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Historic Home In Downtown Bar Harbor. Best Location. Walk Everywhere.

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welcome to our home!
living room from entry. art: vintage school charts
living room low profile w bright light
mantle in living room. jere wire sculpture of birds.
living room into music room / library

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6185.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Gym
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Bar Harbor, ME
  • West Street Historic District
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Village Green
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Bathroom 4

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area

About this property

Historic Home In Downtown Bar Harbor. Best Location. Walk Everywhere.



Originally built in 1911 for Captain Snow, the first Maine Seacoast Mission captain, Windhaven is a charming reminder of the Golden Age of Bar Harbor. High ceilings, spacious rooms, spruce ceilings in the bedrooms and 2,000 square feet allow you to relax in style. Or, if you prefer to sit outside, there is a covered deck off the main floor of the house, perfect for catching evening breezes off the ocean.

Below the deck is a secure storage area for bicycles, kayaks, canoes, etc.
Since its construction, the house has served as a family residence, a Bed and Breakfast and an inn. At present my wife and I are in the process of turning it back into a single family home. Windhaven is right in the middle of Bar Harbor village but nestled off a quiet side street and then further nestled into an even quieter side street...making Windhaven "off a quiet side street" squared. You will hear the occasional tolling of bells from the Holy Redeemer church down on Ledgelawn.

From Windhaven you can walk to all the shops and restaurants in town. Walk to movies at Reel Pizza and the Criterion Theater. Stroll over to the village green, catch a summer concert or hop on the free Island Explorer shuttle and discover more of MDI.

First floor: designer kitchen with all the amenities, separate remodeled prep kitchen, custom bar, dining room, half bath, library / music room, large living room with flat screen TV, DVD, Amazon Fire TV (HBO, HULU, Amazon Prime Movies, Netflix, etc.) side patio with gas grill, deck with a clear plastic corrugated roof for maximum light, deck furniture for relaxing or eating al fresco.

Second floor: huge master suite with queen tempurpedic, full bathroom and separate office / library space, two other bedrooms upstairs contain double beds and access to second floor balcony great for viewing sunrise, and another full bathroom.

All bedrooms have air conditioning & ceiling fans for your comfort.

Basement: washer and dryer, half bath, storage for beach items, coolers, etc.

Third floor: the third floor will be locked off and unavailable to guests during the summer. Sorry.

Amenities: high speed wifi, radio, cd player, record player, amazon fire tv, DVD, movies, books, full kitchen, gas grill, outdoor dining patio, beach chairs, beach blankets, beach towels, fantastic water pressure, parking (2 spaces). Safe kayak and bike storage on property.

We want people to enjoy their stay here. As our guests, you are welcome to use any and all of the books, cds, dvds, records, and games while you are here. Treat them like you would your own.

Property manager

Daniel Mahoney

Languages

English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Gym

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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
Not childproof.
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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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Bar Harbor

Located in Bar Harbor, this holiday home is in the city centre. Bar Harbor Whale Watching is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Acadia National Park's Visitors Center. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.
Map
Bar Harbor, ME

What's nearby

  • West Street Historic District - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Village Green - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching - 7 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Shore Path - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 5 min drive - 5.0 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Thirsty Whale - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Side Street Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Jordan's Restaurant - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Blaze Craft Beer and Wood Fired Flavors - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Finback Alehouse - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Home In Downtown Bar Harbor. Best Location. Walk Everywhere. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Historic Home In Downtown Bar Harbor. Best Location. Walk Everywhere. ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Home In Downtown Bar Harbor. Best Location. Walk Everywhere. ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic Home In Downtown Bar Harbor. Best Location. Walk Everywhere. located?

Located in the heart of Bar Harbor, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of West Street Historic District and Bar Harbor Whale Watching. Acadia National Park is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away.

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. 33 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 34 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Terri F.

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

Great Location

We loved staying here! Its a fun home with lots of history. It's conveniently located to everything in Bar Harbor. Seriously, two blocks from the grocery store. The French Restaurant is 2 blocks and fabulous. We are foodies and we were not disappointed. We would love to come back again! Thank you, Dan!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nancy & Randy M.

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

Great Vacation

Can’t say enough. Loved the property and location, location, location!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

katherine f.

Great for our family

Plenty of room
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Samantha D.

