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Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape

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Outdoor dining
Exterior detail
4 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 91255 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Gym
    Gym
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape

Do you want a kid-friendly place for a family vacation? In search of a spot for a romantic getaway, a spiritual retreat, time with a group of friends who love skiing and or being together? Do you need a quiet and beautiful setting in which to study, read, write, create, reflect, recharge, work, or pursue a spiritual quest? Do you like skiing or other winter sports? Do you want an escape surrounded by natural beauty? Would you like a personal spiritual or yoga retreat? Are you an artist, writer or musician who wants to tap into your inner well of creativity?

Our beautiful, year round vacation home is located in The Western Maine Mountain Region on 22 wooded acres on Clearwater Lake, one of Maine's most pristine, spring-fed lakes. The lake has six-and-one-half miles of shore line with a maximum depth of 135 feet. It is near the culturally rich college town of Farmington, Maine and a little under 200 miles distant from Boston.

It feels nourishing here on Clearwater Lake. We can slow down and not be interrupted, and enjoy beautiful views from the house's windows as well as venturing into (or on) the lake and the surrounding woods.

When I come here from my Cambridge Mass home, I love how deeply I sleep, and how rested I feel when I return to the city. I feel more deeply connected with nature after visiting. Kids delight in finding new adventure and fun outside their usual activities.

Enjoy a morning cup of tea or coffee out on the large wrap around deck in the warmer weather.

In cooler or inclement weather gaze at the lake and its surrounding wooded hills through the floor-to-ceiling living room windows.

In wintry weather, enjoy the panoramic view from inside looking through the picture windows at the surrounding mountains, the trees, the snow and ice, and sky. The scene is always changing with mist appearing and disappearing, with sunsets and sunrises, and with visiting birds and other wildlife.

The house has a large deck with a grill with a large picnic table. You can enjoy the deck, reading and resting or simply watching the lake.

Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, the location abounds in opportunities for outdoor play and nature viewing.

Accommodations:
The home is fully winterized and can sleep 9 people.
It has 2 downstairs bedrooms, a romantic sleeping loft, a daybed, and convertible futon sofa bed in the living room.

The house has beds for 3 couples (4 if the sofa bed is used) plus one person on the day bed.

The bathroom is built of natural wood. It has a skylight, a shower, and a clothes washer/dryer.

The house has a propane furnace, a state-of-the-art thermostat, is fully insulated, has radiant floor heating and a fireplace/wood burning stove.

The living room wood burning stove has a glass front and screen. It functions both as a cozy fireplace and a source of extra warmth.

There is a land-line phone with toll-free calling throughout the US and Canada.

The house has wired and wireless high-speed Internet.

In the large, comfortable living room one can curl up on the day bed, couch or in a chair and enjoy a book, music, a warm fire and the many views of the lake and surroundings.

The living room has a well-stocked board game cabinet filled with chess, checkers, monopoly and many other board games.

The full modern kitchen has a refrigerator, stove and microwave along with utensils, pots and pans, a blender, and most everything you have at home for cooking.

The lake side of the house has floor-to-ceiling picture windows so you can be safe from the elements inside as you view constantly changing beautiful outdoor vistas.

Year Round

The views of the lake and surrounding mountains around are always stunning, no matter the season.

The house is remote and private yet easily accessible by car.

It is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway, a spiritual retreat, a group of friends who love skiing and or being together, or as a place to recharge one's creative juices.

Visitors have finished writing projects and written songs inspired by the location.

Enjoy the romance of the wood stove and the comfort of warm floors.

Feel cozy, safe, and nurtured in every season.

On clear nights one has spectacular views of the stars.

The house is very private as it is surrounded by acres of woods on three sides and the lake on the fourth.

The nearby town of Farmington has a campus of The University of Maine and always has a variety of diverse cultural offerings including adult theater, children's theater, dance and live music.

Farmington also offers good new and used bookstores, a multiplex cinema, grocery shopping, gift stores and much more.

See current and near-term local events on the Daily Bulldog web site.

