Elegant Boothbay Waterfront Estate-15 acres/Gardens, Trails, Wildlife
| Sleeps | 11 |
| Bedrooms | 5 |
| Bathrooms | 5 |
| Space | 3,500 sq ft |
| Property type | estate |
| Minimum Stay | 3 - 5 nights |
Overview
5 bedrooms, 5 full, private baths, sleeps 11 in beds
Come away from it all....catch your breath.
Six miles from the bustle of Boothbay Harbor is a peaceful waterfront retreat, set among rolling fields, meandering stone walls and richly colored perennial gardens........imagine a place that evokes your fondest memories....and brings your vacation dreams to bold colorful life....
The estate consists of four New England-style buildings: Farmhouse and historic, 200 year-old Homer Jones barn; a charming garden shed; a renovated 1800s Cape and the Gallery Barn.
The Farmhouse combines new convenience with historical flavor, with exterior porches and dormers, and a new deck with fabulous river views, all surrounded by gardens.
Inside, the first floor holds a large, fully-equipped kitchen, dining area and Great Room, built and furnished with 200 year-old barn-boards and timbers. These rooms face the river, the sunsets and the pond. A cozy media room with current technology and a handicap-accessible King bedroom and bath face the courtyard. On the second floor are four additional bedrooms with private baths; two facing the courtyard, two facing the river, and a Gathering Room above the Great Room.
Wake to birdsong in the apple trees and early morning fog on the Back River....then make yourself delicious coffee and a hearty, healthy breakfast in the fully-equipped kitchen in the elegant Farmhouse.
Wander 15 acres of gardens and woodland trails....borrow a sit-on-top kayak or an inflatable boat to paddle with local seals....enjoy games, ride bikes, meet our friendly bald eagles and other critters.....watch the Maine painted turtles or listen to frogs on the freshwater pond......wander the park-like grounds.....take a cool dip or a sail on the river....
Refreshed, venture out into the Boothbay region to join a tour boat to see whales or puffins, or to go lobstering, shop, view our many art galleries, try some local restaurants and generally have a memorable visit. The Coastal Maine Botanical Garden is only 4 miles away! So is the world-class Boothbay Harbor Country Club golf course! Or try hiking at any of the 13 preserves within 10 miles of this home.
At the end of the day, imagine coming ‘home’ to a snack and drink on the front or new back deck....a good book in the hammock.....a sunset through the windows....and a long, delicious sleep in one of your five lovely bedrooms with private bath, colorful bedding, paddle fans, cable TV, WiFli.
Renewed again, live your bold and colorful life! Both buildings (the charming historic Cape and the elegant Farmhouse) are available year-round.
When the buildings are not rented to Homeaway guests, they are offered in the B&B style...in either case, it's the perfect destination for a personal retreat, family or school reunion, wedding or other gathering event. See more by googling Bold Colorful Life Estate and Retreat Center.
About Melissa Thornton, Owner
I’ve been saving for my ‘dream house’ for 40 years....and I fell in love with kayaking about 12 years ago. After a five year search through waterfront properties in CT, the Adirondacks, MA, NH and finally ME, this was the property that offered the combination of things I'd been seeking. And it was perfect for building vacation rentals so that the awesome environment could be shared.
The setting is idyllic...with fields, woods, many perennial gardens, apple trees, lilac trees and old stone walls wandering down to the Back River. There are 15 acres of land, facing west for sunsets, on the protected waterfront of Maine and with a big freshwater pond and woodlands. The whole estate sits atop Maine ledge, which is sculpted to fall gently towards the water.
It's in an area where I am able, in the 'off-season', to offer weekend and week-long retreats that combine personal growth, spirituality and 'back to nature' events, including hiking, paddling and exploring the nearby Botanical Gardens. And I want to share this beauty with as many people who love Nature and the wild, wonderful aspects of Maine as possible...so vacation rentals are the perfect answer.
Melissa Thornton, Owner purchased this estate in 2006
Why Melissa Thornton, Owner chose Boothbay
Mother Nature has shaped this property to be both elegant and beautiful...the buildings are on the plateau at the top of the estate and the lawns and gardens, stone walls and woodlands slope gently down and down to the Back River. A great Blue Heron often visits the freshwater pond; then flies off towards the river. Our local pair of bald eagles are seen wheeling overhead regularly as the tides change. A huge porcupine was seen at the south end of the property recently and we have visits from foxes and deer, ospreys and hawks.
