3500 SF Original School transformed into an artful, gorgeous village home, yard
House in Acadia National Park, ME
12 guests · 7 bedrooms · 3 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
About this house rental
Built in 1887 as the original Bar Harbor High School (Emerson School), the Emerson House occupies the ground floor of the two-story school house (note: there is another unit on the second floor. With advance notice, and if available, the entire building can be rented for larger parties). Located in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor, it is conveniently located within walking distance of everything! No worries about finding an elusive parking space - just park and walk. Frenchman's Bay is just two blocks away in two directions. In between are many restaurants, shops, grocery stores, two movie theaters, several parks, and access to a free shuttle that covers Acadia National Park and the rest of the Island.
The street Emerson House is situated on is one of the nicest residential streets in the village. It is sometimes referred to as "Mistress Row," primarily because JP Morgan is rumored to have built one of the houses for his mistress so he could visit her when he moored his yacht in the Harbor. Tree-lined and full of well-maintained turn-of-the-century homes built during Bar Harbor's famed Gilded Era, the one-way street is surprisingly quiet for its central location. Porch sitting is a summer past-time for the neighborhood - always a delight during the mild and near bug-free afternoons and evenings.
Until 1914, the building saw a generation of students pass through its doors until a larger school was built. It was then purchased by the Masons, who used the upstairs (now "Mason House") for their gatherings, and they rented out the first floor for groups to hold events, classes, etc. It remained in the hands of the Masons until late 2016, when the neighbors across the street purchased it - a couple of architects with a penchant for acquiring and restoring/repurposing historic properties. They had the vision to maintain the best of the features, spaces, and details and bring everything up to modern standards of comfort and design.
The design of the Emerson House is inspired by elements that were an essential part of the original building, such as the wood beadboard wainscot and cabinets and the high ceiling with beams and heavy trim work. The decor is inspired by a large set of vintage "Blue Willow" china that was left behind, reflected in the kitchen's color scheme, modern fabrics that harken to the same feeling, and an array of china as wall decoration. Furnishings include a mix of antiques and new furniture. Once stripped of all of the lateral windows, new windows have been installed, including a 16-foot long four-panel door in the living room, leading to a covered deck and a good-sized fenced yard. Once possessing a catering kitchen, it still has a 10-burner, two commercial oven ranges, plus a plethora of new appliances. A large dining area, with a wide sideboard and a bar, includes a 12-foot-long table (an original to the building). All wiring and lighting have been updated, and the main space is air-conditioned.
Four bedrooms contain a king-sized bed, and one has two twins; all have a ceiling fan and dresser/armoire. There is also a ladder-accessible loft with a twin bed (an absolute kid favorite!). There are three bathrooms: two designed to accommodate multiple users, with separate rooms for the WC, shower, and vanity, plus a full bathroom with shower and tub. The 28 x 26 living room includes two sofas, oversized chairs, a game table, a fireplace, and a large-screen TV. There is also a SECOND living area with a queen sleeper sofa, and a dining table for 6, which can also be used as an office, and a kitchenette. The fifth bedroom, sleeping loft and second living room offer an added layer of privacy, like an in-law suite with a connecting door ( and that is all included in this rental).
All check-ins are self-check-ins with a digital lock. The home is spacious, and the yard is completely private, with several private entrances. The location is quiet, and it is easy to get to the Park and other areas of interest.
This property is licensed and has been inspected by the Town of Bar Harbor. The license number is VR2R22-349
The street Emerson House is situated on is one of the nicest residential streets in the village. It is sometimes referred to as "Mistress Row," primarily because JP Morgan is rumored to have built one of the houses for his mistress so he could visit her when he moored his yacht in the Harbor. Tree-lined and full of well-maintained turn-of-the-century homes built during Bar Harbor's famed Gilded Era, the one-way street is surprisingly quiet for its central location. Porch sitting is a summer past-time for the neighborhood - always a delight during the mild and near bug-free afternoons and evenings.
Until 1914, the building saw a generation of students pass through its doors until a larger school was built. It was then purchased by the Masons, who used the upstairs (now "Mason House") for their gatherings, and they rented out the first floor for groups to hold events, classes, etc. It remained in the hands of the Masons until late 2016, when the neighbors across the street purchased it - a couple of architects with a penchant for acquiring and restoring/repurposing historic properties. They had the vision to maintain the best of the features, spaces, and details and bring everything up to modern standards of comfort and design.
