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Island Paradise: Historic Cottage, Waterfalls, Great Swimming!

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Exterior
Exterior
Property grounds
Living area
Interior

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6102.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Laundry
  • Air conditioning
  • Fireplace
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Parsonsfield, ME

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed

Convertible bed(s)

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Island Paradise: Historic Cottage, Waterfalls, Great Swimming!

Enjoy your own private island get away! This 1.8 acre island in the middle of the Ossipee River is yours's for a week or the entire summer. Drive across the sturdy cement bridge and feel your cares slip away. You can fish for Bass, kayak or canoe up to the Parsonsfield/Porter Covered Bridge, walk to the local donut shop or ice cream hut or attend an auction in the village of Kezar Falls.
This historic c. 1924 John Calvin Stevens cottage has original doors, woodwork and stained glass. Built for the local mill owner's family as a getaway, it still has a lot to offer. There are sweeping cathedral ceilings, a fireplace for ambiance.. a woodstove for comfort, and a heat pump for easy heat and cooling. . Have morning coffee in the cozy breakfast nook overlooking the waterfalls. The modern kitchen has a microwave, coffee maker and all the dishes, pots and pans you will need. The large bath room has a separate tub and shower. There are two queen sized beds, one double bed, a sofa bed for 2, a folding cot, plus a blow up bed for company if you need it. Bring your own linens and towels or use ours; there's a laundromat close by. Relax in the rockers for Happy Hour on the large screened porch or have a nightly campfire at the outside fireplace, fire wood provided.
You can fish, swim and boat in the clean Ossipee River. And it is actually warm as it comes from Ossipee Lake! Bring your own kayak or use ours. On the north side of the island the sound of the waterfalls will lull you to sleep! On the south side you may see almost perfect reflections in the water although it does have a gentle current. Use our inner tubes and just float for hours, and the village church bells may wake you every morning. There is no beach or shallow entry for very young children.
There is very little TV reception so we over 200 DVDs and VCR tapes, I hope you like the oldies. We also have cards, puzzles and board games and an assortment of books. Outside is badminton or horse shoes.
Enjoy a church supper nearby. Drive 4 miles to Cornish to visit 12 Antique shops. Fine dining are close by in picturesque Cornish village. The White Mountains and major outlet shopping in North Conway are 30 minutes away. Ocean beaches and Portland, Maine's largest city, are a one hour drive. LL Beans in Freeport is an hours drive. Come visit our island paradise! You'll want to return.

Keywords: historic bungalow, private island with bridge, walk to village amenities, sleeps 6

Property manager

Jim Hanscom and Linda Griffin

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Laundry
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Absolutely no smoking on the island

Important information

You need to know

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Parsonsfield

Located in Parsonsfield, this holiday home is on the waterfront. BackCountry Excursions, LLC - Day Tours and Woodland Valley Disc Golf are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Heath Pond Bog Natural Area and Poulin Preserve. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Parsonsfield, ME

Getting around

  • Fryeburg, ME (FRY-Eastern Slopes Regional) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Fairgrounds Pizza & Pub - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Strike & Spare - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Route 160 Ice Cream - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Bay Haven Lobster Two - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Sacopee Valley House of Pizza - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Island Paradise: Historic Cottage, Waterfalls, Great Swimming! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Island Paradise: Historic Cottage, Waterfalls, Great Swimming!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Island Paradise: Historic Cottage, Waterfalls, Great Swimming!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Island Paradise: Historic Cottage, Waterfalls, Great Swimming! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 2.5 mi (4 km) from Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds and within 9 miles (15 km) of Saco River and BackCountry Excursions, LLC - Day Tours. Horne Pond and Limerick Public Library are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

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. 25 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 42 reviews

7.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Martha L.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Vacation

We were disappointed. The house was unkept. There were unecessary cob webs that could have / should have been taken care of. It was dusty. We ended up leaving early due to 2 of the guests having medical issues. Thank you.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Carole C., Garberville CA USA

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Picturesque, but not too clean

