Experience One Of The Oldest Houses In Castine
House in Castine, ME
4 guests · 4 bedrooms · 3 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more
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About this house rental
Located on Main Street in the center of Castine's historic district, the house is two blocks from the harbor. It stands between the oldest operating U.S. Post Office and the Castine Inn.
With four bedrooms and three baths, it is very comfortable for guests. The house has a fully-stocked kitchen (oven, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, dishes, silverware), a dining room with seating up to eight, reliable Wi-Fi, TV with internet access and DVD player, washer & dryer, outdoor deck, and off-street parking.
The residence was built by Colonel Jonathan Lowder and his wife, Deliverance Cook. Colonel Lowder, a soldier in the French War and the Revolution (who in 1779 was imprisoned in Quebec as a spy), was appointed Excise Officer in Castine, then called Penobscot, in 1789. The house has been renovated and furnished to maintain its historical character while offering the comfort of modern conveniences.
Castine has a number of historic sites and parks (including the ruins of British earthworks at Fort George), a deep water harbor (with moorings for small boats beyond the current of the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers). Attractions include a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, kayak rentals, a nature preserve with trails, beaches, shops, and restaurants. In addition, the town has a public library, an active historical society, the Wilson Museum, a weekly farmers market, and a charming lighthouse. Castine's streets are lined with 18th and 19th century houses, and shaded by large elms. Next door to the Lowder house is the Castine Post Office - opened in 1814, it is reportedly the oldest in continuous operation in the United States.
With four bedrooms and three baths, it is very comfortable for guests. The house has a fully-stocked kitchen (oven, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, dishes, silverware), a dining room with seating up to eight, reliable Wi-Fi, TV with internet access and DVD player, washer & dryer, outdoor deck, and off-street parking.
The residence was built by Colonel Jonathan Lowder and his wife, Deliverance Cook. Colonel Lowder, a soldier in the French War and the Revolution (who in 1779 was imprisoned in Quebec as a spy), was appointed Excise Officer in Castine, then called Penobscot, in 1789. The house has been renovated and furnished to maintain its historical character while offering the comfort of modern conveniences.
Castine has a number of historic sites and parks (including the ruins of British earthworks at Fort George), a deep water harbor (with moorings for small boats beyond the current of the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers). Attractions include a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, kayak rentals, a nature preserve with trails, beaches, shops, and restaurants. In addition, the town has a public library, an active historical society, the Wilson Museum, a weekly farmers market, and a charming lighthouse. Castine's streets are lined with 18th and 19th century houses, and shaded by large elms. Next door to the Lowder house is the Castine Post Office - opened in 1814, it is reportedly the oldest in continuous operation in the United States.
Amenities
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Castine, ME
$$$$
Reviews
10.0
Extremely please I booked this property early so friends and I could enjoy a place to relax on our 40th reunion at MMA.
Great location as it is a couple of blocks from the waterfront and a short trip up the hill to the MMA campus. Loved our stay!
10.0
I loved my stay in this beautiful historic house (filled with artwork) located in the heart of Castine.
10.0
The house was right in town with easy access to everything. Check-in was easy, and communication was excellent. We loved Castine and our stay here!
10.0
Our first trip to Maine was wonderful. The house is historic and beautiful. Castine is beautiful. The location is within 1.5 hours of Bar Harbor Acadia and Bangor. We had fun seeing Maine. This house was a great home base location for what we wanted to do. The weather did not cooperate and it was rainy and foggy but we enjoyed ourselves despite the weather. 4th of July fireworks were the best I have ever seen!
10.0
We look forward to returning to Castine and to staying at the Jonathan Lowder House every summer. Daniel and Mary make it a breeze to check in, and after three years, this has become a special tradition for my family. A real treat in one of the most unique towns in the U.S.
10.0
Had a great stay in Castine for 4 nights. The town is charming and quiet, although we were there late season so several of the shops and restaurants had already closed. The house is comfortable and well outfitted, with a few of the quirks one would expect for a structure that has been standing for over 200 years. Great kitchen, good shower, and comfortable beds There is a huge lobster pot that we enjoyed using after driving to Stonington for a visit to the Lobster Co-op. We also discovered the Windmill Hill Market which was a game changer! Mary was kind and easy to communicate with.
10.0
very comfortable and a great locale.
10.0
Perfect stay!
Once again, a super experience. We wait all year to return to Castine and this incredible house. Love the books, doing puzzles, biking, hiking, playing golf up the street, and being able to walk out the door and down into the village. Castine and this listing are singular!