The design of the Emerson House is inspired by elements that were an essential part of the original building, such as the wood beadboard wainscot and cabinets and the high ceiling with beams and heavy trim work. The decor is inspired by a large set of vintage "Blue Willow" china that was left behind, reflected in the kitchen's color scheme, modern fabrics that harken to the same feeling, and an array of china as wall decoration. Furnishings include a mix of antiques and new furniture. Once stripped of all of the lateral windows, new windows have been installed, including a 16-foot long four-panel door in the living room, leading to a covered deck and a good-sized fenced yard. Once possessing a catering kitchen, it still has a 10-burner, two commercial oven ranges, plus a plethora of new appliances. A large dining area, with a wide sideboard and a bar, includes a 12-foot-long table (an original to the building). All wiring and lighting have been updated, and the main space is air-conditioned.
Four bedrooms contain a king-sized bed, and one has two twins; all have a ceiling fan and dresser/armoire. There is also a ladder-accessible loft with a twin bed (an absolute kid favorite!). There are three bathrooms: two designed to accommodate multiple users, with separate rooms for the WC, shower, and vanity, plus a full bathroom with shower and tub. The 28 x 26 living room includes two sofas, oversized chairs, a game table, a fireplace, and a large-screen TV. There is also a SECOND living area with a queen sleeper sofa, and a dining table for 6, which can also be used as an office, and a kitchenette. The fifth bedroom, sleeping loft and second living room offer an added layer of privacy, like an in-law suite with a connecting door ( and that is all included in this rental).
All check-ins are self-check-ins with a digital lock. The home is spacious, and the yard is completely private, with several private entrances. The location is quiet, and it is easy to get to the Park and other areas of interest.
This property is licensed and has been inspected by the Town of Bar Harbor. The license number is VR2R22-349
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Acadia National Park, ME
Ratings and reviews
10.0 / 10.0
Family’s first visit to Acadia - Bar Harbor. Home was perfectly / centrally located within walking distance to everything in the town. The interior was wonderfully decorated and interesting throughout. There was off street parking available but we opted to forgo the car rental and use the free bus system - home is a short five min walk to the village where most buses depart from. Street was quiet and the patio / yard space was very well maintained. The host (Kay) was fantastic and responded quickly when communicating before and during our stay. Could not have asked for a better home and location. We’ll definitely be back!
10.0 / 10.0
If you are hosting a family gathering in Bar Har, the Emerson-Mason House will turn it into a magical experience.
10.0 / 10.0
property is amazing, we also had relatives that rented the Mason House so everyone had a great time! location is perfect!
10.0 / 10.0
Can’t say enough of how much we enjoyed Emerson Mason house while visiting Bar Harbor. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is the best gift this place has given us. Yes, it’s a gorgeous environment and yes, it had everything we needed, but being able to walk 5 minutes to the grocery and 10 minutes to downtown/water’s edge is amazing. We parked our car and never moved it! What a quaint little street it is situated upon with everyone’s flower boxes bursting with color. Literally felt like we were in a Hallmark movie.
Everyone had their own space, and gathering in the great room/porch area was another highlight in my forever memory. EM house may now be our annual tradition when summer arrives.
10.0 / 10.0
11 of us stayed a week for our family reunion. There was more than enough room. The kitchen was especially amazing and made cooking and serving the group very easy. The unit is in a great location. We walked everywhere and rarely used the car. Highly recommend.
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful place, terrific experience with hosts! Spacious and comfortable home with fun school house history! So convenient, only Two blocks from Everything in town. The porch and yard and bonfire were enjoyable for our group of 9.
8.0 / 10.0
Location can’t be beat, plenty of parking! Lots of space! Loved the outside seating too! Kitchen was well stocked! If traveling w large group or jsut want lots of space, this place can’t be beat!!!
10.0 / 10.0
Great stay. Great location. Exceptionally clean. Couldn’t ask for anything more
10.0 / 10.0
The converted school has a great layout for a family vacation with plenty of room to spread out. We vacationed with our grown children and families. The large den and outdoor areas were great for family games! The kitchen is large and well equipped to offer some in house dining options. The location was perfect for walking to town for shopping, dining out and getting ice cream. You can rent bikes around the corner and bike to carriage roads or walk to the low tide sand bar hike. So much to see and do! We had an excellent vacation and look forward to returning!
10.0 / 10.0
Everything was perfect! We had a marvelous time enjoying this beautiful house, exploring Bar Harbor and hiking in the park. We will return!
10.0 / 10.0
This beautiful home could not have been more perfect for our family! Nice bedrooms and family rooms. Perfect outdoor area. Well equipped kitchen! The proximity to downtown Bar Harbor could not be better. We walked for meals, ice cream, coffee, hikes, the land bridge at low tide. Perfect!