There are a lot of positive aspects to this property. The setting is beautiful, the house is quaint, there are kayaks provided. On the negative side, there is a lot of deferred maintenance and it is not properly cleaned. When we arrived, I pointed out clumps of dirt and dog hair in the corners, and a couch so filthy, I would not sit on it. I spent a couple of hours vacuuming, and found that furniture had not been moved to clean. It was fijlthy
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Stephanie H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

pretty island

The island is very pretty, there's easy access to the river for swimming and kayaking (I put in to the right of the bridge by the trees with faces and paddled upriver). The riverbottom is rocky / muddy, water shoes recommended. We saw lots of trout and a few turtles in the river. There is at least one hummingbird who visits the flowers on the island. Our dog passed away between booking and the trip happening, but he would have loved it. The house has some quirks, the furniture is older, and there are signs there is maybe a renovation being planned (what I assume are test tiles leaning against the wall of the bathroom). I'd advise you bring your own linens and if you like to cook, bring a knife. The kitchen has a stock of vintage cookbooks, we spent a couple hours trying to find the most bizarre sounding recipe. The hosts were responsive, we discovered the grill was out of fuel one evening and they had a canister delivered the next morning. I wasn't going to say anything about the cleanliness, the floors and tables are clean and it's a dog friendly house on the water so I don't expect much more but I just saw the review from Jul 28, 2022 and the host response. I checked in July 31, 2022. The assertation of 15 hours of cleaning in the week before I checked in boggles the mind. There were cobwebs in the windows and some of the corners, a layer of dust on the knickknacks on display and the tops of the mirrors, the baseboards and ceiling fan likely haven’t been cleaned in years.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lori R.

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

Our own Island!

It should be on everyone's bucket list to rent an island! This one use to be the town park with weekly concerts at the bandstand. The stained glass windows in the spacious cottage were beautiful! The bedrooms were comfortable, and the breakfast nook adorable. The property was well maintained and we thoroughly enjoyed spending our evenings by the fireplace or on the wonderful porch.. We were lucky enough to stay during peak foliage. We have amazing pictures that we'll keep forever.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

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

Historic Cottage Getaway....Must See....When you go to Maine

We had a wonderful time in Parsonsfield ME.....We had not had a vacation in 3 years and we benefitted from the time away. Jim and Linda were wonderful hosts.....Were very helpful finding things.... We loved our surroundings in the Cottage at the Island and in Parsonsfield.....What blew me away is how our Dog Daisy reacted from the start till the last day For the first time I saw my dogs real smile.....She was the one I think who benefitted the most from our stay.... If you have a dog and your dog is like mine (a country girl from Tennessee), your will find out real quick how much they really enjoy to island....Daisy had no anxiety and was extremely calm the whole time...She loved the island....explored and was very tickled by not being on a leash at all..... I was so grateful to provide my family and our Daisy the time away to re-connect and for Jim and Linda for being good hosts
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christopher N.

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

Wonderful

Great place to stay. There is some road noise during the day, but we had left to go sight seeing so this was not an issue. Conveniently located making it a short trip to the mountains or coast. We really enjoyed coffee on the shore of the Ossipee river every morning. The cottage has everything you need to cook, grill etc. The hosts could be reached easily, and everything was answered when we needed to contact them.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lori G.

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

A great vacation

This home is unique and one of a kind. It was a treat staying on our own island. We got to bring the dog and cat with us. The owners are very kind and genuine people and contact with them was easy and a pleasure. This is an older home with a sense of history and living back when life was more simple. The town that the house is located in is small and there are only a few stores or restaurants, no major box stores close by, fine by me. Just get in The car and enjoy the scenery on your way to the good eats. My favorite part of the home is the screened in porch on the front of the home. I spent many hours on the porch feeling a fresh breeze blowing through the window screens.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Megan R.

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

Private (but not isolated) retreat

Linda & Jim were lovely--kind, easy-going and very accessible. The property was spacious and pretty. The cottage was comfortable, well-stocked and had tons of historic charm. No beach area but plenty of places to get in the water with only minimal effort.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Arielle J., Boston

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Terrific Island Location

It was amazing to have our own island getaway in Maine! Terrific location, great for the dogs to run around. Nice spacious island with lots of trees for privacy. I would return.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Jodi W.

