Sleeps | 18 |
Bedrooms | 6 |
Bathrooms | 3 |
Half Baths | 1 |
Space | 4,400 sq ft |
Property type | house |
Minimum Stay | 0 - 7 nights |
This house is a great setting for hosting gatherings of family and friends. With seven bedrooms, 3.5 baths, two kitchens, two living rooms, a large sun room and dining room, two decks, a veranda and balcony, parking for ten cars and spacious, well landscaped grounds, guests have all the room they need to relax and enjoy themselves!
This classic Second Empire mansard mansion, built by Biddeford's mayor in 1927, abounds in charm, with crystal chandeliers, built-in cabinets, hardwood floors with patterned inlays, and sparkling French doors. Walk under the columned entrance of the grand parlor, through the living room with its working brick fireplace and into the inviting sun room lined with built-in benches. The first floor also includes a dining room that seats 12, a well equipped kitchen with an outside deck for grilling, a half-bath, plus a private master bedroom suite with a full bath.
The second floor has three sizable bedrooms, a full bath with laundry, a second full kitchen with a large outside deck and a balcony overlooking the yard. A spectacular cupola crowns the third floor, which has two bedrooms, a full bath and an expansive sleeping/lounge area with two more beds.
The master bedroom has a king (1) and all other bedrooms have queen sized beds (7). In addition, there are two pull-out sofas on the first floor in the living room (double) and sun room (queen). The comfortable beds are outfitted with cotton blend sheets. All bathrooms and the second-floor kitchen are new.
This location is a six-minute drive from the beautiful Fortunes Rocks and Biddeford Pool beaches, half an hour to Portland or Ogunquit, and 15 minutes to Old Orchard Beach or Kennebunkport. Across the street is scenic Clifford Park, with views of the White Mountains and hiking and biking trails, some traversing old granite quarries.
My extended family of 18 (including four children) had an amazing week in this home. It was perfect for all of us coming together and visiting so many great places in Maine. It is located close (within 30 minutes) to Portland, lots of great beaches, and restaurants!
The floor plan layout was spacious and the rooms were very comfortable. While the main floor kitchen is not huge, there are two kitchens in the home which made cooking for large groups much easier. The house is also fully stocked with everything you can think you may need! We were so impressed with how Craig thought to include so much in the home. The four bathrooms are conveniently located throughout the home so certain groups shared the bathrooms. We learned to stagger our showers throughout the day to ensure everyone had hot water for the showers.
Lastly, Craig was a great host. He checked in and provided helpful information about the house. My family really enjoyed being there and we hope to return in the future!
Craig is a wonderful resource of information. His passion for restoring this beautiful mansion is bubbling over. It fit our needs for a reunion of 12 family members from 2 states (MD & Minn). I only heard 2 complaints .Clothing hooks and towel bars were needed in the bathrooms and the main floor refrigerator was making ice but not dispensing ice, even though my cousin removed an ice dam. If we have an opportunity to revisit this ares we would consider renting again.
Our group of 10 friends had a lovely stay at the mansion. We had plenty of room for sleeping and table space to play games and eat communal meals. The house was also large enough that we could all have our space to get away if we wanted, watching TV or relaxing on the deck. The beds were comfortable and there were enough bathrooms for all of us (although hot water was a little in demand in the mornings) The second kitchen was especially helpful for storing snacks and making drinks, and even the washer and dryer came in handy! The house is about a mile from the nearest grocery store and the beach is a short car ride away which was nice. Craig was friendly and helpful, we would recommend the house to friends and family.
I was hesitant to rent a house as I had never done so before. I was worried I wouldn't feel comfortable in someone else's home. All that went away once we arrived. The home was very comfortable and inviting. The yard is very well enclosed with hedges and gives the home a feel of privacy.
The home itself was set up with one master bedroom on the 1st floor. There were 3 bedrooms on the second floor. On the 3rd floor there were 3 beds in an open area (great for the kids) and traditional two bedrooms. We had seven adults (age 37-75) and four kids (age 6-12). There are two kitchens and we didn't even need the second one. We could all eat at the large dining room table. There is laundry on the second floor.
The location is great. There's a park/playground just across the street. There are ocean views and a sandy public beach within a 10 minute drive. Downtown Biddeford is within walking distance. Downtown Saco is a brisk walk or a short drive. We stocked up at a Sam's club about 15-20 minutes away.
The owner, Craig, was great. He gave us some great recommendations for local restaurants and activities. The booking process was easy and the security deposit was returned in a timely manner.
We rented this beautiful home for a family get together to celebrate our child’s graduation from UNE.
Sleeping
We had 16 people (2 children) and everyone slept in a bed. We did not even use the pull out couches. There are 6 separate bedrooms. There are also 3 beds in a big open area on the third floor and 2 pull out couches on the first floor. If privacy is an issue I would say cap it at 12 (2 per bedroom), if not you can sleep almost 20. All sheets and pillows provided.
Eating/Cooking
There are 2 kitchens (1st and 2nd floor) each with a couple of stools. They are not huge but big enough for a few people to work or a small gathering. However since there are 2 kitchens, both of which are wll equiped, you won’t have any problem storing or preparing food. It also had a gas bbq grill on the back porch. There is a large dining room. I don’t remember how many it seats but it was big. I would say at least 12 probably more.
Lounging
Besides the aforementioned kitchens, dining room and bedrooms there are also 2 sitting rooms. One off the dining room and one (sun room) off the entryway. The sun room was beautiful. We spent most of out time there. It was bright and had a lot of seats. We had a great time socializing in this area. Another great spot was the front porch. It is long, had plenty of seating and the children could play in the front yard (along with toys provided in the boot tray in the entryway – great touch).
Bathrooms
1st floor – one full in the bedroom and a half bath. One on each the 2nd and 3rd floor. Plenty of towels. We had 16 people and there were plenty. Bring your own shampoo.
Ambiance
We found it charming. All the artwork, nick knacks and decorations were eclectic and interesting. It is an old house so if you are looking for modern and sparkle you should look elsewhere, but if you want charm and space this is a dream.
Owner
Craig stopped by (on our request) to pick up the last payment. He doesn’t have to as you can get him that payment other ways, however we were glad he did. We were able to ask him questions about the house and get a rundown of its history and the work he has done to make it a wonderful home to stay in. He was charming and you could tell loved this home. We were careful to treat it the same way.
We have come away from this house with wonderful memories. It was plenty big and beautiful if you like Victorian homes. The energy in the home was awesome. Craig was wonderful to work with. It has been a couple weeks and we are still talking about it . we highly recommend this home.
Across the street is Clifford Park for viewing the White Mountains, the ocean with miles of gorgeous hiking/biking trails through granite quarries, and cascading waterfalls. Located 30 minutes from Portland or Ogunquit, 15 minutes from Old Orchard Beach or Kennebunkport, and six minutes from beaches of Fortunes Rocks or Biddeford Pool. The nature conservancy at Biddeford Pool is a terrific vantage point for offshore islands, a lighthouse, and the White Mountains hovering above Old Orchard Beach. The Saco River public boat launch is a mile away, as are kayak rentals for exploring the spectacular Saco River. Boston is a one-and-one-half-hour drive or can be reached via the Amtrak Downeaster. The downtown historic districts of Biddeford or Saco and the train terminal are a delightful ten-minute walk. A recent influx of development has spawned new cafes and ethnic restaurants. The “Museum on the Streets” self-guided walking tour provides background on area history and architecture.
Other Activities: skating
Cleaning | $150 + Tax |
Refundable damage deposit | $1,200 |
Tax Rate | 9.0% |