A True New England Vacation Getaway

Four-star lodging at the Lodge at Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine

by Eric H.

Imagine a vacation destination where you can truly get away from it all and yet still find quality lodging in the "middle of nowhere" -- a location sometimes best known for unrefined, rough-around the edges motels with blaring neon signs serving as the only bright spot of the stay.

The Lodge at Moosehead Lake, in Greenville, Maine, conversely, offers four-star, internationally-recognized lodging in one of the Eastern United States' last great stretches of expansive, virtually unspoiled land. In an area where moose outnumber people 3-1, the Lodge at Moosehead Lake in beautiful northern Maine proudly resides on a bluff where sprawling lawns lead to the stunning 40-mile long Moosehead Lake.

Owners Sonda and Bruce Hamilton reports that the unique lodge "Embodies Maine and Embraces Nature," with a Northwoods decor in eight spacious, intimate rooms featuring twig boarders, rich designer fabrics, antlers and birch limbs as curtain rods and what the Hamilton's call "one-of-a-kind" locally hand-carved Queen four-poster beds. Room names like the "Moose" and "Bear" lend further authenticity to this gem of a lodge with panoramic views of Moosehead Lake.

The natural Northwoods theme --similar to the Adirondack-style lodging architecture -- does not exclude modern day neccesities and comforts as each room includes a private bath with jacuzzi, air conditioning, cable television, gas log fireplace, a sitting area with sofa and chairs and much more to please even the most finicky guest.

Hamilton and his wife Sonda have operated this luxury Inn for five years and have seen their beloved business receive accolades that are are not typical for a Maine lodge. The esteemed Harper Report, which annually singles out a select few hideaway hotels and resorts throughout the world that have special appeal to connoisseurs seeking the finest accommodations in peaceful and unspoiled settings, selected the Lodge at Moosehead Lake as one of 24 Grand Award Winners worldwide in 2005. Additionally, AAA has designated the Lodge a Four-Diamond lodging establishment for many years, and Condé Naste Johansens in 2004 named the Inn as the "Most Outstanding Inn in North America and the Caribbean."

The Lodge at Moosehead Lake visitors can enjoy moose safaris, cross country skiing expeditions, antiques, and fly fishing, including an on-site two-day school to familiarize the novice to this great recreational opportunity. You're likely to see moose, as evidenced by one couple who saw 52 moose during the second week of a July vacation, according to Hamilton.

Although the area is remote, Greenville is a gateway community offering quaint shops, restaurants, and groceries within two-and-one-half hours to Acadia National Park and Camden and less than three hours from Quebec City, Que., one of the great cities of the world.

In a nutshell, the Lodge at Moosehead Lake seems like the perfect place to vacation -- that is, a high quality lodging establishment in an unspoiled region that is accessible to many northeast United States attractions.

"People come up here to the wild and find a world class facility," said the Hamiltons. "We maintain high quality by being hands-on, not by being absentee owners. There are a million nice places to stay out there, but the extra effort that the owner's put in makes a big difference."

The Lodge at Moosehead Lake, 368 Lily Bay Road, P.O. Box 1167, Greenville, Maine, 04441 Tel. 207-695-4400