • Berlin, NH (BML-Berlin Municipal)
    ‪79 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

16 bedrooms (sleeps 32)

#1 Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

#2 Moose Room

2 Single Beds

#3 Great Hall Suite - twins

2 Single Beds

#4 Great Hall Suite - Queen

1 Queen Bed

#5 The Den

1 Double Futon

#6 The Loft

1 Queen Bed

#7 The Metalluk Room

1 Single Bed

#8 The MollyOckett Room

1 Single Bed

#9 Merrill Suite - Twins

2 Single Beds

#10 Merrill Suite - Queen

1 Queen Bed

#11 The Poor Room

2 Double Beds

#12 Aunt Grace's Room

1 Queen Bed

#13 Richardson Room

2 Single Beds

#14 Rangeley Room

3 Single Beds

#15 Bald Pate Room

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

#16 Flat Rocks Room

2 Single Beds

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Bathroom 5

Bathroom 5

Bathroom 7

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains

Historic country lodge in Maine's beautiful western mountains with private swimming pond and beach on property, close to lakes, streams and mountains. Nearby world-class fishing (Rapid River, Magalloway, Kennebago, Androscoggin & Swift Rivers, Rangeley & Richardson Lakes), golfing (Bethel Inn & Sunday River), and ski areas (Sunday River, Saddleback, Mt. Abram, Black Mountain).

The house is partially un-heated. Mid-winter rentals are limited to 10, including 2 each in 3 queens, and 4 in twins. Early-Spring into April and late-Fall into October limited to 14, including 2 each in 4 queens, and 6 in twins.

Note that there isn't an option to check off having a private swimming pond with beach, so we check the swimming pool box and describe the pond in the listing. There's no pool - it's a nice, spring-fed pond with beach that is lovely for swimming right across the lawn from the house. There are several great swimming holes and a lake with a beautiful public beach nearby as well.

Magnificent setting with broad lawns and pastures overlooking mountain valley in the northern end of the Mahoosuc range. Pond & river on property. Trails on property and access to 4000 footers. Plentiful outdoor activities: swim, boat, fish (stocked pond, great fishing throughout the area including some of the nation's most pristine wild trout waters), hike, bike, ride, berry pick, you name it. Nearby Bethel Recreation Area & Sunday River golf and ski resorts. 3 hours from Boston.

This is a truly unique vacation and recreation spot - comfortable and gorgeous with deep history in a friendly old-New England town. Built in 1792 by the first homesteading settler in the valley; renovated in the late 1800s at the peak of the railroad era into a private summer retreat with design contributions by Stanford White and Frederick Law Olmsted. Wonderful interiors including breathtaking Great Hall, several salons, Grand Dining Room. Long views that defy words.

Rates quoted are for family vacation rentals with the indicated seasonal overnight guest maximums. Event and other rental rates quoted upon request.

Requested minimum booking 5 nights Summer, 3 nights Spring and Fall, 2 nights Winter. Minimum stays are guidelines. We can do shorter stays but may need to add for heat and other fixed costs. We will discount for longer stays. Please ask.

Keywords: Sleeps 25+ in warm weather, 10+ in cold weather. Summer and winter rentals available. 2 kitchens, 2 dining rooms. Catering & event services available. 15 fireplaces. Contemporary utilities & amenities including wireless internet. Elegantly furnished.

Weddings, reunions, special events, family vacations, corporate and group retreats. Destination Weddings. Ceremony and reception site. Trophy trout, salmon & bass fishing. Two golf courses nearby. Amazing for leaf peeping weekends. Downhill and XC Ski. Snow-mobile. Hunt. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Relax.

Property manager

Nick Chandler

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
Breakfast available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and weddings
Max overnight 32. Max event outdoor guests 200.
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Requested minimum booking 5 nights Summer, 3 nights Spring and Fall, 2 nights Winter.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 32
Note from host: Max overnight 32. Max event outdoor guests 200.
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 required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Andover

Located in Andover, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the beach. 49 Franklin and Bethel Historical Society are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Black Mountain and Sunday River. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Andover, ME

What's nearby

  • Black Mountain - 29 min drive - 24.8 km
  • Sunday River - 31 min drive - 36.2 km
  • Sunday River - 34 min drive - 38.4 km
  • Grafton Notch State Park - 37 min drive - 43.4 km
  • Angel Falls - 44 min drive - 24.4 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Little Red Hen Diner & Bakery - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Andover Wood Prod Coffee Shop - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Knotty moose tavern - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Amazing Maine Get-Away - Maine's Western Mountains located?

