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'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY

Photo gallery for 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY

Front of House
Porch View
Kitchen entrance
Front porch
Beach stairs

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
8 bedrooms6+ bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space

Rooms & beds

8 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Blue Twin Bedroom 7

2 Single Beds

Four Post Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Granny's Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Mustard Twin Bedroom 8

2 Single Beds

Violet Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Violet Twin Bedroom 6

2 Single Beds

YellowBedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

6 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Blue Twin Bathroom 6

Toilet · Shower only

Four Post Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Granny's Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Jetted bathtub

Half Bathroom 7

Toilet

Master Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Violet Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Yellow Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY

This 1800's beautifully renovated farmhouse features 8 bedrooms, 6 1/2 bathrooms and a gourmet country kitchen with a 36" gas stove, in-island electric oven, 2 refrigerators, ice maker, wine cooler and more. In addition, the house is equipped with Wi-Fi, cable television, washer dryer and VCR and DVD library. Sitting on 35 acres overlooking Blue Hill Bay, it is just a short walk or drive, (800 ft.), to a private beach for sunning, beach combing, swimming, kayaking and boating (mooring available). The house is completely updated and charmingly furnished and is ideal for multi-family vacations. Located just 15 miles from historic Blue Hill and 40 miles from Acadia National Park. July and Aug 6 day rentals ONLY. Sunday check in, Saturday check out.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 40
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
NO smoking in the house, smoking allowed outside.
The VRBO Cancellation Policy does NOT reflect the current policy. See the Rental Agreement for details.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 130513
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Brooklin

Located in North Brooklin, a neighbourhood in Brooklin, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. The Blue Hill Wine Shop and Edgar M. Tennis Preserve are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park and Barred Island Preserve. Blue Hill Books and Blue Hill Co-op Community Market are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with power boating and sailing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and cycling.
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Map
North Brooklin, ME

What's nearby

  • Friend Memorial Public Library - 6 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Wooden Boat School - 16 min drive - 9.0 km
  • Jonathan Fisher House - 20 min drive - 18.9 km
  • Blue Hill Books - 20 min drive - 19.3 km
  • Blue Hill Bay Gallery - 21 min drive - 19.7 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪El El Frijoles - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Morning Moon Cafe - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Maine Lobster Lady - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪The Fishnet - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪P1 - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 'The Big House' Classic Updated Farmhouse July/Aug, 6 day, Sun to Sat ONLY located?

Located in North Brooklin, this holiday home is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) from Friend Memorial Public Library and within 9 miles (15 km) of Wooden Boat School and Deer Isle Bridge. Jonathan Fisher House and Blue Hill Books are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 60 out of 62 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 62 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 62 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 62 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 62 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melody B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The best house i ever stayed at.

Amazing
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Oct 2023
Thank you so much for your review! Also, thank you for leaving the house in such great shape and for the towels!!!! Above and beyond but much appreciated.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marc G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We really enjoyed our time at the big house. It was close to the beach and the yard provided plenty of space for activities. Having access to some watersports equipment was a real bonus. The house was clean and well equipped. It was spacious and comfortable for our big group of 12.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John R M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

It was a perfect week with our extended family.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donna Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Bill was so friendly told us some places to go and eat. House was beautiful! Just got confused with 3 staircases but learned them quickly! Beautiful front porch to sit on ! House was very clean! Would stay there again . The only thing wrong was time went by to fast.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Timothy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Gathering

We had a great time staying at the Big House for a large multigenerational family gathering. The back yard was huge and tailor made cookouts and lawn games.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Harris M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

A very enjoyable stay at the Big House for our 2024 Family Reunion, family from ME, CO, WI, TX and Finland. Highly recommend the Big House!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jc C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We and our friends have stayed here many years now. Bill always communicates clearly and in a timely fashion. The home is always sparkling clean. We love the five bedrooms, each of which has its own bathroom. Brooklin is a lovely community, we relax, we enjoy cooking in the big kitchen. Always a wonderful vacation there.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jacinta M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The BEST House

There were 15 people who stayed at the Big House last week and it was absolutely the best place for all of us! Check in was super smooth. The house is so beautiful and spacious! The kitchen was extremely well appointed and had everything we needed. The back yard is what kids and adults dream of, so much room to run around! Our hosts were the kindest people who made us feel like family! I would recommend this house to large families.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeniene C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location, perfect house!!!