10.0 / 10.0
Our family of 9, parents, grandparents and teens had the most wonderful time at Emerson House. The house is spacious and centrally located for activities in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The kitchen is marvelous and very well equipped. We had great fun and delicious meals around the big table in the kitchen. The neighborhood was very quiet but within walking distance to the grocery, shops and restaurants. The home’s beautiful spaces and elegant porch gave everyone a place to relax and “follow their bliss”, as well as an opportunity to share time together. We even tried our hand at family games of bocce ball on the lawn! We were only a short drive from hikes in Acadia, and boat tours, etc. Everyday brought new experiences as well as the pleasure of returning to our beautiful home base in Bar Harbor.
Communication with the owner was easy and helpful as needed.
We have rented VRBOs in many places over several years and we all agreed that this was the very best!
10.0 / 10.0
This house was in walking distance to downtown Bar Harbor. The location couldn’t have been better. We walked to the free shuttle to do some swimming and hiking and walked downtown for shopping, coffee and ice cream. We were a large group of 12 and the house was plenty big enough. Would definitely stay here again. Thanks so much for a great vacation!
10.0 / 10.0
Emerson House is a beautiful home with everything we needed for our week-long stay. The kitchen is huge and well appointed. The beds were comfortable and the rooms private. The inside and outside living spaces were everything we needed. The location was within an easy walk to everything in Bar Harbor, including the Island Exporer stop at the Village Green. The owner was very attentive with all communication. I would highly recommend the Emerson House!
10.0 / 10.0
Perfect location. Perfect set up for our large group. We loved cooking meals and then eating all together at one table. Very comfortable beds. The large living room was perfect for our gathering.
10.0 / 10.0
This house is unreal…we went as a girls trip and there were 10 of us and we had more than enough room. Gorgeous house, well-stocked, perfect location and great hosts!! Would highly recommend staying here if you get the chance!!
10.0 / 10.0
Great Stay at Emerson Mason - property was cozy and quirky :). Loved the living area and the kitchen. Bedrooms were nice, bathrooms were adequate (were a little tight/cramped, but I'm sure that's a reflection of the age of the home). Location was unbeatable - walking distance to grocery and all of Bar Harbor, plus easy access to Acadia National Park and all it has to offer. Communication with host and house manager was easy and very helpful. Would definitely recommend staying here.
10.0 / 10.0
5 50+ ladies who all attended high school together in Hawaii. We now live in various places across the mainland US. Decided to meet for a mini reunion. We ended up with only 4 of us at the last minute. This house was amazing!! All the bedrooms were comfortable, the details in the common areas were beautiful. This was a comfortable kick back and relax place. The big screen TVs were great to watch our college football games on Saturday night. I wish we had time to make use of the wonderful kitchen and the side yard. We were only in Bar Harbor for a few days, and spent most of our time in Acadia, in town, and doing tours. But this house could accommodate a large family or group VERY comfortably!! And if you cook, oh my! A 10 burner commercial grade gas stove!!
We had one small issue and our hosts responded so quickly and in fact stopped by (literally within less than 5 minutes!!) to help us when we couldn’t figure out how to trouble shoot the issue ourselves!
This renovated school house is in a very convenient and quiet location. Walking into the heart of BH, the marina, and to the shops/restaurants was an easy walk for all abilities! And only about 5 minutes from the BH entrance to Acadia.
I hope I can get to BH again in the future and spend more time, and if I do I would definitely rent this house/school again.
Thank you Kay and Augustino!
10.0 / 10.0
This spacious, well-equipped, cozy home is close to downtown Bar Harbor and within walking distance of everything. Three couples stayed on the first floor and the king beds and en suite bathrooms made for the perfect set-up. We enjoyed the yard and porch for chatting and relaxing. The kitchen had everything needed to cook a lobster feast...which we did twice! We look forward to our next trip to Bar Harbor.
10.0 / 10.0
Great home for families.
Absolutely loved this property. The style and personal touches were perfect. Great home for large family with lots of space to spread out. The kitchen was great for making family breakfast and the side porch for a private concert.
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful!
What a wonderful house! It was within walking distance to shops and restaurants. There was plenty of room to spread out and congregate. We would definitely stay here again. The owners were very nice and answered any questions quickly.
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful property
Pictures don't do it justice. This place was amazing
10.0 / 10.0
Incredible house in incredible location!