Located in the heart of Andover, this holiday home is within 16 miles (25 km) of Androscoggin River, Howard Pond and Androscoggin Brunswick-Topsham Riverwalk. Rumford Hospital and Angel Falls are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 9 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 9 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 9 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Louis L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Location, Incredible House
Highly recommend the Merrill House! The large property allows us to sleep all of our large group.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Alex M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fall Weekend
The property was amazing and would definitely recommend! Only issue that we ran into was there were a lot of bugs. Wasps, flys, and ladybugs.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chudala H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Reunion
We rented the Merrill House for our family reunion. We had guests ages 7 months to 73 years (a total of 26) that came from near and far. Everyone loved the property. The house and its history are amazing. Many enjoyed exploring the house and its artifacts. It was well equipped with everything we needed. The location is beautiful with lots of outdoor adventures near by as well as plenty to do on the grounds. Other highlights included the fire pit, the pond and plenty of space for everyone to spread out or gather as desired. We enjoyed games of croquet and frisbee golf and relaxing on the porches. The weather cooperated for us with only one day that was really hot and it also was cool enough to enjoy a fire in the great room. The only negative we would express is that the mattresses are in need of being updated. Overall our group appreciated the charm of this house and left with many fond memories. We didn't want the time to end.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Retreat
This beautiful home gave my friends from my phd program feel like we had a home away from home to bond, explore, and enjoy the outdoors
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Som G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fun trip
Due to the hot weather, sleeping at night were little difficult specially the third floor bedrooms. However, sufficient fans supported a lot. The beautiful surroundings make you feel a real vacation.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unexpected
Unexpected positives: -The great hall looks amazing. (Not unexpectedly, the scenery around the house does too.) -Despite being a New England summer, the house was cool through the day. -Despite being a New England summer, there were fairly few bugs. Unexpected negatives: -The house was a bit chilly the first night. (We didn't think to ask about the custodians about the heating system when we arrived because it was summer; it worked fine when we did.)
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

What a special retreat!
Our family had an amazing week at Merrill House. We found the house incredibly inviting and quite spacious for our group. We enjoyed cooking amazing meals in the old kitchen and savoring them in the Dining Hall, which seated all of us. Our evenings were spent in the Great Hall, with games, puzzles and dancing. The children had an amazing time in the swimming pond, particularly jumping in from the rope swing. We bought kites and spent a wonderful afternoon flying kites. The grounds allowed us to set up various games, such as a volleyball/badminton net and relay races. One of us is a painter who found numerous spots to set up and spend the afternoon painting. The drive to nearby parks for hikes were worth the trip, but we certainly enjoyed 'staying home' relaxing at the Merrill House's porch. It was an absolutely wonderful experience for all. Thank you!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amazing house and grounds
Just wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to spend a week at the Merrill House. The place was amazing (I especially loved the door to the great room - if I could have gotten it into my carry-on bag, you might be missing it now) with tons of room for everyone and several natural gathering spaces (the "new" kitchen and great room were the two most popular, although there was always a crowd on the front porch, too). My dad used to be a mover (drove a moving van for 10-15 years) and has seen a LOT of houses - he had to admit he'd never seen anything like the Merrill House (he even dragged my younger brother back the next day so he could see it). The grounds were beautiful and our nerdy group was out each night, enjoying the clear sky and tracking the International Space Station. Becky and Bert (the caretakers) were super nice and helped us out in large ways and small (from setting up the new grill, to lending us life jackets for a canoe, to giving directions to the nearest redemption center). All in all, it was a great week and the house met with universal acclaim.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cathy A.

Our two-week stay at the Merrill House
Our family of sixteen stayed at the Merrill House in Andover, Maine, for two weeks earlier this year and loved it! We have always appreciated the beautiful Maine homes we have seen all over the state, but the Merrill House is definitely the most fantastic home we have yet seen. Our family is involved in several television projects and did some filming at the home and the surrounding region, and it made for a wonderful setting. We especially enjoyed the spacious Great Hall - it was the perfect meeting place for our crowd. Back home, many of our sons have a wedding photography and videography business, and they recognized this home as a perfect spot for a destination wedding. In fact, we are advertising it to our local folks who are looking for a unique place for their special celebration, as this home can accommodate such a large amount of guests. Also, the caretakers, Becky and Bert, are very helpful and considerate in keeping the home looking fresh and clean.

About the host

Hosted by Nick Chandler

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Merrill House (c.1792, on the National Historic Register) looks across “Snow Valley” onto the tail end of the White Mountains in western Maine. Located in Andover, under ½ hour from Bethel and Sunday River Ski area, and surrounded by fields, forest and trails, Merrill House is immersed in natural beauty. The Appalachian Trail passes through Andover, and there are excellent X-country trails and sled runs just outside the door.
The home has been in the family for over two hundred years, since its original construction eight generations ago. The homestead was the first colonial settlement of the valley.

Ezekiel Merrill, Revolutionary War veteran, and his wife Sarah and their young children first trekked in by canoe and foot over 50 miles to spend the winter in a one-room hut that the local Pequaket Indians helped them make. They were under-provisioned and had to trade for food and furs with the native Americans, living largely on potatoes that first winter. The family survived and stayed to establish their farm.

Generations passed and the homestead grew into a working farm with barns and pastures. At the end of the 1800’s Ezekiel’s great grandson Henry Varnum Poor and his son Henry William – made wealthy by the railroads – renovated the farmhouse into the lodge we have today, and the pastures into botanical gardens, with walk-paths and many other features.

Today the Merrill House is available for rent for weddings, retreats, reunions, and seasonal parties. We hope you will enjoy its comfort, charm and its unique piece of American history as much as we do!

Languages:

English