The property has a healing energy which most people feel the moment they step onto it. A visit here fills the vision with color, the spirits with hope and the body with calm and peace.
What makes this estate unique
The Boothbay peninsula offers the perfect getaway. The area is naturally breath-taking, with forests and fields, farms and gardens, brash rocky coastline and gentle coves and lakes.
Boothbay Harbor is a charming town with lots of engaging activities and it’s just six miles down the road. This is the area to go shopping, visit galleries and craft fairs, sample local fare at great restaurants, enjoy deep water activities like whale watching and lobster-boating.
And there are natural bonuses: 13 nature preserves for hiking within 10 miles---5 within 5 miles---one within 1/2 mile; a world-class Botanical Garden within 4 miles; kayaking possibilities in rivers and lakes and the Atlantic. We also have a world-class golf course 4 miles away.
The Rockland/Camden area and Freeport shopping are within an hour's drive in either direction; and my favorite Maine park, Acadia National Park is just under three hours away. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward island, both favorite parts of Canada, are nearby too…
The Bold Colorful Life Estate is also a Retreat Center in the off-season, so plan to join us for a Retreat for personal growth, renewal and spiritual centering...The Bold Colorful Life Gallery offers colorful elegant jewelry, stunning natural photographs, and dramatic works of art in oil and pastel to our rental guests...when it's open.
Amenities
Boothbay Estate Accommodation and Amenities
- estate
- Guests provide their own meals
- 3500 sq ft
- Check-in: 4:00 PM /
- Check-out: 12:00 PM
- Max. occupancy: 11
- Min. age of primary renter: 25
- Children welcome ...
- Parties/events allowed
- Pets not allowed
- Non smoking only
- Near The Ocean ...
- River ...
- Waterfront ...
- Waterfront ...
- Adventure
- Away From It All
- Activities Guide
- Air Conditioning ...
- Alarm Clock
- Basic Soaps
- Ceiling Fans
- Clothes Dryer ...
- Fireplace ...
- Firewood
- Fitness Room / Equipment ...
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
- Internet ...
- Iron & Board
- Laundry Soap
- Linens Provided ...
- Living Room ...
- Local Activities Guide
- Local Maps
- Local Restaurant Guide
- Paper Towels
- Parking
- Parking Off Street
- Sofa Bed
- Toilet Paper
- Towels Provided ...
- Washing Machine ...
- Wireless Internet ...
- Blender
- Coffee Grinder
- Coffee Maker ...
- Cooking Utensils ...
- Dishes & Utensils ...
- Dishwasher
- Freezer
- Kitchen ...
- Lobster Pot
- Microwave ...
- Oven ...
- Pantry Items ...
- Refrigerator ...
- Stove ...
- Stove
- Toaster ...
- Dining ...
- Dining Room
- seating for 18 people
- 5 Bathrooms
-
Bathroom 1 -
toilet
,
shower
,
Handicap-Accessible
Bathroom 2 - toilet , combination tub/shower
Bathroom 3 - toilet , combination tub/shower
Bathroom 4 - toilet , combination tub/shower
Bathroom 5 - toilet , combination tub/shower
- All four regular bedrooms have private bathrooms with shower/tubs (we have a handicapped shower with seat in the Malachite King room), pedestal sinks, comfort height toilets and space for toiletries and cosmetics. Towels are plush and colorful. Fans quietly remove excess humidity. These bathrooms provide a private sanctuary.
- 5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 11
-
Bedroom 1 -
1 king
,
Malachite.Handicap-Accessible
Bedroom 2 - 1 queen , 1 twin/ single , Lapis Lazuli
Bedroom 3 - 1 queen , Watermelon Tourmaline
Bedroom 4 - 1 double , Amethyst
Bedroom 5 - 1 queen , Tangerine Citrine
- The Watermelon Tourmaline room & the Tangerine Citrine room, on the second floor of the farmhouse, look south over the front porch, across the courtyard to the Cape & barn, & across Back River road into nine acres of woods & wood trails.They are blessed with morning sun & bird calls. The Malachite room, on the first floor of the Farmhouse, does as well. It is handicap-equipped throughout. The Lapis Lazuli & Amethyst rooms, also second floor, face northwest to Back River, with a sweeping view of the river & the cove at the bottom of the property, & out over the back porch and new back deck, towards the apple orchard & the freshwater pond. Spring & Summer nights, the air is filled with the sound of peepers & frogs. Amenities in bedrooms include a paddle fan; Cable TV access in all rooms; one movable TV; WiFli; room-darkening shades; colorful linens.