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

Peace in Bar Harbor

What a perfect place to spend some time in Bar Harbor! The home is as pictured and better. The record collection is top notch and perfect for morning listening with tea / coffee on the back patio (which, by the way - really appreciated the tea selection, it’s rare to find in a rental and I usually have to buy a bunch while coffee is served aplenty). The location is perfect for getting around town, out to Acadia, etc. We stayed for 2 weeks and worked from there the second week - it was as perfect as it may appear. Highly recommend staying at Dan & Jodie’s place in Bar Harbor!
Stayed 13 nights in Jun 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Juyne L.

An amazing week at Windhaven and Bar Harbor

Our multigenerational family of five enjoyed an incredible week at this charming home in Bar Harbor. Its location, in walking distance of Bar Harbor's many restaurants and shops, was ideal. The house accommodated the five of us comfortably, with room to spare. In the modern kitchen, we found everything we needed--and more. We enjoyed the game/music room, where we we listened to LPs while our grandson delighted in the games. And we especially appreciated the attentiveness of the owner, who contacted us several times during our stay to ensure that we were enjoying our Bar Harbor vacation. Windhaven + Bar Harbor + Acadia = the perfect Maine getaway!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Claire F., Flemington, New Jersey

Terrific, quiet house in the middle of Bar Harbor

Our family of five, 2 adults and 3 teenagers, spent a busy week at the end of June, 2017, in this great house. We have been coming to MDI for years, and have rented many houses in different locations all over the island. This one is our favorite! Incredibly comfortable, so much space for everyone to spread out, surrounded by an incredible book and music collection, on a quiet cul-de-sac, all within walking distance of everything in Bar Harbor. It had all we needed, including two parking spots and a place to store our bikes. Dan is wonderful and easy to work with, as evidenced by his quick response to a very small plumbing issue and his follow-up contacts to make sure all was well, even though he was across the country. We look forward to returning!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Melissa S.

Wonderful Location and Environment

We shared the Windhaven house with 2 families of 4 including 4 kids age 6 and under. The house had plenty of room to accommodate our 2 families, a couple of shared spaces that were cozy and was a perfect location for Bar Harbor's quaint downtown. - Communications with Dan were easy and friendly. - We were centrally located to all the restaurants, Village Green, Main Street and bike rental stores and grocery store. - Accommodations in the house were as expected. Other than a few quirky pictures on the walls that were a little scary for our small kids, the house and accommodations were laid back and as pictured. Loved the local culture and vibes that the house had. - Easy access to Acadia Nationals park and the free shuttles - Thanks for hosting us and letting us use your home. We would definitely rebook with Dan in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tamarinda F.

Charming, spacious, deeply academic, and homey vacation stay

Dan's home was the perfect place to relax in the days prior to my Bar Harbor wedding. The house is spacious, airy, and stocked with one of the best record collections I've ever seen, in addition to a library of amazing books. There are board games galore, a beautiful back porch for cocktails, and the bedrooms are each outfitted with a unique charm. My favorite room in the house is, not surprisingly, the master bedroom, which has a beautiful floor-to-ceiling wooden "poetry" nook, walk in closets, and a secret staircase to the kitchen. The whole house was a dream, and we were deeply saddened to have to leave. Dan's home is the reason we will return to Bar Harbor again next year; we suddenly realized that 1 week was not enough without looking forward to a repeat trip! Thank you, Dan and family, for your hospitality. Your home is now a beautiful part of our story.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Linda G.

The home was the backdrop of a great week!

The home was clean and spacious for two couples. It could have held two more people very easily. It was very comfortable for us. We loved it's proximity to Acadia and to town. A newish, full size supermarket was within walking distance of 2 or 3 short blocks. Large kitchen was perfect for food prep. Nice size eating area. Books and games, piano and lots of recorded music. Washing machine and dryer downstairs were very large and new. Brochures and books on the area were provided by owner. The owner also had fun with the name of the home (Windhaven) and each guest received a poem on the name Windhaven. Prior to our arrival, the owner provided us with a detailed description of the home. We had a great stay! Highly recommend this house. Would come back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R.

Perfectly Located Home in Bar Harbor

We had a great time in this perfectly located home in Bar Harbor. Windhaven is a neat old house, filled with interesting art, books and magazines, music and historic details. The property was clean, comfortable and fully equipped. Lots of room for our family of 4. We loved the music room and the covered deck. The location could not be better. We walked less than 10 minutes to fantastic restaurants (Side St Cafe, Cafe This Way, Rosalies), shops, Village Green, movies and the Improv. Acadia National Park and other MDI spots are within a short drive. Kids rock climbed at Otter Cliffs - a great experience. The owner of the property, Dan, was a pleasure to deal with throughout. He provided quick and detailed responses to all of our inquiries. We enjoyed everything about the house, and recommend this property to anyone interested in visiting Bar Harbor and surrounding area. The Rosen Family Newmarket, ON Canada

10/10 Excellent

Deanna V.

