We rented the Merrill House for our family reunion. We had guests ages 7 months to 73 years (a total of 26) that came from near and far. Everyone loved the property. The house and its history are amazing. Many enjoyed exploring the house and its artifacts. It was well equipped with everything we needed. The location is beautiful with lots of outdoor adventures near by as well as plenty to do on the grounds. Other highlights included the fire pit, the pond and plenty of space for everyone to spread out or gather as desired. We enjoyed games of croquet and frisbee golf and relaxing on the porches. The weather cooperated for us with only one day that was really hot and it also was cool enough to enjoy a fire in the great room. The only negative we would express is that the mattresses are in need of being updated. Overall our group appreciated the charm of this house and left with many fond memories. We didn't want the time to end.

This beautiful home gave my friends from my phd program feel like we had a home away from home to bond, explore, and enjoy the outdoors

Due to the hot weather, sleeping at night were little difficult specially the third floor bedrooms. However, sufficient fans supported a lot. The beautiful surroundings make you feel a real vacation.

Unexpected positives: -The great hall looks amazing. (Not unexpectedly, the scenery around the house does too.) -Despite being a New England summer, the house was cool through the day. -Despite being a New England summer, there were fairly few bugs. Unexpected negatives: -The house was a bit chilly the first night. (We didn't think to ask about the custodians about the heating system when we arrived because it was summer; it worked fine when we did.)

Our family had an amazing week at Merrill House. We found the house incredibly inviting and quite spacious for our group. We enjoyed cooking amazing meals in the old kitchen and savoring them in the Dining Hall, which seated all of us. Our evenings were spent in the Great Hall, with games, puzzles and dancing. The children had an amazing time in the swimming pond, particularly jumping in from the rope swing. We bought kites and spent a wonderful afternoon flying kites. The grounds allowed us to set up various games, such as a volleyball/badminton net and relay races. One of us is a painter who found numerous spots to set up and spend the afternoon painting. The drive to nearby parks for hikes were worth the trip, but we certainly enjoyed 'staying home' relaxing at the Merrill House's porch. It was an absolutely wonderful experience for all. Thank you!

Just wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to spend a week at the Merrill House. The place was amazing (I especially loved the door to the great room - if I could have gotten it into my carry-on bag, you might be missing it now) with tons of room for everyone and several natural gathering spaces (the "new" kitchen and great room were the two most popular, although there was always a crowd on the front porch, too). My dad used to be a mover (drove a moving van for 10-15 years) and has seen a LOT of houses - he had to admit he'd never seen anything like the Merrill House (he even dragged my younger brother back the next day so he could see it). The grounds were beautiful and our nerdy group was out each night, enjoying the clear sky and tracking the International Space Station. Becky and Bert (the caretakers) were super nice and helped us out in large ways and small (from setting up the new grill, to lending us life jackets for a canoe, to giving directions to the nearest redemption center). All in all, it was a great week and the house met with universal acclaim.

Our family of sixteen stayed at the Merrill House in Andover, Maine, for two weeks earlier this year and loved it! We have always appreciated the beautiful Maine homes we have seen all over the state, but the Merrill House is definitely the most fantastic home we have yet seen. Our family is involved in several television projects and did some filming at the home and the surrounding region, and it made for a wonderful setting. We especially enjoyed the spacious Great Hall - it was the perfect meeting place for our crowd. Back home, many of our sons have a wedding photography and videography business, and they recognized this home as a perfect spot for a destination wedding. In fact, we are advertising it to our local folks who are looking for a unique place for their special celebration, as this home can accommodate such a large amount of guests. Also, the caretakers, Becky and Bert, are very helpful and considerate in keeping the home looking fresh and clean.