Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
5 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 85000 sq ft
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Rooms & beds
5 bedrooms (sleeps 8)
Second Floor Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed
Second Floor Master Bedroom
1 King Bed
Third Floor Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Third Floor Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
Third Floor Bedroom 3
2 Single Beds
2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom
First Floor Mini-Bathroom
Toilet
Master Bedroom En Suite
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Third Floor Bath
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
About this property
Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake
This charming semi-historic house is truly unlike any other. Perfectly situated on the eastern shore of beautiful and clean Watchic Lake, you will enjoy abundant sun in the back yard with 100 feet of water frontage great for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or just lounging by the water or on the dock. The house is a spacious three story building with a full kitchen, living room, formal dining room, five bedrooms, laundry area, and two and a half bathrooms. Lovely antique furnishings, wood flooring, and ten foot ceilings on the first floor lend elements of elegance to the house, but what makes it truly remarkable are the porches. The house boasts 2200 square feet of magnificent enclosed porches wrapping around three sides of the first two floors. During the summer months, there is hardly any need for the inner rooms, as the porches provide accommodations for relaxing, recreation and entertainment, eating meals, and even sleeping. These amazing porches make this property truly unlike any other available, and are sure to make your stay here memorable.
Watchic Lake (or Watchic Pond) is a clean and quiet 443 acre lake with a maximum depth of 41 feet. A variety of fish species inhabit the lake, including bass, perch, and pickerel. Several loons and families of ducks also call this lake home. The lake is fed by springs and a small stream, and is drained by two streams, one at each end. Several small privately owned islands can be found near the center of the lake. To date, no invasive aquatic plants have been found in Watchic Lake.
Please note that although this property can comfortably sleep a large number of people, the maximum occupancy of 8 people is strictly enforced to maintain the quality of the lake and to prevent overwhelming the single family septic system.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Similar properties
Lakefront Traditional 4-bedroom cottage in Frye Island
Frye Island
Lakefront Traditional 4-bedroom cottage in Frye Island
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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 and a first aid kit
About the area
Standish
Located in Standish, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Long Beach Marina and Seacoast Adventure are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Poulin Preserve and Waterboro Barrens Preserve. With kayaking, power boating and fishing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
Aroma Joe's - 4 min drive
Panda Market - 16 min drive
Dunkin' - 5 min drive
TJ's - 8 min drive
Limington Martket - 8 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake?
As of 7 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake on 19 Sept 2026 start from £222, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake located?
This family-friendly Standish holiday home is located on a lake, steps from Watchic Pond and within 6 mi (10 km) of Little Watchic Pond and Saco River. Sebago Lake and Horne Pond are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
From the moment we checked in to the minute we checked out, we had an excellent time at The Little Gatsby. Amazing property with excellent hosts, highly recommend a stay here.
Property is beautiful inside and out. Swimming kayaking and canoeing was great! We love this lake and this property. Even the teen and the tweens loved it!
This is our first visit back to the Little Gatsby after a few years of kid’s activities and college conflicts and we found the property even better equipped and outfitted than we remembered. The lake is pristine and peaceful, beds comfortable, and games abundant. To sum up, our 23 yo said “Now I understand why in old times people would be sent to recuperate from an illness at a house by a lake or the sea. It’s just so peaceful and restorative.” Love that Naples and Portland are within a drivable distance as well. When we look for family vacation spots, our standard is the Little Gatsby. Highly recommend.
Little Gatsby was great. Anything you could possibly imagine you need in the kitchen is there already. The expansive porches also have anything that you might need for outside or relaxing on the porch. It was great for us.
We have stayed at that lake a few times and this has been one of the best vacations of all. We had a very warm and sunny 2 weeks even for the end of August. We enjoyed fishing, swimming, kayaking, playing games, and doing the scavenger hunt. The house was very accommodating and had all the conveniences of home. We are already looking forward to next year in hopes we can again rent this very lovely property.
The Little Gatsby was everything we hoped it would be and lived up to everything promised on the website. There was plenty of room for our party of seven adults. You really only need to bring your clothes and high expectations. Michael was very attentive through the whole process.
I highly recommend the Little Gatsby; you’ll enjoy every minute of your stay.
For the first time, all of the family stayed under one roof since leaving our parent's home. What an amazing time. The Little Gatsby afforded plenty of individual space as well as many opportunities to gather for food, games, and reminiscing. The Host was clear with expectations and what was needed for us to be successful with our first VRBO rental and everything was as advertised. It has become a treasured family memory, we all hope to revisit again in the future.
The house was amazing like going back in time with all the modern conveniences. 2 full wrap around porches with all kinds of games, kids toys, books, wildlife mags etc tucked away as well as a ping pong table. The house was plenty big enough for us, 3 grandchildren 4-6, kids & friends visiting and plenty to do. The lake was clear & deep and if we stayed longer the kids would grow gills. Although we had access we felt totally unplugged and relaxed during the week. A great place to spend with family & friends and the owner was very helpful ! On the list to definitely go back ! Art & Reba
The family and I had a great stay at this location, the Little Gatsby was incredible. We had ample room so whether we were gathering for conversation or looking for a quiet corner to read a book in, there was always to sit and be comfortable. The amenities were as described in the listing and there were no disappointments whatsoever. We would definitely book there again!
Host went out of his way to make our stay as pleasant as it could be. House was very nice, plenty of space, very sound proof between rooms which was great with some early risers in the family. Setting was incredibly serene, could not beat the sunset views on the lake. Already talking with my family about renting here again.