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

Cool house, walk to everything in Bar Harbor

We had a great week at this wonderful house. The house is spacious and has lots of cool and funky books, music, and art to appreciate. The beds were comfortable and kitchen had everything we needed. The first day we were notified that one of the ceiling fans was not working. The property manager scheduled a time to come by the house, and though it couldn’t be fixed they supplied a window fan which worked just as well. The owner Dan was responsive to any questions we had and reached out a couple of time by text to make sure everything was A-ok. The house is in a densely populated area, and the first night the neighbors were up talking outside until after 1a.m. Thankfully things quieted down after that. The location of the house made it easy to enjoy all the wonderful shops, restaurants, and waterfront in Bar Harbor without fighting for a parking space. Just a few minute walk brings you to the village green where you can catch a bus to all the stops in Acadia. Very helpful for those days my husband took the car to play golf. All around, a cool, comfortable house in a great location if you are looking to stay in Bar Harbor. We would return in a heartbeat.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

brooke b.

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

Enjoyed our stay

We traveled from Orlando and very much enjoyed our stay at this property. The location in Bar Harbor was perfect for our family and close to everything we needed. There were a great number of options for dining and shopping all within walking distance. The drive to Acadia National Park was convenient. The owner was extremely responsive before and during our stay. We had a minor issue with lights not working upon our arrival and he responded by text/phone immediately. For those traveling from the southeast, it's important to note that a majority of the homes in Bar Harbor do not have air conditioning like we do in the southern states. It was toasty the week we were in Bar Harbor and it was difficult to adjust to no a/c, although fans were provided in every room. The neighbors were a bit noisy during the middle of the night...their noise probably exacerbated by sleeping with the windows open. The bedding was extremely comfortable and the home quaint with unique decorations throughout. The property could use some upgrades, and more lighting on the first floor, however, the location makes up for all of it. We also enjoyed the record player and extensive record collection. The family games were a great deal of fun. We will definitely plan to return but will likely travel in the fall instead of July/August:-) Thank you for everything!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Melissa S.

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

Loved our time in Bar Harbor at the WindHaven

Thank you t o Dan and family for sharing your home with our family again. The location was perfect for a visit to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park - walking distance to the town, grocery store, and all amenities. Easy, friendly and timely communication with Dan was perfect. House was just as we remembered with lots of games, music, convenient accessories, and WiFi. House guest book had all the information we needed. Thanks so much for the recommendations and the Mt. Desert Island ice cream treat! Thank you
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Deanna V.

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

Cool house, close to everything

This was our 2nd time renting this property. It is spacious, comfortable, and has more than everything you need to spend a week exploring Bar Harbor and Acadia NP. The owners are delightful and responsive. And, the house has tons of great artwork, books, and music that you can enjoy. Highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

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

Wonderful place

This was a great place for a family vacation. A charming house, filled with books, games and movies to entertain the kids in the evenings. Walkable to everything there is do in Bar Harbor.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mike Z.

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

Perfect Bar Harbor/Acadia location

The location of the home (Windhaven) was absolutely perfect for our family. It was wonderful being a 5 minute walk into Bar Harbor and not worry about parking. It only took a few minutes drive to get into Acadia Park. Great house, amazing location!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

jose G.

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

A great charming comfortable home centrally located within walking distance of many activities. I

We had a very busy active week and found this home to be the perfect place to come home to after spending the day enjoying all the great things MDI has to offer. We recommend this home without any reservations.

10/10 Excellent

Fiona P.

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

Fantastic location for vacation!

Would highly recommend this property for how delightful the house is, the location - in town with easy walk to the Island Explorer (Park bus), many restaurants and interesting shops. The owner responded promptly to questions and allows the renter to enjoy his property including access to a large collection of music and movies/games etc. So many great things to do - visit Acadia, hiking, whale watching and so many more things! The food options were incredible - the freshest lobster, amazing homemade ice cream, artisan pizza while watching a movie at the local cinerama. A great family vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

RANDY L.