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

Cute little cottage

Nice and quiet area. Was a cute little cottage with wonderful views of the river.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Isaac B.

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

Relaxing and fun getaway

This is a beautiful cottage and property. As others have said, the pictures don't capture just how charming it all is. The house is well stocked with everything we needed to be self sufficient for two weeks (linens, soap, dishes, etc) and we were very comfortable. Jim and Linda were very responsive to any questions, as well. We enjoyed kayaking and campfires on the island, and found lots of neat local hikes and lakes for trips nearby. We would absolutely return!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

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

Best Vacation Ever!!!

I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful this property is. We are already planning to come back. We felt the cottage was clean, yet appropriate for our dogs. We do not travel anywhere without them in this island was definitely the best place we could have brought them. We all enjoyed our morning walk around the island watching the chipmunks play and the gray herons swoop away. They even provide you with two people kayaks and canoes. We had a blast exploring the river. All of the surrounding towns have cute little shops and yummy restaurants. We really felt like we were able to relax and unwind here at this historical cottage. Having a private island for a week was the best decision we have ever made. Thank you so much to the property owners for being so available. We love the history in this cottage And appreciated all of the fine details.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Annette B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice open space, indoor and out.

Loved waking up to see the Blue Herring every morning on the dam! Our girls and dogs had such a fun time exploring the island and numerous swimming holes on and around the property. The nightly fires were great while winding down listening to the river. The hosts are super sweet and full of knowledge of the historic town and house. Overall, my family enjoyed our time together at this cozy island on the river.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

8/10 Good

Rachel P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

private place to play on the river

We really enjoyed our time on the island, there was plenty of space for the kids to play and ride their bikes around. We fished, swam and kayaked every day and the kids are asking when we can go back. The cabin is dusty but we spent most of our time outside.
Stayed 27 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Eric H., South Windsor, CT

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

A cool location

We had fun at the property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

6/10 Okay

Sarah F.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location for a cottage

The location of the cottage is historic and charming. The river was lots of fun for kids and dogs alike. We enjoyed the fire pit as well. Unfortunately, the cottage is not cleaned thoroughly and that impacted our enjoyment indoors.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

4/10 Poor

Kristen D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice cottage, but dirty

Great location, nice historic cottage but needed to be cleaned. Bathroom, sinks, floors, pretty much every surface needed to be wiped down and cleaned. This would have been a game changer for our family if the cottage would have been clean. We ended up leaving early.

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen A.

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

Magical stay at this special cottage!

Photos absolutely do not do justice to this very special cottage and property. Once you enter the island, you're in your own world. The cottage is beautiful, with a huge great room perfect for hanging out with a long dining table along one side. It's larger than it appears in the photos, plenty of room. Loved the screened porch. There are breathtaking views of the river from every room. Grounds are spacious for exploring and relaxing. Fantastic fire pit is so easy to use with plenty of wood. Great swimming and boating. The river is pristine and changes every day. Perfect location for walking into town as well as jumping in the car to explore the area. Nearby Cornish is very cute with an Inn, restaurants and antique shops. Limerick is gorgeous with old houses and barns. Make sure you get the Shopper newspaper to find out all the events in the area! We found so many events, and places to explore, attended a fair in Limerick, totally charming. Very close to route 25 and route 16 for lakes and mountains, short drive into Portand. Jim and Linda were great hosts, very welcoming. We had a tiny issue with the circuitbreaker and they were totally responsive and took care of it. My husband and daughter absolutely loved it and we can't wait to visit again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

William K.

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

Island Paradise

Great place - historic home some would call it rustic. The place was stocked with every thing, right down to a loaded spice rack, rolling pin and A/C. The Ossipee River is beautiful. We went up to the covered bridge and took a lazy paddle board ride back to the island. Excellent place for kids and dogs. We plan on going back next summer.

10/10 Excellent

Larry B.