We absolutely loved our stay at the “The Big House” Bill was so helpful and friendly. He made us feel like it was our home for the week! We could not have asked for a better place to stay in Maine. The location was wonderful! We hope someday to return! Thank you so much for everything!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Apr 2020
Wonderful guests, we hope to see you again!!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jc C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Returning again and again

Our hosts at the Big House are always welcoming and helpful. The house is very clean and well equipped. We love the location and the beautiful grounds. We always take a nice walk over to the ocean to enjoy the beauty of that spot.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeananne G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion and Celebration of Life

We recently gathered as a family at The Big House to celebrate my mother’s life. The Big House is the perfect home to host a large family gathering. Plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone as well as common areas for everyone to gather. We especially enjoyed the large kitchen which is very well stocked and allowed us to prepare meals for our group of 18.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Daniela O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family reunion

We had a great time discovering the beauty of Acadia National park with our reunited families from 3 different countries❤️♥️. The Big House was perfect for all of us, very well stocked with everything you’d need to feel like home! Bill and Cathy were wonderful hosts and we’d love to return sometimes in the fall. Thank you for sharing your home with us !
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Larry B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Family Vacation

Our entire family of 6 adults and 4 children absolutely loved this property!! The house is huge and spacious and extremely well furnished. There is everything you could ever want for a larger gathering! The backyard and fire pit were great in the evenings for roasting marshmallows and enjoying the great night air. It is a short walk to the beach and the kids found the shoreline to be very enjoyable. The owner is very responsive and extremely nice. We would recommend this property to anyone looking for a wonderful Maine vacation!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug 2024
Thank you for the lovely review-we are glad you enjoyed your stay. We love Bluey-thank you for the nice pictures!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jc C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Returned Again!

We are a group of 10 friends who vacation together in Maine every July for a week. We just finished our 8th stay at the Big House. We love coming back every year to the always clean, always welcoming home. We all have our private bedrooms and private bathrooms. There's a front porch with great rockers and a private back patio. We even have room for a full croquet court. This is a great getaway for us, and we always appreciate the hospitality of our hosts!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rick W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous house

This is an absolutely spacious, charming, wonderful house, especially for a large group like ours (12 ppl). Very clean, everything you need in the kitchen, lots of amenities, wifi works great. The homeowner is very responsive and a nice guy. The location is a positive and also a slight negative. It's remote, so very peaceful, but it also takes a long time to drive to places of interest. But we would stay here again in a minute!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alexis F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Vacation!

We had a wonderful stay at The Big House! Bill and Cathy were great hosts and their beautifully kept home was spacious enough to accommodate our family of 16 yet super cozy! The kids loved exploring the house and playing in the enormous backyard. There are books for everyone and games to keep the little ones happy. The trip to the oh-so-lovely beach across the road was perfect for the in-between trips to Acadia National Park and other local hiking trails. The kitchen was equipped with all the appliances and pots and pans we needed to make breakfast and several at home dinners (great stove!). All in all, a wonderful place to stay. We had a great time and can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maryann H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Big Great House

This house was perfect for our annual family vacation: me, my 3 children, 2 daughter-in laws, a granddaughter and her husband, an adult grandson, and 3 "littles" The house gave us lots of room, comfy beds, a closet full of games, a huge back yard, and a front porch that became the adult hang out with rocking chairs for all. Bill and Cathy Gray couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. We had easy access to the bay, and relatively short drives to Acadia, Bar Harbor, and exploring in general. I would rate this house as one of my top three vacations, and sincerely hope to visit there again. Maybe in early fall to see the trees changing?
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 July 2023
We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay and thank you for leaving the house in such good order. We hope to see you again.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Betty K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family “Big House” Vacay 2022

The Big House” and property are fantastic. Our only issue was there was no indoor dining area where our large family group could eat together - somewhat important to us as coming together at dinner each day is always a feature of our family vacations. Fortunately the outside patio is excellent for this purpose . Together with the wonderful back yard was perfect for us - unless the weather didn’t cooperate as there is no cover. Bill the owner lives across the street and is readily available if needed but not intrusive. The area is glorious. The beach is close - a short walk across the street. - typical downeast coastal beach- fairly small but private, mix of rock and some sand- with fairly large tidal zone.. Mooring is available and sailing is superb! Overall we had a grand time - and would definitely return!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Russell K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

DownEast Family Reunion

We loved our stay at The Big House for our 5 families to get together and enjoy favorite spots on MDI as well as amazing places on the Blue Hill/Deer Isle peninsula. The rooms were perfect for the grandparents and the 4 families whose children include teenagers, preschoolers, and infants. The common rooms were large enough for all to play games, share meals, and hang out together. The kitchen is large and very well equipped with everything needed and beyond. The house itself is huge, as is the property that surrounds it, plus it has a private shoreline down a path across Bay Road, which was a perfect spot for kayaking. Bill and Cathy Gray are wonderful and gracious hosts that are willing to help with any needs. They have restored this wonderful 19th Century home in a tasteful fashion, with all the modern conveniences, but still embracing its original charm and period architecture. You will not be disappointed with this unique and special place.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Big Fun at the Big House