Winter Use:
The house is on a dirt road accessed from a paved road. The dirt road is about one mile long and goes down a hill to reach the house. In the winter this road is plowed and year-round residents drive it daily. However, it can get icy. Four wheel drive and/or snow tires are advisable.

Skiing

Ski on nearby (within 15 minutes) Titcomb Mountain with 16 alpine trails for all skill levels and many cross-country skiing trails.
Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort, on Maine's second highest peak is the only lift-serviced above-treeline skiing in the East. It is 40 - 60 minutes away.

Saddleback Mountain with 66 trails and 5 lifts is an one hour and 23 minutes away.

Sunday River Ski Resort offering 132 trails, 671 acres, and 8 interconnected mountains is an hour and 20 minutes distant.

Cross-country skiing
Ice skating
Snowshoeing
Ice fishing - see our Fishing Laws And Regulations page on our ClearwaterEscapes website to learn about local fishing laws and regulations.


Spring, Summer and Fall Use
Our house is available in winter months, and the 'camp' (what Mainers call a non-winterized cottage) is available in the warmer months from May to October.

It is great for a variety of water sports.
Swimming
Boating. The house has a canoe, two kayaks, a child's canoe, a row boat, and by special arrangement the use of our two sailboats.
Water skiing
Hiking - on our property and from the property to nearby trails
Bicycling

Fall Foliage is spectacular!

Most evenings one is serenaded to sleep by the loons that call the lake home.


Travel

The house is a 200 mile drive from Cambridge, MA. We usually drive it in a bit under four hours.

The nearby town of Farmington (6 miles) is a college town with friendly people and local happenings and eateries.


Features

Phone
Wired and wireless Internet connectivity
Washer/Dryer
Canoes, kayaks, sailboats and rowboat

Suitability

Dog Friendly, no cats
Kid Friendly

I love how kids find ways to entertain themselves here, creatively and without a television! The house has lots of books and games for children, with a basket of toys and a box of Legos.

Smoking Not Allowed

Seasonal local activities

Golf
Tennis
Shopping
Restaurants
Rafting
Kayaking
Sailing
Boating
Waterskiing
Jet Skiing
Swimming
Snorkeling/Diving
Windsurfing
Hatha Yoga: mats, inversion swing, and props at house with free community class in town.
Biking
Mountain Biking
Cross Country Skiing
Downhill/Alpine Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowmobiling
Sledding/Tubing
Wildlife Viewing
Kayaking and canoeing
Table Tennis
Hiking
Fishing - see our Fishing Laws And Regulations webpage at on our clearwaterescapes website to learn about local fishing laws and regulations.
Rock Climbing
Fitness Center/Gym
Health/Beauty Spa
Basketball Court in town, at park, and at UMF fitness center
Antiquing
Cinema and six screen local movie theaters
Museums and galleries
Horseback Riding
Tennis

Property manager

Victor Oppenheimer

Languages

English

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Computer monitor
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • Up to 23 kg per pet

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • In-room accessibility
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • In the mountains
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Boat
  • Gym
  • Kayak
  • Snow sports gear
  • Water sports equipment
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Unit size: 1,255 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total (up to 23 kg per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: We charge $10 per pet per night for approved pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

Property is also known as

Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat Nature Getaway
Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Getaway Farmington

About the area

Map
Farmington, ME

What's nearby

  • Richardson Tract - 12 min drive
  • University of Maine - Farmington - 13 min drive
  • Titcomb Mountain Ski Area - 18 min drive
  • Sugarloaf Ski Resort - 66 min drive
  • Sugarloaf Mountain - 116 min drive

