A stay in a classic seaside vacation cottage has long been part of a summer trip to Maine. Now there’s a revamped version of those old time cottage colonies called Salt Cottages that dispenses with knotty pine and dark interiors and instead brings a high design and a glamping sensibility to this tradition. Enviably situated on Mount Desert Island, just outside of Bar Harbor and close to Acadia National Park, Salt Cottages will be the sister property to the historic and recently reimagined Claremont Hotel in nearby Southwest Harbor, which I profiled last year in Forbes.
The former Colony Cottages, the cottages and adjacent motor lodge were bought last year by developer and hotelier Tim Harrington, owner of The Claremont, The Lincoln Hotel, The Wanderer Cottages, and Founding Partner of Kennebunkport Resort Collection, which includes The Tides Beach Club, Cape Arundel Inn & Resort, and Hidden Pond Resort in Kennebunkport. His business partner is Debbie Lennon, Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Hospitality.
“Following the successful debut of the reimagined Claremont Hotel, we are excited to welcome guests to our new venture, a vintage-inspired getaway centrally located steps away from Acadia National Park and downtown Bar Harbor,” says Harrington. “Salt Cottages will bring its nostalgic hospitality approach to the destination’s rich heritage and encourage families, couples, and adventurers to celebrate and immerse themselves into the natural beauty of the great outdoors.”
Salt Cottages, which is scheduled to open its doors this summer on the Fourth of July weekend, is a nostalgia-laden version of a Maine coastal getaway, upgraded for 21st century travelers seeking smart design and upgraded amenities. Set on a hillside overlooking Hull’s Cove, the resort features a total of 40 accommodations, including 30 stand-alone cottages and 10 motor lodge rooms. It’s aimed at both couples and families.
The interiors are white and bright. Vaulted ceilings have been painted blue, and the interior designers went with neutral tones and bamboo and rattan textures. The beds have white metal headboards, white sheets and decorative colored pillows. There are soft blue colored side tables, sourced locally from Maine Woodworks, are situated along an accent wall along with nautical antique art and wide wicker pendants. The vintage-styled fixtures and furniture pieces used throughout were designed by Schoolhouse Electric, Rejuvenation, and Sazerac Stitches. They’re placed amongst natural bamboo and rattan textures. Each cottage features a kitchenette, a porch, ocean views and an outdoor garden patio.
The amenities of Salt Cottages include an outdoor pool overlooking Frenchman Bay, two hot tubs, stone fire pits, a game room outfitted with classic board and card games, playground, and a micro-store boutique with bespoke Maine memorabilia. There will be a full-service snack bar called Picnic that evokes the 1950’s, with grab-and-go options for breakfast and lunch that can be enjoyed on the patio seating overlooking the ocean. It will also feature an old-time ice cream window.
Downtown Bar Harbor, with its restaurants, sights, restaurants, and attractions is a few minutes’ drive away, as is the Hull’s Cove entrance to Acadia National Park. In short, it promises to be a great base for exploring much more of the Maine coast.
Opening rates at Salt Cottages start at $399 for a king motor lodge guest room, and stand-alone cottages start at $525. The hotel is currently accepting bookings for stays through reservations@saltcottagesbarharbor.com. For additional information, visit saltcottagesbarharbor.com.