- Books ...
- Books for Adults
- Books for Kids
- DVD Player ...
- Games ...
- Games for Kids
- Piano
- Radio
- Satellite / Cable ...
- Stereo ...
- Television ...
- Toys ...
- VCR
- Video Library ...
- Bicycles ...
- Binoculars
- Boat ...
- Boat with Paddles
- Deck / Patio ...
- Golf ...
- Golf Clubs
- Kayak / Canoe ...
- Large Cooler
- Lawn / Garden ...
- Outdoor Grill ...
- Outdoor Grill Gas
- Porch / Veranda ...
- Tennis ...
- Unscreened Porch / Veranda
- Walkway to Water
- Water Sports Gear ...
- 1 bicycles
- 8 garden chairs
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- Low Allergen Environment
- suitable for elderly or infirm
- wheelchair accessible ...
- arboretum
- autumn foliage
- bay/sound
- botanical garden
- churches
- cinemas
- coin laundry
- festivals
- forests
- library
- live theater
- marina
- museums
- playground
- pond
- recreation center
- restaurants
- theme parks
- antiquing
- beachcombing
- bird watching
- eco tourism
- horseback riding
- horseshoes
- outlet shopping
- paddle boating
- photography
- scenic drives
- sight seeing
- sledding
- walking
- whale watching
- ATM/bank
- Babysitter
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
- basketball court
- cycling
- deepsea fishing
- equestrian events
- fishing
- fly fishing
- freshwater fishing
- golf
- hiking
- hunting
- ice skating
- mountain biking
- pier fishing
- rafting
- sailing
- skiing
- snorkeling
- sound/bay fishing
- swimming
- tennis
- water skiing
Reviews
Wonderful!
4.9/5 -
(54 traveler reviews)
Perfect reunion getaway
This is the perfect spot for a high school or college reunion getaway. Each guest has a private room and bath - so 6 adults can sleep separately without disturbing others. The large kitchen makes communal meal preparation easy and enjoyable, the dining room has a huge table made from a barn door for playing games and sitting around chatting, and the living room has a piano for singing and carousing. The views overlooking Back River are spectacular with 15 acres to explore, and kayaks are available to paddle around and see an eagle's nest and other wildlife. There are lots of great restaurants in Boothbay Harbor and neighboring towns within easy driving distance - including a brew pub and an old diner with homemade fruit and Whoopie pies. The atmosphere is a throw back to earlier times with lighthouses to climb and hiking paths to explore - a respite from modern civilization. Melissa is a fantastic host whose owner's quarters are adjacent to the property, so she is readily available to provide suggestions that are always spot on.
Great for a family gathering, awesome owner!
The farmhouse is such a wonderful retreat!! Everything in the online description was to a T accurate. Melissa gave us a much appreciated orientation/walk through too, she is a gracious and considerate hostess. We are so glad we chose this place it had everything we needed to make our stay memoriable. The surrounding grounds had so many awesome quiet places to retreat and the young adults with us not only utilized those but loved the second floor lounge space. All our visiting relatives not only were 'awed' by her creativeness, but commented they would like to return for a family gathering in the future, so bravo to Melissa! She even sent a few emails highlighting some daily activities going on in the local area. We will be forever grateful for the attention we received that made our stay so pleasant.
Wonderful, off the beaten path
Off the beaten path but close to everything in Booth Bay. Great for a large group. Melissa greeted us and answered all of our questions. The house had everything we needed. We would stay there again!
Big, Spacious - Perfect!
This is a fantastic spot! Between the Farmhouse and the grounds, a lot of space to unwind and relax and enjoy Boothbay. We had a group of 8, split evenly among adults and kids. The kids had plenty of choices for where to play inside and do their thing, and that didn't compete with what the adults wanted to do. The Library/Study on the main floor is an especially cool space.
Love the large Kitchen and Dining Room. Easily handled the 8 of us when making meals and fixing snacks & cocktails.