10.0
Super special stay
5-star communication & location and such a BEAUTIFUL home! I am so happy I booked early for MMA graduation - the stay made the weekend super special. Thank you.
10.0
Great Location
We loved being on main street watching people walk up and down the street from the living room. All three couples were comfortable in their rooms. The house is very old which brings a charm with it.
10.0
Perfect stay
Daniel is a perfect host, and it was a dream to stay at his family’s home. A dream for history and book lovers! Hope to be back!
10.0
A wonderful house in a friendly town
We had an excellent time in Castine, and at the Jonathan Lowder House in particular. The house is spacious & interesting to browse through, and the town around it has many nice seaside views & places to eat. The communication about check-in etc. couldn’t have been better either — we were well informed of everything beforehand. Highly recommended and thank you, Daniel!
10.0
Wonderful experience
This home has so much character and the town is lovely! It offered something for everyone.
The location in town made things very accessible. We walked daily and found something new to see each day. It is also within an hour of many other attractions for fun day trips.
The hosts and property manager were easy to reach at all times for any questions or needs.
10.0
Wonderful house
Highly recommend
10.0
Excellent Stay
Amazing historic home in the best town in Maine. Highest recommendation!
10.0
Relaxing historic small town with great sailing
The house was great. Excellent combination of old house quirks and modern conveniences. Our 5 and 8 yr old girls loved swimming at the swimming hole by the beach, and walking to breakfast and icecream. We were mainly sailing, which was perfect. Especially mid to late afternoon.
10.0
Castine homecoming
Perfect location for Homecoming. We didnt need to drive all weekend.
We arrived late, the house was unlocked and ready for us.
The Castine Inn, next door had "All you can eat" breakfast, daily, for a great price.
Overall, a pleasant stay in beautiful Castine.
5.0
Perfect location for Homecoming. We didnt need to drive all weekend.We arrived late, the house was unlocked and ready for us.The Castine Inn, next door had All you can eat breakfast, daily, for a great price. Overall, a pleasant stay in beautiful Castine.
10.0
Beautiful old house with great artwork
We visited this August with 2 young boys and had a great time. The home had great charm with nice rooms, great furniture and decor, and most modern conveniences. It felt relaxing as soon as we walked in.
We cooked a lot and did laundry as well. Also, the breakfast and staff at the neighboring Castine Inn are top-notch. All in all, we had some room to breathe and a great base to explore the whole region.
10.0
Lovely older Main Street house
This house is comfortable and pleasant with room for a family of four to spread out. My wife and I and two adult children got together there this week with each of the kids having a room to themselves and a shared bath, while my wife and I had the other bath. The house is old, from the 18th century, which is fitting in the town of Castine, but the kitchen is recently updated so you get the aesthetic values of an old house with the conveniences of a new one. It is right in the heart of town and convenient to everything.
10.0
Another enjoyable stay in Castine
We returned for second year in a row, with our two teens. The town is quiet and peaceful and the Lowder House has nice amenities. A good location for day trips to Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Acadia and Schoodic Point. Everything in the Homeaway description, met or exceeded expectations. The closest grocery store, Hannafords, is about 20 minutes away in Bucksport or there is an organic/natural foods store right by the golf course as you come into town or the T&C convenience store within walking distance of the house. Our last evening there we went to Wadsworth Cove and watched the sunset, a few other families were there too, with campfires cooking out. Just a great vibe! Thank you for another great time and good memories!
10.0
Beautiful and Peaceful
Filled with lovely antiques, this old home has been beautifully restored, remaining true to the period, but with modern appliances and comfortable beds. In addition, it is two blocks from Castine's harbor, and within walking distance of eateries, shops, churches, the town common, a fine museum, and the lighthouse. Castine, itself, is a gem, with interesting architecture and huge old elm and maple trees. It is a great place for down time, but also a fine base from which to explore the many wonders of the Penobscot Bay area.
10.0
A Great Vacation
We had a lovely and relaxing stay at this beautiful home. It was the perfect staging point for day trips to Acadia, Deer Island and Schoodic. We enjoyed sightseeing in Castine, particularly the historic landmarks pertaining to the Penobscot Expedition. The Castine Visitor Center was a wealth of information and the person I spoke with was very knowledgeable about the area. The Plein Air Festival was in progress while we were there, an opportunity for invited artists to paint local scenery for 3 days, culminating in a juried art exhibit, A fundraiser for the local arts organization. We also visited and swam Wadsworth Cove , a local swim beach and were delighted to watch someone parasailing. You can walk, bike or kayak to most everything in Castine. There is a Windmill Hill gardens and grocery by the golf course, where you can get tasty ingredients for an impromptu meal or the local market a 2 minute walk from the house. The house is cozy and welcoming, kitchen is well appointed to cook in, a great library of literary fiction, history , classic and contemporary fiction. We had ongoing games of Cribbage and Monopoly. We felt really special and lucky to stay in a beautiful place as Castine in such a cool house.