Such a relaxing, beautiful spot! Michael’s home on Lake Watchic is a cozy, historic gem. We enjoyed our stay so much and hope to return. Super clean, thoughtful touches throughout and awesome communication with Michael.
Our family very much enjoyed our stay in this charming, spacious lake house! There was far more than enough room for our family (me, my wife, and 5 boys.) The amount of space and things to do (indoor and outdoor) was truly amazing and made for the perfect getaway! The owner was very quick to respond to any questions and was very accommodating. We would highly recommend this to anyone!
We had a very wonderful and relaxing vacation. The house is old but has a lot of character and is fun to explore! The Lake is so beautiful! Would stay here again.
We were very happy with the house during our week there and would recommend it for those looking for a spacious, rustic house on a nice, quiet lake. A great house for a family get-away.
You could make about anything in the kitchen it is so well stocked and organized. Lots of room in the kitchen too with ample counter space. There are even lobster eating tools and a big lobster pot! Which we used one night. Plenty of dishes, cookware, storage containers, and flatware available. The kitchen and dining room tables offered us a nice view of the lake as we ate or played games.
The wrap around porches were amazing and filled with plenty of sitting and eating areas and tons of games and activities. The view from the porches was very nice too, looking out over the lake. There were lots of chairs outside for us to use as we sat around the firepit a couple nights.
The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable with plenty of blankets to keep us warm on the cool fall nights. TV/cable/wi-fi were all up-to-date and very user friendly. The roku allowed me to log into my netflix and Amazon movie accounts and watch movies/shows. It was set up so that I could program in the date we were leaving it it would log me off that specific day. (A great feature!)
The owner was quick to respond when I had a concern and addressed my question.
Kathy H
from Villa Hills, KY
The home is beautiful and has so much character. The location by the lake is suburb. The owner was without question the best. Immediate response and extremely kind. We would rent here again anytime. We didn’t want to leave. The property offers so many activity options for both adults and children. Anything needed is close by the property.
The Little Gatsby is the perfect waterfront home to relax at and reconnect with family members. We spent many hours outside admiring the lake during morning coffee and afternoon lunches. The canoes and kayaks were enjoyed daily on the very clean Watchic Lake, which also provided hours of fun swimming out to and jumping off of the floating dock.
This is a perfect place for families or friends to gather for a week together in the summer. We had two non swimmers and 5 swimmers and the beach and clean/clear water worked out really well for all. I would recommend for folks with kids although we were adults. It was quiet and just a lovely stay. The porches really are amazing and the history of the house is also in character. Wonderful gem of a property.
The lake is pristine as advertised and great for all water activities. You do hear a bit of road noise as the lake sits between Routes 25 and 113 so not as quiet as I would like. The house is big and the porches are the best feature. It is dated but functional. There are many doors and multiple entry ways so when you are coming and going from the property you need to check every door is locked. The neighborhood is very nice. Many nice homes on this lake and the neighbors were very friendly. Not a busy lake, at least during the week we stayed which should be considered high season. We met the State Rep for loons while kayaking. She said there were 12 loons on the lake this year. we saw several of them. I have stayed at many VRBO sites. This property seemed a bit overpriced for the overall condition and amenities however all in all we had a great time.
The Little Gatsby House is a real gem! The house itself is large, unique, and historic. So many nooks and crannies, and such character, you can spend hours just exploring the many features of all of the rooms. The location is perfect - close enough to Portland to enjoy what it has to offer, but its setting and location on Watchic Lake (along with the kayaks, canoes, and row boat that come with the house) make you happy to return there and spend most of your time relaxing on and by the water. The house is comfortable and has anything and everything you could possibly want. There were 7 of us (all adults from an extended family) and the week we spent here was just the getaway we needed this year. Michael, the owner, was very friendly, helpful, and accessible. I highly recommend this property and would definitely consider staying there again.
The house, the location, the setting, the lake, and the owners' hospitality and care combined to provide an extraordinary experience for our family.
The furnishings, amenities (in and outdoors), and creative activities provided were all part of the special charm of The Little Gatsby.
This home is well located for fun in the Lakes Region or just the opportunity to enjoy a quiet afternoon on the dock and swim raft.
Our hosts were a key part of our extraordinary experience. From the first inquiry to our check-out, communications were timely and meaningful. We did not lack anything during our stay. Of the dozens of stays we have enjoyed throughout the U.S., The Little Gatsby is now the top of our list for most enjoyable.
You will thoroughly enjoy your time here.
Thank you Mike and Becky for one extraordinary experience.
Ideal for swimming and kayaking, one of the clearest freshwater lakes I’ve ever seen. House was well stocked and spacious, making it easy to relax on the property and prepare our own meals. Owner was responsive and helpful throughout.
William A.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2020
About the host
Hosted by Michael Hanaburgh
Mike is a long-time resident of Maine who spent several of his childhood years in this very house. He now lives in nearby Gray with his wife and daughter. After many years teaching high school Biology, Mike has recently undertaken the adventure of a career change and transitioned into property management full time.
Why they chose this property
Mike is the fourth generation of his family to own this house. He lived here year round for several years as a child and has continued to spend time here whenever possible in the years since. Now, he is happy to share this beautiful lakefront property with his wife and teenaged daughter, and also with the guests who choose to make their own happy summer memories enjoying all that the property and the lake have to offer.
What makes this property unique
There really is no other place quite like The Little Gatsby House. Ideally located on a beautiful Maine lake, summers here are perfect for making amazing memories to cherish for a lifetime. But what makes this place truly unique are the magnificent enclosed porches that wrap around three sides of the first two floors. You will love spending time there day and night.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests