Entire home

Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake

Photo gallery for Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake

Exterior
Exterior
The front of the house as seen from between the lilacs.
The house seen from the dock.
Miscellaneous

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8464.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Standish, ME
  • Watchic Pond
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Sebago Lake
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • St Josephs College
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Second Floor Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Second Floor Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Third Floor Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Third Floor Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Third Floor Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

First Floor Mini-Bathroom

Toilet

Master Bedroom En Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Third Floor Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake

This charming semi-historic house is truly unlike any other. Perfectly situated on the eastern shore of beautiful and clean Watchic Lake, you will enjoy abundant sun in the back yard with 100 feet of water frontage great for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or just lounging by the water or on the dock. The house is a spacious three story building with a full kitchen, living room, formal dining room, five bedrooms, laundry area, and two and a half bathrooms. Lovely antique furnishings, wood flooring, and ten foot ceilings on the first floor lend elements of elegance to the house, but what makes it truly remarkable are the porches. The house boasts 2200 square feet of magnificent enclosed porches wrapping around three sides of the first two floors. During the summer months, there is hardly any need for the inner rooms, as the porches provide accommodations for relaxing, recreation and entertainment, eating meals, and even sleeping. These amazing porches make this property truly unlike any other available, and are sure to make your stay here memorable.

Watchic Lake (or Watchic Pond) is a clean and quiet 443 acre lake with a maximum depth of 41 feet. A variety of fish species inhabit the lake, including bass, perch, and pickerel. Several loons and families of ducks also call this lake home. The lake is fed by springs and a small stream, and is drained by two streams, one at each end. Several small privately owned islands can be found near the center of the lake. To date, no invasive aquatic plants have been found in Watchic Lake.

Please note that although this property can comfortably sleep a large number of people, the maximum occupancy of 8 people is strictly enforced to maintain the quality of the lake and to prevent overwhelming the single family septic system.

Property manager

Michael Hanaburgh

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
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 is not permitted

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
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

Standish

Located in Standish, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Long Beach Marina and Gorham Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sebago Lake and Poulin Preserve. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Standish, ME

What's nearby

  • Watchic Pond - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Sebago Lake - 11 min drive - 11.0 km
  • St Josephs College - 20 min drive - 18.1 km
  • Maine Mall - 29 min drive - 28.7 km
  • Thompson's Point - 32 min drive - 31.3 km

Getting around

  • Portland Transportation Center - 30 min drive
  • Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Aroma Joe's Coffee - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Standish House of Pizza - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Runway Restaurant - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Outpost Public House - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Papa's Ice Cream - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Unique Historic House on Pristine Watchic Lake located?

This family-friendly Standish holiday home is located on a lake, steps from Watchic Pond and within 6 mi (10 km) of Little Watchic Pond and Saco River. Sebago Lake and Horne Pond 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. 30 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Raymond S.

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

Another excellent stay

From the moment we checked in to the minute we checked out, we had an excellent time at The Little Gatsby. Amazing property with excellent hosts, highly recommend a stay here.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christine A.

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

Amazing family memories made

We had 4 generations of family that head the pleasure of visiting this week. The best memories were made! Our grandchildren did want the week to end
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Theresa S.

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

Family week

Property is beautiful inside and out. Swimming kayaking and canoeing was great! We love this lake and this property. Even the teen and the tweens loved it!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeannine P.

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

Suberb location

The house is Spacious, comfortable with many extras. The water was perfect with magnificent views and sunsets. Loved everything about it.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lee T., Avon, CT USA

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

Everything you need is there.

Little Gatsby was great. Anything you could possibly imagine you need in the kitchen is there already. The expansive porches also have anything that you might need for outside or relaxing on the porch. It was great for us.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

John R.

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

Little Gatsby

We have stayed at that lake a few times and this has been one of the best vacations of all. We had a very warm and sunny 2 weeks even for the end of August. We enjoyed fishing, swimming, kayaking, playing games, and doing the scavenger hunt. The house was very accommodating and had all the conveniences of home. We are already looking forward to next year in hopes we can again rent this very lovely property.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

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

Great Vacation

The Little Gatsby was everything we hoped it would be and lived up to everything promised on the website. There was plenty of room for our party of seven adults. You really only need to bring your clothes and high expectations. Michael was very attentive through the whole process. I highly recommend the Little Gatsby; you’ll enjoy every minute of your stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maureen C.

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

Amazing Sibling Wedding/Family Reunion

For the first time, all of the family stayed under one roof since leaving our parent's home. What an amazing time. The Little Gatsby afforded plenty of individual space as well as many opportunities to gather for food, games, and reminiscing. The Host was clear with expectations and what was needed for us to be successful with our first VRBO rental and everything was as advertised. It has become a treasured family memory, we all hope to revisit again in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Raymond S.

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

Great place to stay, location is fantastic

The family and I had a great stay at this location, the Little Gatsby was incredible. We had ample room so whether we were gathering for conversation or looking for a quiet corner to read a book in, there was always to sit and be comfortable. The amenities were as described in the listing and there were no disappointments whatsoever. We would definitely book there again!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ryan P.

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

Amazing house, view, and host

Host went out of his way to make our stay as pleasant as it could be. House was very nice, plenty of space, very sound proof between rooms which was great with some early risers in the family. Setting was incredibly serene, could not beat the sunset views on the lake. Already talking with my family about renting here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenny S., Oakland, CA

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

Absolutely Wonderful

Such a relaxing, beautiful spot! Michael’s home on Lake Watchic is a cozy, historic gem. We enjoyed our stay so much and hope to return. Super clean, thoughtful touches throughout and awesome communication with Michael.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris W.

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

Relaxing family vacation on the lake

Our family very much enjoyed our stay in this charming, spacious lake house! There was far more than enough room for our family (me, my wife, and 5 boys.) The amount of space and things to do (indoor and outdoor) was truly amazing and made for the perfect getaway! The owner was very quick to respond to any questions and was very accommodating. We would highly recommend this to anyone!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Charlene R.

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

Great place to stay!

Property was as stated. Lots of room. Games galore for kids. Lake was perfect! The whole family enjoyed the visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maureen C.

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

Old but charming

We had a very wonderful and relaxing vacation. The house is old but has a lot of character and is fun to explore! The Lake is so beautiful! Would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kathy H., Villa Hills, Kentucky

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

Would stay there again

We were very happy with the house during our week there and would recommend it for those looking for a spacious, rustic house on a nice, quiet lake. A great house for a family get-away. You could make about anything in the kitchen it is so well stocked and organized. Lots of room in the kitchen too with ample counter space. There are even lobster eating tools and a big lobster pot! Which we used one night. Plenty of dishes, cookware, storage containers, and flatware available. The kitchen and dining room tables offered us a nice view of the lake as we ate or played games. The wrap around porches were amazing and filled with plenty of sitting and eating areas and tons of games and activities. The view from the porches was very nice too, looking out over the lake. There were lots of chairs outside for us to use as we sat around the firepit a couple nights. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable with plenty of blankets to keep us warm on the cool fall nights. TV/cable/wi-fi were all up-to-date and very user friendly. The roku allowed me to log into my netflix and Amazon movie accounts and watch movies/shows. It was set up so that I could program in the date we were leaving it it would log me off that specific day. (A great feature!) The owner was quick to respond when I had a concern and addressed my question. Kathy H from Villa Hills, KY
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Deline H.

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

Wonderful Location

The home is beautiful and has so much character. The location by the lake is suburb. The owner was without question the best. Immediate response and extremely kind. We would rent here again anytime. We didn’t want to leave. The property offers so many activity options for both adults and children. Anything needed is close by the property.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Julie T., Brunswick

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

R & R

Beautiful view to wake up to every day! Very spacious home. Had everything we needed!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

David L., Birth Year: 1965

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

Relaxing Waterfront Home

The Little Gatsby is the perfect waterfront home to relax at and reconnect with family members. We spent many hours outside admiring the lake during morning coffee and afternoon lunches. The canoes and kayaks were enjoyed daily on the very clean Watchic Lake, which also provided hours of fun swimming out to and jumping off of the floating dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn M., Manchester, NH, USA

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

Wonderful place

This is a perfect place for families or friends to gather for a week together in the summer. We had two non swimmers and 5 swimmers and the beach and clean/clear water worked out really well for all. I would recommend for folks with kids although we were adults. It was quiet and just a lovely stay. The porches really are amazing and the history of the house is also in character. Wonderful gem of a property.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Rob H.

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

As advertised, almost.

The lake is pristine as advertised and great for all water activities. You do hear a bit of road noise as the lake sits between Routes 25 and 113 so not as quiet as I would like. The house is big and the porches are the best feature. It is dated but functional. There are many doors and multiple entry ways so when you are coming and going from the property you need to check every door is locked. The neighborhood is very nice. Many nice homes on this lake and the neighbors were very friendly. Not a busy lake, at least during the week we stayed which should be considered high season. We met the State Rep for loons while kayaking. She said there were 12 loons on the lake this year. we saw several of them. I have stayed at many VRBO sites. This property seemed a bit overpriced for the overall condition and amenities however all in all we had a great time.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Steve K.

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

Fantastic Property!

The Little Gatsby House is a real gem! The house itself is large, unique, and historic. So many nooks and crannies, and such character, you can spend hours just exploring the many features of all of the rooms. The location is perfect - close enough to Portland to enjoy what it has to offer, but its setting and location on Watchic Lake (along with the kayaks, canoes, and row boat that come with the house) make you happy to return there and spend most of your time relaxing on and by the water. The house is comfortable and has anything and everything you could possibly want. There were 7 of us (all adults from an extended family) and the week we spent here was just the getaway we needed this year. Michael, the owner, was very friendly, helpful, and accessible. I highly recommend this property and would definitely consider staying there again.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Doug C.

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

Extraordinary Experience

The house, the location, the setting, the lake, and the owners' hospitality and care combined to provide an extraordinary experience for our family. The furnishings, amenities (in and outdoors), and creative activities provided were all part of the special charm of The Little Gatsby. This home is well located for fun in the Lakes Region or just the opportunity to enjoy a quiet afternoon on the dock and swim raft. Our hosts were a key part of our extraordinary experience. From the first inquiry to our check-out, communications were timely and meaningful. We did not lack anything during our stay. Of the dozens of stays we have enjoyed throughout the U.S., The Little Gatsby is now the top of our list for most enjoyable. You will thoroughly enjoy your time here. Thank you Mike and Becky for one extraordinary experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

William A.

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

Pristine lake!

Ideal for swimming and kayaking, one of the clearest freshwater lakes I’ve ever seen. House was well stocked and spacious, making it easy to relax on the property and prepare our own meals. Owner was responsive and helpful throughout.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jeff B.

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

Peace at the lake

We have stayed on Sebago Lake previously, and while nice, the Little Gatsby house on Watchic lake was absolutely perfect for our restful and relaxing vacation with a bunch of little kids. The lake was clear and calm and peaceful. With limited power boat traffic, we were happy to let the kids kayak and swim freely. The swamp was a great area to explore, and the paddle out to the rock near the island was just far enough and long enough to feel like an adventure. The house itself checked all of the boxes. Plenty of fans in the bedrooms and screens on the windows to allow us to open up the windows for the night breezes. With 2 AC units for a couple of the bedrooms there was always an option if someone was too warm. The house was extremely well stocked with everything we needed to have a great time on the lake and plenty of distractions for the one rainy afternoon. A charming and unique house that we will definitely be considering again for our trip next back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

James C.

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

Incredible Maine Experience

If you ever seen the movie "On Golden Pond", the Lake setting with Loons and fishing was almost just like it. The historic house was perfect for a beautilful summer week in Maine. Michael, the owner was very helpful and the process to check in and out was smooth and easy. I write this review as also plan to book for next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

About the host

Hosted by Michael Hanaburgh

Host profile image
Mike is a long-time resident of Maine who spent several of his childhood years in this very house. He now lives in nearby Gray with his wife and daughter. After many years teaching high school Biology, Mike has recently undertaken the adventure of a career change and transitioned into property management full time.

Why they chose this property

Mike is the fourth generation of his family to own this house. He lived here year round for several years as a child and has continued to spend time here whenever possible in the years since. Now, he is happy to share this beautiful lakefront property with his wife and teenaged daughter, and also with the guests who choose to make their own happy summer memories enjoying all that the property and the lake have to offer.

What makes this property unique

There really is no other place quite like The Little Gatsby House. Ideally located on a beautiful Maine lake, summers here are perfect for making amazing memories to cherish for a lifetime. But what makes this place truly unique are the magnificent enclosed porches that wrap around three sides of the first two floors. You will love spending time there day and night.

Languages:

English