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

Natural light galore accented by beautiful stained glass windows. Pictures donot do property justice

We were greeted at this adorable cottage by the owner Jim. The property was stocked with everything you could need - and if it wasn't there - Jim was ready to provide it with a smile. Tons of movies and a couple of TV stations, but we weren't there for TV - there was so much to do on the island - we didn't have to leave if we didn't want to. We kayaked and canoed with our puppy in tow...island is perfect to bring your fur baby..just block off the bridge and unless they swim away - they will be able to roam freely and safely. Campfire at night around the fire pit. There is a horseshoe pit and croquet mallets and a ball. This is not the place for you if you are looking for a house to rent..although the house is great and has all of the comforts of home - this is more for the outdoors/adventurous family - think camping. There are bugs, there is dirt, its not perfect - but it was perfect for us - A GET A AWAY TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY, PLAY GAMES, LAUGH, AND EAT GOOD FOOD. We all loved it and would definitely return and highly recommend !!!

10/10 Excellent

John G.

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

Island home

Nice place to stay. My wife,our two small Dodd had a great time.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Hadley H.

Relaxing getaway

Our family had a lovely time in this interesting, historic house. We loved swimming and paddling the Ossipee river. We appreciated the AC, since the first half of the week was unusually hot for Maine. Games and puzzles on the screened in porch, naps and novels on the couches--we had a great time! There was a little more traffic noise than we had anticipated, but the sound of the river was soothing and masked most of the car noise. Thanks for the wonderful stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Patricia C.

Beautiful location!

The property is lovely. Plenty of room to play yard games and let the dogs run to their hearts content. We spent our nights on the lovely screened porch and played board games. It was very relaxing, just what a vacation should be! Walking distance to a gas station/variety store that has very good pizza . Sugar-N-Spice Bakery is a terrific bakery. Homemade soup,cakes,breads and muffins etc..... Linda and Jim are very nice and informative. We didn't lack for anything but if we had they were just a phone call away.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Christine J., East Providence

Beautiful and peaceful island

We stayed here for a week in July. We have two daughters 8 and 10. We loved this house. The stained glass windows were beautiful at all times of the day with different light patters coming through. The Island is gorgous and fun to explore. We fished and boated down the river. It is hard to find an easy place to swim for the kids but we did manage to get into the water which was nice and warm. The house itself has everything you need for cooking. We loved our time here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

John G.

Nice country getaway

We had a wonderful stay at the john Calvin Stevens home at kezar falls. The only issue we had were the mosquitoes. Myself being in the construction business, can offer a solution to 90 % of the problem. The stagnant water behind the house next to the river must be routed into the river to keep the water moving. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Other than that,we had no other issues and enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2018

About the host

Hosted by Jim Hanscom and Linda Griffin

Host profile image
We are both local real estate brokers specializing in antique homes and homes with character. Jim also has a handyman business so he has done most of the repairs to this cottage. He took off 6 layers of linoleum and plywood to get back to the orignal wood floors in the kitchen. He took a small storage closet and added 2 large windows to create a breakfast room with a view of the waterfalls. We went to local auctions and found some antique furniture for this special cottage. We have really enjoyed our work weekends here and the more we were here the more we decided to keep and enjoy this property for a long time.

Why they chose this property

I grew up in this village of Kezar Falls and used to ride my bike to this island for weekly Girl Scout meetings on the large front porch. My family now lives nearby in Cornish so it is a chance to reconnect with them. We also had a get together for my 45th high school class reunion here and had 35 visitors comfortably for a great evening of reminiscing. We even strung Christmas twinkle lights on the bridge railings. In the fall on a warm sunny October day we gave a suprise 60th Anniversary brunch for my mother and father and all their friends. It was alot of fun. This cottage was on a house tour as a fund raiser for the local historical society and we got great reviews!!

What makes this property unique

We enjoy the peace and quiet...privacy and relaxation...warm water to swim in, fresh tomatoes at the door and a delightful place to entertain. At the end of the season we ended up with five bottles each of mustard and rellish because of all the friends who came for a cookout and brought things! The quiet, the privacy, the underlying hum of the waterfalls...a unique vacation!!!

Languages:

English
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