Getting around

  • Waterville, ME (WVL-Robert Lafleur) - 62 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Arkay Pizza & Variety Store - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Orange Cat Cafe - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Java Joe's Corner Cafe - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Jade Palace Restuarant - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of UMF Art Gallery, Richardson Tract and University of Maine - Farmington. Titcomb Mountain Ski Area and Lower Fox are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Lake House Wooded Vacation Retreat and Nature Escape Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 45 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful, serene, cozy
This is such a perfect place to enjoy the tranquility of Clearwater Pond, with a well-appointed house in a great location. Will definitely return.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

christopher k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Get away
Nice little weekend escape. Beautiful view in a hide away. Would definitely recommend, and definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hunter B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect place
Just an absolute dream, a little out of the way so even in March you need 4 wheel drive to really get to the property safely. Excellent instructions, a manual that made everything clear and easy to follow, beautiful amenities especially the fireplace, would love to come back.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katelyn P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay!
We had a wonderful time! Wood stove was cozy, great ice fishing, caught salmon! Super cool house. Thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location for Ice Fishing!
It’s a very nice quiet location for a small group of people to stay. Very clean, organized and stocked with pretty much all the amenities one would need during a stay. The owner was very accommodating when our group needed to switch our rental date. Luckily, with the ice conditions this year, we were able to fish on the pond and we caught some fish. Overall a great place and stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kailey N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice spot
Beautiful home surrounded by nature and privacy. House is well equipped with anything you'd need for a comfortable stay. Host was helpful and responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful get away.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Victor was very responsive when needed, which was only once, as everything was perfect. The view of the water, and sitting by the fire outside near the small running stream was fantastic. Highly recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Maine getaway
Lovely cabin directly on the water. Charming and peaceful. Awesome amenities. Thank you so much!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H., Caribou, Maine

Liked: Cleanliness
4-season camp on Clearwater Lake
Spacious camp, beautiful wood floors with radiant heat, lots of windows and natural light
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kate C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful views
Had a great time I’ve skating on the lake! Very comfortable and clean in the house. If you are visiting in the winter make sure your car has 4 wheel drive. Owner was very responsive and helpful. We had a wonderful time!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Philipp K.

Liked: Cleanliness
2 night stay
Cosy wood house located directly on a lake. Happy to bring our dog
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place for ice fishing, if Mother Nature was a little more cooperative.
Very nice little cabin on Clearwater pond. The camp is stocked with all the basic amenities anyone would need. Sadly our group was unable to fish on Clearwater for the first few days of our stay due to thin ice conditions. The last day of our stay we were able to fish with an average of 5” from the shoreline to about 100’ out, always check the ice as you go! There are a few good nearby lakes to fish on as well with safe ice, Porter lake and Wesserrunsett lake. Overall, it’s a great location, and a nice place to stay for a small group.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeton H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place, do not miss it
Obviously well cared for, beautiful cabin on the water with everything you could possibly need ready to go (besides perishables obviously). Do not overlook this place, we stayed and hiked little jackson about an hour away, fantastic weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect family getaway
This lakeside home was the perfect choice for our Christmas family getaway. The large shower, radiant heat flooring, indoor and outdoor fireplaces were amazing. We loved the rustic vibe with updated amenities and you can't beat the floor-to-ceiling lake view! Thank you, Victor, for giving our Florida family the opportunity to experience a Maine Lakeside Winter in all its glory! Memories were made.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Danielle d.

