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Twin Oaks on Great Pond

Photo gallery for Twin Oaks on Great Pond

Twin Oaks from the Road
Twin Oaks from lake side looking back at Crystal Spring Lane
New in 2019 kitchen facing door to screened porch
New 2019 kitchen picture from porch door
New 2019 kitchen picture from living room doorway

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

Map
Rome, ME
  • Belgrade Lakes Chain
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Belgrade Lakes Golf
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Colby College
    ‪24 min drive‬
  • Waterville, ME (WVL-Robert Lafleur)
    ‪24 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Back Bedroom

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs half bath

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

Twin Oaks on Great Pond

This picturesque lake cottage (Twin Oaks) is literally "On Golden Pond". The golden pond of movie fame is actually this great pond. With 46 miles of shoreline, it is the largest lake in the Belgrade Lakes chain and the largest body of water in the world named "pond". The cottage belonged to my grandfather who purchased it in the 1930s.
It is not unusual to hear the enchanting call of loons on the lake and/or see them close to shore sometimes with babies in tow. Ospreys occasionally perch in the branches just off the screened in porch and there is at least one Bald Eagle that can be spotted on this end of the lake.
Cool delicious well water from our private well offers a no cost alternative to bottled water. The cottage features quiet new ceiling fans, WIFI Internet, HI-DEF flat screen TV with dvd and premium cable service. A huge fully screened porch overlooks the beautiful golden sunsets across the cove. You can enjoy delicious grilled meals from the new in 2019 Weber 3 burner gas grill in the yard. The 32' long 6' wide dock and landing with a fantastic 5' wide stairway with handrail into the water facilitates enjoying the water for people with limited mobility issues. The use of two single kayaks for our guests at no additional cost provides plenty of ways to enjoy the water! The kayaks are stable and perfect for first time paddlers. Take lunch and picnic on the pond! Several islands are just a short paddle away. A mere 10 minute paddle from your dock "darkest africa" as I used to call it, awaits your exploration . While the name may be testament to the childhood exaggerations of a youthful perspective, it is still a picturesque little stream where you may catch a glimpse of turtles sunning themselves above the lily pads or a blue heron fishing the shallow water if you are lucky.
After a stay at Twin Oaks, your memories will be ready to harken you back to the time when you experienced first-hand "The Way Life Should Be" "On Golden Pond" in Maine.

Property manager

Tom and Maureen McAvoy

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available
Mountain view
Barbecue grill

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Living room view toward kitchen and master bedroom

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9.6 out of 10, (24 reviews)
Afterglow Cottage on Great Pond

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
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

Pets allowed
Pets allowed for $75 per pet per week.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Cancellations: refund available only if cottage is re-rented for same rate. Rentals are Saturday through Saturday. Until confirmed, rates are subject
• No ground fires. • Please leave cottage as you found it
Trash pickup is Saturday. Please have all of you trash in trash bags and in the outside trashcans by 10 A.M. Saturday morning.

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 deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Oakland

Located in Oakland, this cottage is on the waterfront. Belgrade Lakes Chain and Kimball Pond reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include First Congregational Church and Skowhegan State Fairgrounds. Samantha Smith and Kennebec Ice Arena are also worth visiting. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and mountain biking nearby.
Map
Rome, ME

What's nearby

  • Belgrade Lakes Chain - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Belgrade Lakes Golf - 13 min drive - 11.3 km
  • Kennebec River - 23 min drive - 22.0 km
  • Colby College - 24 min drive - 21.4 km
  • Waterville Opera House - 27 min drive - 24.4 km

Getting around

  • Waterville, ME (WVL-Robert Lafleur) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sunset Grill - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Alden Camps - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Hello Good Pie - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪H.J. Blake's - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Belgrade Lakes Seafood - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Twin Oaks on Great Pond pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Twin Oaks on Great Pond?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Twin Oaks on Great Pond?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Twin Oaks on Great Pond located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Belgrade Lakes Chain and within 12 miles (20 km) of Belgrade Lakes Golf and Kimball Pond. Tree Spirits is 11.1 mi (17.9 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

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 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 34 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sherry C.

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

Maine 9/2024

Ver beautiful and peaceful place to stay loved the dock to fish and let dog swim. Had a very relaxing stay
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Liz L.

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

Wonderful place on the lake

The property is great! The large screened in porch is amazing. The kitchen is very well equipped. The listing says there is a room with 1 twin bed and 1 double bed but there are actually 2 double beds. The listing also does not mention that you need to bring your own bed linens and towels. (If it does, I cannot find it). The hosts are wonderful. They left us a bottle of wine and stopped by to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. The grill is a great bonus. We had a wonderful week and would definitely return in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina V.

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

We’ll be back!