This was the best VRBO we have ever booked. It was huge, but we have rented huge places before. The difference here was in the tasteful, homelike quality of the rooms, bathrooms, furnishings and decor, and the vast amount of stuff that we had access to, from kids toys and books, to beach chairs and towels, and with more provided paper goods and linens/towels than any other place we have been. The house is an antique and charming, with a great front porch for rocking small children, and the backyard has a well equipped dining patio plus a vast expanse of soft green grass for kids and adults to play on. We used it for large dinner parties, wiffle ball games and special nights with conversation and music around the massive fire ring. The beach across the street was beautiful and good for swimming at high tide and strolling at low tide. The host, Bill Gray, was helpful and accommodating without being intrusive. It is rare that I have not found something missing in a rental-but the Big House lacked nothing you could possibly need in the large kitchen and usually was there in multiple versions (two fridges, two sinks, tons of cookware, tableware and cutlery). We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place to get away!

This house was perfect for our family getaway. It is better stocked than any other rental property that we've ever stayed at and we travel alot. We loved the original style of this old house and the many staircases kept everyone in their own space which was an added bonus. Wish we could've stayed longer.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donald G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home away from home.

We the Big House to be amazing. It was big enough to accommodate our family. We found it to be peaceful and restful. We liked the large front porch and the large backyard. It served as a good base for exploring the Blue Hill peninsula and Acadia.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome Family Vacation Home

From the moment we arrived we were charmed by this old but very well kept home. The kitchen was awesome with plenty refrigerator, storage and prep space. It had everything we needed and then some. So spacious, there was plenty room for privacy when wanted. Fit our family of 13, 3 generations including 5 children, perfectly. Plenty parking. Although a little far from Acadia, it was very doable. The proximity to typical Maine attractions, fresh lobster for purchase at a great price, restaurants and groceries in Blue Hill, and the beaches across the street and in the area left little need to venture far unless we really wanted to. Loved every minute of our time there, especially the one lazy day spent reading in a front porch rocker.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Make a little magic!

My wife and I rented the Big House to bring us together with our three children and their spouses and our seven grandchildren. Everyone, especially the kids, loved it from the moment we walked in and began to explore where the three staircases led. The kids found a dress up box upstairs and the party began. Mornings started with coffee on the porch and then we were off for the day for more adventures. Hiking on Harriman Point, in Acadia National Park, lobsters from the coop in Stoneington, shopping in Bar Harbor, the fort and observatory in Bucksport—so much to do here. And don’t miss Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies where the off-beat sculptures are a hoot! Days ended in the kitchen cooking and sharing stories over wine. And the last night ended when the kids went back to the dress up box and put on a play they made up. A little like slipping into the pages of Little Women! You’ll live this place!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bob L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for large gatherings

If you need a house with lots of space this is perfect.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Bill Gray

Host profile image
Although I was born and raised in New York, growing up I spent all my summers across the street from the Big House (dad was a school teacher). My family has deep roots here and to this date most of my relatives live in the area.
We have been renting to Big House for many years now and have an opportunity to meet some of the guests and have found each encounter to be rewarding. It is fun to meet people who are on vacation! We hope we have a chance to meet you.

Why they chose this property

The original cape cod part of this house was built in the early 1800's. As was typical of these salt water farms additions were added expanding the house as needed. It was built and owned by the Sherman family. It has been a farm, bed and breakfast, post office, and summer rental property since then. Off to the right (as you are facing the house) there use to be a dance hall and movie theatre; (currently there is a barn/boat house). This was during the time of silent movies. Laura Sherman ran this business and played the piano for the silent pictures. Down the street 'a piece' was the Grovehurst Inn and cottages. The inn was torn down a long time ago but the cottages remain and are still owned by descendants of the Sherman family. If you look to the left when you reached the beach you will see three big rocks; there is a pier by these rocks. That was the site of a steam boat landing. It brought summer guest from New York, Boston and beyond.

This area is steeped in beautiful vistas, abundant nature and never ending hospitality. It has been a treasure chest of delight for my family, both current and prior generations. We know you will find the same.

What makes this property unique

Long walks on the beach, exploring game trails in the 35 acres behind the house, trips to Deer Island and Stonington, visiting Acadia National Park, baking and cooking in the expansive kitchen or enjoying cocktails on the wrap around porch all make this house feel like home to all who stay here.

Languages:

English
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