10.0
Charming old house
Do not be discouraged by the exterior of this house. It's a work in progress and is not an indicator of the interior. The interior has been charmingly and lovingly restored. If staying in an old house is your thing you've come to the right place. If staying in a sterile Disney style resort is your preference this may not be your choice. The house is centrally located in the heart of Maine's coastal vacation area with easy access to Camden, Belfast and Acadia National Park. If you plan on doing a lot of activities in Acadia you might want to stay in Bar Harbor overnight as returning to Castine after a tiring day on roads without street lights will be quite a challenge. Overall we had a great week in Maine.
10.0
One of the best vacations we've had in a long time!
We could not be more pleased with our stay in Castine. If we could have changed anything, it would have been to stay longer! The house was well appointed, extremely comfortable and accommodated our group of adults and children well. It was fascinating to walk through the home and explore the it's history which we discovered in its nooks and crannies. I don't want to ruin the surprise but the homeowners have retained 'the writing on the walls' that reveals parts of the home's long history. The location of the home is exceptional. We were in walking distance of everything that Castine has to offer... shops, eateries, bookstores, golf, the waterfront, historic architecture, the town common, and art galleries... we even managed a 5 mile loop to the Dyce lighthouse and Witherle Woods. Castine did not disappoint. We took day trips to Acadia, Bar Harbor and Bangor. The nearby market has pretty much everything you need but if you want a larger grocery store, plan to stop in Ellsworth or Bucksport, depending on which direction you are coming from (its a 30-45 minute trip to the either location). The homeowners were so easy to communicate with and always responded promptly to our inquiries. They even helped us plan for our trip with activity ideas and notable places to eat. The in-town property manager was a gem too! We were a little behind schedule in our arrival but she waited for us to make sure we got settled in accordingly. One concern I have about staying in old homes is modern conveniences but we didn't have to worry because we were pleasantly surprised to have plenty of updated bathrooms and an updated kitchen along with a very nice laundry unit. We have already decided to head back and stay at this home again within the year. I highly recommend this home for those wishing to stay in or near Castine!
10.0
Comfortable and historic home
We had a wonderful stay at this home in the heart of Castine. The home is beautifully maintained and spotless. It is exactly as it is described. It is also well equipped with everything you will need. Our family of 6 were very comfortable. The owners could not have been more responsive and helpful. It is located right on Main Street providing easy access to everything this quaint town has to offer - shops and restaurants, tennis and golf at the Castine Golf Club, and a hike in the Witherle Woods. We would happily stay in this house again.
10.0
Castine at it's best!
Just returned from Maine Maritime Academy graduation. The house was perfect. It is charming and comfortable. The owners are wonderful and so helpful. The house is a perfect Castine location and a wonderful vacation spot.
10.0
Colonial Charm to Spare
Stayed here last summer and had a perfect week in Castine. The lovingly restored house is as comfortable as it is charming. Owners are dedicated antiquarians with strong backgrounds in history, and have brought impeccable taste to bear in evoking its colonial past. It's also a stone's throw from the town's best restaurants, bars and shops, and a short walk to the waterfront and golf course (itself a gem!). A perfect getaway replete with historical flavor--can't say enough.
10.0
Maine at Its Finest! The Jewel of Castine!
I cannot say enough good things about this property and the lovely town of Castine. The Jonathan Lowder House was my first experience vacationing in a historic home as opposed to a hotel. This property may be historic, but it is clear the owners have spared no expense in making it welcoming to a traveler accustomed to the modern conveniences of a high-priced hotel. The furnishings were beautiful and the layout of the kitchen made it the perfect place to gather in the evenings and enjoy a glass of wine and copious amounts of lobster. I truly felt like it was my own home. Also, I had heard the house was steps from the water and the heart of Castine. This is absolutely true. It is a two minute walk at most! I had spent time in Maine throughout the years, but never in Castine. It is now my favorite place to visit in Maine! You will not regret staying at the Jonathan Lowder House is Castine. The owners could not have been more helpful and my only complaint was that I couldn't stay forever!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Castine?
The average price for a rental in Castine is $295 per night. This rental is $126 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Experience One Of The Oldest Houses In Castine. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Experience One Of The Oldest Houses In Castine pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Experience One Of The Oldest Houses In Castine?
We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, laundry, and balcony or patio.
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