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

Great place to stay

Everything was as advertised. Nice house with old world charm. Property manager was great took care of the only issue we had promptly. Could use one or two more fans since there’s no AC. Global warming is having an impact even in northern Maine. Thanks

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Super Stay!

Home is in an ideal location with short walk to the center of town and supermarket literally around the block. Acadia is just a short drive away. House is very well equipped. I can't think of one item I thought would have been nice to have as house has everything. Owner is super nice to deal with and very detailed in instructions on home as well as on things to do, places to eat, etc. I would definitely stay there again when visiting Bar Harbor.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Claire F., Flemington, New Jersey

Comfortable charming house in the center of town

This was our second time at the wonderful Windhaven house, and our zillionth time visiting MDI. Neither disappoints! As our kids get older, it's great staying in a house that has enough room for everyone to stretch out. We also love being able to walk everywhere -- the Shore Path, the town pier, restaurants, the grocery store, movie theaters, shopping, the Island Explorer... It's also great having a parking space in this sometimes parking-challenged town.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Carter W.

Superb location and quaint home in Bar Harbor!

Dan, the owner, was attentive and responded to my questions in a timely manner. The Welcome guide he emailed was a great resource and helped me plan our visit. The home was a nice size for the five of us. It is evident that the owner thought through what guests would need in his home- from hooks and shelves in the bathroom to chairs and towels for the beach. We rented bikes and it was nice to store them in the locked storage unit at the back of the house. The washer and dryer also came in handy. Though there is not a room with an outside view, there is a nice back porch. We could send the teenagers to the grocery store a couple blocks away. Thank you!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W., Pomfret Center

Location..location..location..and comfort too.

Our family of six were blessed to spend a week in this lovely home while hiking Acadia and exploring Bar Harbor. It provided an awesome hub to all that Bar Harbor and Acadia had to offer. The home was located a block from downtown but was quiet and restful. The village green (think national park transportation)was also steps away making it easy to park your car and walk when the parks and town were congested. There were 2 spaces available to park. The beds were comfortable and the showers hot. It had all of the amenities that one needs in both the kitchen and bath. The house information guide that Dan put together was thorough and helpful. His recommendations were spot on. There was also an extensive collection of trail maps and tour brochures that proved to be invaluable. The music room/game room were my children's favorite. I'd love to say that we exhausted the DVD collection but my kids were quite busy and obsessed with the Gilligan's Island collection! Loved the classic collection of both movies and albums. The house had an eclectic vibe and was artfully decorated. In short, we loved Windhaven and would definitely return if we visited Bar Harbor again. Thanks so much for sharing this lovely place!❤
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Joseph M.

Great rental, great location

Our stay was great. House had everything we could possibly need. Very cozy and comfortable. Close to everything in Bar Harbor. Short walk to grocery store or Acadia shuttle buses. Thank you!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Michael P.

Acadia Trek Home Base

2nd year in a row renting Wind Haven and already booked for next. Great place, centrally located, well-maintained. Dan is responsive and communicative.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

About the host

Hosted by Daniel Mahoney

Host profile image
We bought Windhaven in August of 2014. Both my wife and I are college professors. Jodi teaches theatre at the College of the Atlantic here in Bar Harbor. I am a lecturer in literature and writing at the College of the Atlantic as well as at the University of Maine, Augusta, and Colby College in Waterville. We have two amazing children, one in college and one in high school here in town. We have been living on the East Coast for the last 15 years but our entire extended families are all on the West Coast. Summers we head west so the kids can know their grandparents and cousins and uncles and aunts and discover the joys of eating great Mexican food. We love eating and traveling and reading, in that order. To those ends, we have a kitchen with all the amenities as well as a wonderful collection of books for all ages and interests...enjoy. We love this house, it is our home, we hope you love it too.

Why they chose this property

We came to MDI because my wife got a job at the College of the Atlantic. We had been to Maine before but not much above Portland and even then we thought we were really far north. When we came to MDI our whole family fell in love with the place. Acadia Park is our backyard and Bar Harbor Village is our front yard. We have lived in the area for over 10 years now and those three years have been incredible. The best hiking trails, the best ice cream, the best restaurants are just outside our door.

What makes this property unique

There are a ton of great things to say about this house but I will let you know my favorite thing: it is like we are 5 minutes from everything / everyone. Bar Harbor is a super small community during the winter, so that is a good thing. The house is warm and inviting and quirky...kind of like our family. There is plenty of room, a secret staircase the kids love, decks, balconies... All the joys.

Languages:

English, Spanish
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