Liked: Cleanliness
fantastic weekend
We could not have been happier with our stay! The house is gorgeous, well situated and well appointed. We spent a good amount of time indoors in front of the fire given it was a very rainy weekend. Depending on where you placed yourself, you either felt you were in a boat in the water or perched in a treehouse. Truly ideal! We look forward to visiting again.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lakeside Bliss
Our vacation goal had been to “get away from it all,” and Clearwater House did not disappoint! We stayed for almost a week in October, when the foliage was post-peak, but still glorious. The house is in a wooded area at waterside, with expansive views of the lake from the deck, kitchen and living area. There are several rocking chairs and other places to lounge indoors, our favorite being a foldout futon in a corner nook with water-facing windows on two sides. Between walks in the woods and forays into nearby Farmington, we spent a great deal of time simply reading, relaxing and gazing out at the natural beauty. In the evenings, we experienced the true sounds of silence and the star-studded night sky. Victor was a very gracious host and his “house manual” a very helpful resource. We left fully recharged and would return in a heartbeat.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michele S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing Weekend!
My husband and I spent our 20th anniversary here! The house is great, beautiful location! Kayaked around the lake, read, listened to music, listened to the loons and the water lapping against the house. The host has a very thorough information manual about the house, activities, anything you may need to know to make for a smooth check in and stay! I would highly reccomend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dawn D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Property
We truly enjoyed our stay at this lovely property. It was a peaceful and calming retreat away from our hectic lives. The house was clean and tidy and we didn't want for anything. It is located within a 2 hour drive of the coast and the Canadian border. There was so much to see and do and our dogs enjoyed the walks around the pristine lake. During our stay we had some clear skies at night and the view of the stars ( and a few meteors) was breath taking. Please do yourself a favor and stay at this location you will not be disappointed.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Katherine D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome weekend get away!
We had such a great time here!!! It’s the perfect place to get away!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Winter stay
Our stay was great! Very clean place that had everything we needed. The kids absolutely loves the indoor swings and the location of the camp being literally right on the water, made ice fishing easily accessible.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

sharon k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing Haven
perfect getaway to relax and have no TV, cell, or outside noise except for nature and the wind blowing through the trees.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

4/10 Poor

Rachel D.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Anniversary Trip
I will start by saying that the house’s location was what we were looking for in it terms of its privacy and quietness. The view of the lake and surrounding mountains from the dock was beautiful. The wood stove worked well. Unfortunately that is largely the positive extent of our visit. To start, we had asked for an early check in which was denied in order to have proper cleaning from the previous visitors. No problem, completely understand that. However, one would expect that the house would then be clean when we arrived. The house was far from clean and honestly it did not even feel as though it was cleaned at all. The toilet seat had urine on it and the bathroom only had a very small amount of watered down hand soap. The kitchen had no hand soap except for a used bar of soap. The kitchen table was extremely sticky and covered in crumbs. One of the beds had crushed up leaves on it. The others had limited and mismatched pillows. The futon was seemingly broken and unable to close. The quilt on the futon was ripped. One of the chairs in the living room was also broken. The original posting for the house lists a TV but there is not a TV in the house I learned from contacting the host after booking. Outside the house no leaf maintenance was done leaving the deck very wet, slippery and dangerous. All of the outside soft chairs were left outside to be rained on and were wet. The most shocking part of our stay was when a woman (who did not identify who she was) first came to the house to remove some plants outside. She startled us but we figured she was some kind of property manager. She then knocked on the door asking for some box of clothing that I could not locate. Then she opened the door and came inside without asking to look for this box. As others have mentioned, it did take us a couple of days to figure out the heat as well. Even with the thermostat completely down the house would still be extremely warm. I contacted the host before booking inquiring about the privacy of the property and he did not make any mention of another house on the property that shares the boats. We felt that was not really as advertised as there was no mention of this in the listing either. Luckily we did not have any issues with this but I suspect that is only because it was later in the fall when it is less popular time to stay at the non-winterized camp next door. For the price we were disappointed. During these times cleaning should be a priority.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

barbara c.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved it… again!
Second visit to this property and it was even better than the first. Beautiful views and so peaceful. As others have mentioned there’s a trick to the oven- the temperatures aren’t marked at all so you have to guess but there’s a thermometer inside the oven so you can check your accuracy. Our first night there was chilly so we started a fire- so cozy! The second night was quite a bit warmer so we enjoyed the fire pit outside.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rachel B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home on the lake
We had such a wonderful time at this home. The lake views are stunning especially with the fall colors contrasting the clear blue water! We had the best time kayaking in the crystal clear water listening to the loons and watching the sunset. Our kids loved the loft. The house was clean and had everything we needed. We enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the fire pit and star gazing. The starts are so vivid it’s truly magical. It was our dream fall vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephen B., Woburn MA

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property in on a nice lake with an amazing view
We had a really nice time. The house was very clean and well setup. Perfect location right on the water at the end of a dead end road. Great place for a family get away and communication with the owner was fast and easy.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021