The outside and backyard was really nice. Lots to explore. The kids loved the various hammocks! We made good use of both the kayaks and the outside games/toys (wife ball, etc.). So many options; easy to keep the day rolling without anyone saying they are bored!
Nice view of the tidal river from both inside the house and from the back deck. Just the right amount of water view to help you appreciate the area and set the right atmosphere.
Very convenient location. It's just 15 minutes to downtown Boothbay Harbor and the all the restaurants and shopping. You don't have to over-plan the day in order to get into town.
We really enjoyed our stay and Melissa was more than accommodating. Not that we needed anything but she was available if we needed her.
I'd definitely go back!
Family reunion at The Farmhouse and The Cape
To Melissa: Thank you so much for all your kind words and for your thoughtfulness while we were in Maine.
My mother passed away last June, When we were kids, we had a cottage in Damariscotta and spent much of our summers there. Picnics at Pemaquid Point were among Mom’s favorite times. To commemorate her life, we decided to have a whole family reunion a year after her passing. We rented both the Farmhouse and the Cape to accommodate the large group.
The week turned out even better than I had hoped… in no small part because of the wonderful and comfortable accommodations provided. The place is lovely. It’s clearly something that you should be very proud of: fully equipped, completely stocked, well maintained, clean and spacious. And the attention to detail is amazing. It was a joy and a surprise that even after 7 days, we’d walk into a room and see some other interesting/lovely/curious (and of course, color coordinated) item that we hadn’t noticed before!
I am glad to know that my rather large crew was not an imposition or disruptive. The children are generally well behaved but with that many kids and that young, you never know!!! Their good behavior was a result of how happy they were. The spacious lawn with a range of paths weaving through the tall grass kept them running around for hours. The prospect of making ice cream one night and having s’mores at the fire pit another night also may have encouraged good behavior.
I am ever so thankful to have found such a lovely and comfy place for my family to be together and to build more happy memories as we celebrated my mom’s life.
Georgia Dawgs
The house was brightly colored and inviting from the moment we stepped inside. There were plenty of supplies throughout the beautiful home, and Melissa had thought of everything we might need during our stay. When we had questions or needs came up, Melissa was available immediately to do whatever was necessary to make it happen. The grounds are beautifully manicured and there is plenty of yard space for children to run and play. We especially enjoyed the rocking chairs on the front porch and the ones on the back deck.
Map
Come away from it all....catch your breath. Wander 15 acres of estate gardens and woodland trails....borrow an inflatable boat to paddle with local seals....meet our friendly bald eagles and other critters....listen to the loons on a River View bench...play croquet or badminton on the many lawns....watch the Maine painted turtles or listen to frogs on the freshwater pond....wander the park-like grounds....take a cool dip or sail on the river...enjoy a book in a hammock. Refreshed, venture out into the Boothbay region. Close proximity to ocean, restaurants, golf, mini-golf, boating, world-class golfing, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and every kind of shopping and gallery. There are 13 hiking preserves within 10 miles, freshwater swimming and ice fishing at Knickerbocker Lake, 3 miles down the road. There are small Maine beaches within 10 miles and large ones within an hour's scenic drive. Other Activities: Shopping, Kayaking, Boating, Snowboarding, Wildlife Viewing, Hiking, Health/Beauty Spa, Horseshoes, Mini Golf, Antique museum and Railway Village, State Aquarium, tours to see islands, puffins, whales and lobster boats. There's a year-round Opera house; playhouse, movie theatre and Historical Society. And did we mention the local restaurants and shops???
The Bold Colorful Life Gallery offers colorful elegant jewelry, stunning natural photographs, and dramatic works of art in oil and pastel to our rental guests....when it is open.
The Bold Colorful Life Estate is also a Retreat Center, so plan to join us for a Retreat for personal growth, renewal and spiritual centering...
Photos
Rates & Availability
- Available
- Unavailable
Additional information about rental rates
| Linens Cleaning Fee | $150 |
| Refundable damage deposit | $500 |
| Tax Rate | 9.0% |
All guests are required to fill out, sign and send a contract for the rental terms. The address is 802 Back River Rd., Boothbay, ME 04537
Rates are subject to change until reservation is confirmed.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
- Canceled bookings will not receive a refund
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