My family and I have been staying on Great Pond since 1984 - this was our 40th year! We had a wonderful time. Tom and Maureen are amazing hosts! The cabin is a quintessential Great Pond camp - not too big, not too small and has everything you need. The screened-in porch and dock are the best parts. We can’t wait to come back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Twin Oaks Sunsets

This cottage is tucked away in a little corner of Great Pond and was a wonderful find. Modern kitchen and good bathroom. The wrap around porch lends itself well to nice views and beautiful sunsets.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terri C.

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

Crystal Lake

Great property. Like the porch especially.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

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

Best porch ever!

This is a quintessential Maine camp on the best lake. The updated kitchen has lots of dishes and pans to feed family and friends. The porch provided a cool dry area for visiting and eating. There are steep stairs to the second floor and stairs to the water which may impact some visitors. Great place to kayak, swim and watch sunsets.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jim J.

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

Wonderful Vacation at Great Pond

The cabin was clean and had everything we needed. The location was perfect. Everything in the cabin worked flawlessly, it was comfortable and the lake view was outstanding. We had a wonderful week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Teresa T.

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

Serenity at Great Pond

I enjoyed a lovely stay with a friend for part of my week to kayak, swim, read and float on the lake. We cooked out and ate in and just really enjoyed the peacefulness and the loons. Late summer is a good time to visit and paddle as many people go home and the motorboat traffic is minimalized. We sat on the porch and read in the evening. It was so serene. I enjoyed the quiet for the remainder of the week and the afternoon sun hits this dock perfectly. Everything that was needed was there and the accommodation was perfect!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carol R.

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

Great Place

We loved staying here! and the area is great.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gayle B.

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

Clean and well kept

I would say we enjoyed the cabin on the lake. We did not have great weather and it was quite dark inside the cabin where we had to spend time due to rain and chilly temps. Being on the water was lovely and close proximity to the village of Belgrade, a cute town. Kitchen is very up to date and well stocked with cooking supplies. Wish owners could thin out a few saplings out front to let sun in a little and improve the view. Unfortunately there is no planning for weather!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steven O.

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

Most relaxing vacation we ever had

The location is truly amazing and the property was exceptionally clean. This is the first time that my wife and I have taken this German Shepherd Dog with us on a vacation, as he is not quite a year old and we have not vacationed the last almost two years due to COVID 19 concerns. He did very well on the property and quickly became calm because he could enjoy the very large wrap around screened porch with us. Between the dock and the porch, we probably spent 80+ percent of our time enjoying those two places.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa M.

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

Cute Lakeside Cabin with all the extras

Our party was four adults and we stayed for a week. The cabin is set just above a lovely lake (Great Pond), and there’s only a flight of stairs down to the dock. There’s also a landing area if you want a bit more shade. The owners provided ample lakeside seating and the dock also has stairs to get in an out of the lake. They also offered the use of two kayaks with oars and life preservers in the cabin. The cabin and dock face the sunset and we had some unbelievable ones during our trip. The cabin was two bedrooms, 1.5 baths. The kitchen is newly refinished with all the kitchen amenities provided. There a stove, fridge, and microwave. The living room has seats for 6/7 people and they have board games, puzzles, books, and cable television. The full bath is very large and is off the living room. The couch pulls out and could sleep two. The stairs are a little narrow in spots and they curve, so carrying heavy things may be difficult. At the top of the stairs is a half bath (toilet and sink). The two bedrooms are about equivalent size. The lakeside bedroom has a queen bed and small seating area. There’s a door to the outside, but there’s no landing and it doesn’t open. The other bedroom has a full size and a twin size bed and dressers for each. We had plenty of room even with our two dogs. The best part of the house is the large screened-in, wrap-around porch. We ate several meals on the porch at the table and chairs and were able to appreciate the lake even in the rain. The driveway down to the house is a little steep, but most cars could handle it fine in non-icy weather. There are neighbors close by, but we found it to be very quiet notwithstanding. The WiFi is very good and extends all the way to the dock/lake The cabin is about 25 mins to Augusta or Waterville if you want to go to a movie or shopping. There is a great store (Tri-Pond) about three miles from the cabin that has gas and groceries, and you can even order breakfast and lunch foods cooked to order. We had a very relaxing time spent mostly looking at the water and listening to the loons. The check in process with the owners was easy and quick and they responded immediately to all emails. We enjoyed our time very much!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andrew B.

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

Favorite cottage!

Second time renting this cottage. We love the location and the cottage. The large screened porch and west facing dock/patio are just perfect!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jody H.

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

Everything you need and more in a lake cottage

The cottage had everything you need. Unfortunately our week had too many rainy days! Explored into Waterville and had a wonderful lunch at Riverside. Enjoyed the Colby Museum…top notch! I would put a word out on the rental that you need to definitely be able to climb stairs that are very steep. Lovely kitchen with all the things you need to make whatever…thanks Tom and Maureen for sharing such a special place!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Philip L.

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

Quintessential Maine Perfection

Place is great. Updated kitchen is really nice, the landing down the water is heaven. The huge screened in porch is absolutely wonderful; we are every meal outside looking at the water views without having to worry about bugs. It was like having a huge extra room. The owners are super friendly and responsive.
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kristine R.