This house, where to begin! Think of a beautiful French manor in the country side of France. That’s the kitchen. Well equipped with a 10 gas burner stove, 2 ovens, farmhouse table that can easily seat 12 comfortably. It was so nice, we cooked nearly every meal there. So much outdoor space. Fire pit, living room, dining. And a heater. Beautiful rooms and updated bathrooms, huge living room with tons of space for all. The location can’t be beat. So close to main strip in town and the Harbor, all within walking distance. Hosts made checking in and out so easy. Highly,recommend this place. Hope to return some day.
10.0 / 10.0
The most beautifully decorated rental I've ever seen seen.
The Emerson house is very spacious, beautiful and well appointed. It is a historic home that feels like a historic home.. with abundant chart, quirky plumbing, and a persistent (but tiny) leak in the living room ceiling.
The location is spectacular, and the private yard and extensive private and public spaces in the house made us feel right at home. This was a wonderful vacation!
10.0 / 10.0
Family Reunion
My family and extended family (my siblings and their children, my parents) have rented several homes in the Acadia/Bar Harbor area over the past 10 years, and I would have to say the Emerson-Mason house is my clear favorite of all of them.
The house is located right in Bar Harbor, just a couple blocks from literally all of the downtown shops, restaurants, etc. Over the years our extended family has found that we prefer to rent as close to downtown as possible as it greatly simplifies getting around and dealing with parking, and being close in allows our adult children (19-24) to go off on their own with plenty of fun stops just a short walk away. From a location standpoint, this house was perfect, closer to downtown than a few other homes we have stayed in. That was nice.
The house itself was awesome....I had read that it was a former schoolhouse, with a large common room to hang out in, but I didn't quite realize how tall the ceilings were. There was nice AC and fans in the common room as well as bedrooms, so the spacious house just felt so enjoyable to be in. The common room was very large, and facilitated different groups of us to do different things, all in the same room, and when the entire extended family came over one night for dinner, the spacious kitchen and extended length table provided yet another great area for conversations and hanging out.
Everything about the place was very nice...felt spoiled.....but I think the part we came to like the best is probably the large covered porch with an assortment of furniture for seating or eating. We hung out on that porch every morning drinking our coffee and eating breakfast (often from Thrive...great place). My oldest daughter often hung out on the porch doing prep work on her laptop for grad school.....overall a very pleasing place to start your day, or to wind down at the end of a day of exploring on the island.
Beyond the house itself, I would like to add how nice and accommodating the owners were. First, they were always quick to respond to questions, especially in regards to all the additional precautions they, as well as we, needed to take due to COVID. Another thing I thought was super nice of Kay was in getting groceries for us ahead of our arrival. Totally simplified the arrival process. I would love to come back again!!
10.0 / 10.0
Fabulous stay in Bar Harbor!
My family met up in Bar Harbor for a wonderful summer getaway. Our multiple families easily fit with these wonderful accommodations. We are all crazy about cooking and the kitchen and entertain spaces were just fabulous. It was also wonderful to walk downtown, and the proximity to the park was perfect! The outdoor space was our nightly hang out. We will be back!
10.0 / 10.0
Ideal location, charming home
This home is perfectly located on a quiet block, yet only a short, easy walk into town including all the shops and restaurants. The close proximity to Acadia also made our stay at this property so convenient. It was easy to hop on the free shuttle at the village green to head into the park. The home itself was very charming, clean, and comfortable. It was perfect for our large group with children. Kat’s thoughtful attention to detail made our stay even better and was much appreciated. We were mildly concerned that it would be a little noisy, knowing that the upstairs was a separate rental unit. This turned out not to be the case at all. We could barely hear a thing from up there. Plenty of peace and quiet. In fact, our children and the children who were staying upstairs became fast friends, meeting up on the front lawn and then regularly joining them in our private yard upon invitation. Overall, our vacation to Bar Harbor and Acadia was nothing short of magical, totally exceeding our expectations on all accounts. This home was the perfect backdrop. My family and I would highly recommend this property for your stay in Bar Harbor and trip to Acadia!
10.0 / 10.0
If you want to be close to town with lots of space, this is your place.
Great space in a great location, with an attentive owner. We had 20 extended family members (we rented the whole house for a week) and it was unanimously succesful. Although we couldn't decide which room we liked the best as there were an equal number who chose the dining room, the upstairs living room, and the 1st floor porch. All good!
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful Family experience
It was a perfect home for the 10 of us. Bedrooms and baths were perfect, very clean, plenty of dishes and wine glasses which we appreciated. The living room was large and comfortable and the kitchen table was perfect for our famliy!
It was exceptional; we used the side porch. The young adults played horse shoes in the side yard.
We will definitely stay again the future!
10.0 / 10.0
Amazing!
Great property just 2 blocks from everything! Great house for a large group, has everything you need. Communication with owners was very good.