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

Beautiful and Relaxing Cottage

We had an amazing week at the lake! The property was clean, with updated kitchen, grill, beautiful wraparound porch and large dock for relaxing! Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Todd S.

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

Better than the pictures

My daughter and I stayed here for the week and had a wondering time. Great pond is an awesome lake and the water is very warm and clear. The house had everything we needed and couldn't have asked for a better vacation. Tom and his wife were absolutely wonderful to deal with and I would definitely recommend staying here next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kim E.

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

Great time,very relaxing

We had a great time, the cabin was very clean and there was plenty of supplies at the camp, the kayaks where an added bonus. If we weren’t by the pond we were on the amazing screened in porch! I drank my coffee out there every morning. Had there been a place to sleep I would have slept out there. The gift and note left by the owners was very inviting touch! I would highly recommend this cabin.

10/10 Excellent

m a.

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

Peaceful retreat

We enjoyed quiet days and evenings here, especially listening to the loons. A truly special place. Thanks for sharing this treasure with us!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Inherited Property Solutions

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

Absolutely fantastic

We loved staying here
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Margaret S.

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

Perfect location

Our family had a wonderful and relaxing time at Twin oaks. I have been coming every summer to Great Pond for the past 30+ years and this is one of the nicest camps I have stayed at. The location on the pond is quiet and beautiful. The newly renovated kitchen is a big plus for this camp. The dock areas and use of the kayaks were a favorite of my kids and great for swimming or morning coffee. The star of this camp is the wrap around porch. It is huge and provided a great space for us to host a small family dinner party and a sleep over for our two kids and their cousins. Tom and Maureen were super helpful during our stay and easily reachable when we had questions.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Tom D., Manchester, NH USA

Great camp for family, friends, and boating

This camp is exactly as shown in the pictures. The 2 bedrooms are up some curvy stairs from the living room, and are airy and comfortable. Each bedroom had a ceiling fan, plus there were stand fans to keep things cool. My favorite part of Twin Oaks is the great wrap-around screened porch. It is huge and has a dining table plus plenty of chair for just hanging out and enjoying the view of the lake. Be aware that the neighbors are sensitive to people having a good time (aka, talking and laughing) on that screen porch if you're out there too late. So take the fun inside to the living room where there's plenty of seating and a TV with all the cable channels for those rainy days. The kitchen is very functional and has everything you need. There's a gas grill outside for those summertime meals. The dock was amazing and was plenty big enough for our 22 ft. pontoon boat. It was cool to explore Great Pond for the first time. We saw a family of eagles and also 2 different osprey families. The fishing wasn't great but we went in late August so I guess that's to be expected. All in all we had a great time! Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

4/10 Poor

Jim C.

Screened in porch was good.Stairway very difficult to maneuver to go upstairs.

Pictures on line are deceiving. Small interior. Kitchen extremely outdated. Not all appliances in working order. Lights throughout home not always working. Musty smell throughout. Although the screened in porch is great, most of outside is not kept up except for dock. Stairway to second level is very unsafe due to steepness. Not handicap accessible by any means. Step up to bathroom on main level not safe.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andrew B.

Lovely week

Fantastic location, beautiful view, porch and dock are amazing and we appreciated a lovely note and gift from the owners upon arrival
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely lake getaway

I love this little camp. My parents used to rent this camp every year for about twenty years, and it was nice to be back. The wraparound screened-in porch is its shining feature. The loons on the lake were active, and the kayaking is great. We brought friends with us who had never been to Maine, and they enjoyed it. Tom and Maureen are wonderful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

About the host

Hosted by Tom and Maureen McAvoy

Host profile image
I was born and raised in nearby Waterville, Maine and spent nearly every day of every summer until college barefoot, shirtless and carefree at this cottage. I left Maine for upstate New York for high school when my parents closed the Elmwood Hotel in Waterville, Maine and I went to college at Cornell University. A Navy career took me around the world, but now I have retired back to nearby Sidney, Maine. My wife and I are both retired US Naval Officers. Some of my favorite things to do are kayaking around Great Pond, swimming, walking, biking, playing with our dogs and traveling to see new places.

Why they chose this property

My grandfather, Richard W. Begley originally purchased this cottage approximately 80 years ago. I was born and raised in nearby Waterville, Maine and spent nearly every summer until college at this cottage. I have fond memories of great fishing off the dock and the puppet shows that Mary Lane McMillan held at the camp next door ("Afterglow") for the children in the area.

What makes this property unique

The huge screened in porch and nice landing that you can sit and enjoy the lake from are definite pluses. Kayaking on the lake with the 2 kayaks included with your rental at no extra cost is a relaxing way to enjoy and explore the lake. Island hopping, swimming, walking and biking along the roads and even snorkeling along the shore of the lake or out around the islands are fun ways to spend time on the lake. The lake also offers great fishing having been featured on national television shows for its great bass fishing.

Languages:

English
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