10.0 / 10.0
Perfect location to explore Bar Harbor and Acadia.
The house has very large living room and kitchen, plus 4 nice bedrooms. But we spent most of our time on the side porch enjoying the great weather. Easy walk anywhere you want to go in Bar Harbor.
8.0 / 10.0
Interesting property with terrific location
An old school being converted to VRBO... most rooms were adequate with a large family room ... character of old school house interesting but still needs a bit more work... I would book this property again after a few more years of renovation...hosts were quite accommodating and as stated, location was terrific to downtown Bar Harbor
10.0 / 10.0
Fabulous Place!
Fabulous place to stay! We loved everything about the schoolhouse, absolutely charming, clean, great location, easy walk to town. The owners have done a fabulous job at making this the best VRBO we have ever stayed at! We can't wait to come back next year!
8.0 / 10.0
Beautiful house and great location
My family and I were there for our vacation and had a great time. It was great to be able walk everywhere and return each day to a beautiful home.
10.0 / 10.0
This house was perfect for our family vacation in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park!
We were a group of 8 adults. We hiked every day in Acadia National Park and all agreed that the house was the perfect setting to return to. Each couple enjoyed a comfortable, king-size bedroom. The family room was spacious and great for games and movies. The kitchen had everything we needed, including a 12-burner gas stove and large farm table. We enjoyed the breezy porch and the yard with gas grill. The residential location was steps away from downtown Bar Harbor and a grocery store. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. Thank you Kay and Augusto.
10.0 / 10.0
Family Reunion
Beautiful space for an old fashion family reunion. We loved the large farm style kitchen ,spacious living room and the gracious porch overlooking the green side yard. The location steps from the center of town was perfect.
8.0 / 10.0
Great for families!
We stayed at the Emerson House with 4 families (8 adults and 7 kids) for a long Memorial Day weekend. The house was perfect. Clean, lots of space to spread out, and the decor style was great. Ability to walk into town or to the grocery store. The side yard was great for the kids and the 2 living rooms made it great for separate kid and adult time. The noise upstairs was a little loud from the upstairs renters, but nothing we couldn’t deal with. Fully stocked kitchen with outside gas grill made dinner and breakfast prep an enjoyable experience. Would rent again.
8.0 / 10.0
Lovely place
The location is great and the hosts are very accommodating !
10.0 / 10.0
A perfect place to stay in Bar Harbor
This house was perfect for our stay. We are a family of 4 adults who like to spread out, so the large central living room and 4 roomy bedrooms were much appreciated. The house and decorating were an interesting mix of antique and modern. The beds and bedding were very comfortable. We fixed several delicious meals in the kitchen and on the grill, using supplies from the Saturday farmer's market and the local grocery store. We really enjoyed the long side porch and yard, and being such a short walking distance to many beautiful views, good restaurants, shopping, and fun bars. The off-street parking made it easy to come and go when a car was required for trips into the park or elsewhere.
On a side note, the owners were extremely generous and gracious about letting us extend our stay when we were prevented from returning to Tampa by Hurricane Irma, in addition to being easy to work with throughout our stay.
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful house in great location!
Our family (8 people) loved the Emerson House and the Roberts Suite. The space was perfect, and the location on a quiet in-town street was within walking distance to everything in downtown Bar Harbor. We especially enjoyed the large and beautifully decorated family room, and the good sized deck and side yard (large enough for our family bocce ball tournament!). The little extras provided by the owners (for example, games and puzzles) added to our family fun. Kay and Augusto were very responsive to our inquiries, and they get two thumbs up for their restoration of this wonderful property. There's no doubt that we would rent the Emerson House again should we return to Bar Harbor!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Acadia National Park?
The average price for a rental in Acadia National Park is $527 per night. This rental is $682 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at 3500 SF Original School transformed into an artful, gorgeous village home, yard. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at 3500 SF Original School transformed into an artful, gorgeous village home, yard. Enjoy the water!
Is 3500 SF Original School transformed into an artful, gorgeous village home, yard pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at 3500 SF Original School transformed into an artful, gorgeous village home, yard?
We found 12 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, and fireplace.
Explore similar vacation rentals in Acadia National Park
Explore all rentals in Acadia National ParkAcadia National Park travel inspiration
Read our blogGuides
Top Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama: Adventure and Fun Await
Local Culture
Exploring Miami’s Wynwood District: Street Art, Food, and More
Guides
Fun Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland
Local Culture
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Dining in Orlando, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Oahu and Honolulu
Guides
Top Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Miami: From Beaches to Culture
Guides
The Best Things to Do in Orlando: Attractions, Food, and Family Fun