Maple Hill Farm Inn

An Award Winning, Green Certified Bed and Breakfast that Feels Like Home

Not even 5 inches of torrential rain could dampen my spirits on my surprise visit to a sweet B&B up in Hallowell. Recently, my friend needed to conduct early morning business up in Augusta and thought it would be easier to go up the night before and spend the evening as their home was a good stretch from the Capital. I was so excited when they reached out and asked if I would like to join them to enjoy a relaxing evening away from my business tasks. I quickly responded with a resounding yes although I had just assumed it would be at the Senator Inn and we would spend time shopping in Hallowell and making use of the pool at the Senator Inn. So I was pleasantly surprised when we pulled up the driveway and saw before us a charming turn of the century, tastefully restored farmhouse, a 1910 Dutch Gambrel. 

Maple Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast Inn and Conference Center is a charming retreat nestled on 62 acres of hills and woods. The Inn is located just 4 miles from the state capital and 3 miles to downtown Hallowell. It makes for a quick get away from business or for business. Owner Scott Cowger works hard to provide a personalized and comfortable stay. Cowger and co-owner and inn manager, Vincent Hannan, purchased the inn in 1992. Prior to the purchase, the property had been used as a working farm until 1988 when it was first converted to a bed & breakfast by prior owners. An ambitious expansion in 2000 by Cowger and Hannan took the original Victorian house and addition, built in the same style, to 8 guest rooms each equipped with their own bathroom. I was lucky to have 1 of the 4 bedrooms that also features a Jacuzzi whirlpool tub for soaking away the day’s tensions. And speaking of soaking away your stress, the Inn offers an outdoor hot tub and sauna room. We chose to pass on the hot tub with the deluge of rain, but were more than happy to spend time in the sauna. 

Maple Hill Farm was once home to William Oliver Vaughan, one of the founding families of Hallowell. As a history buff, I loved the historical significance of the architecture, the furnishings, and the property’s provenance. The land surrounding the Inn was first cleared and settled in the late 1700’s. The Inn adjoins the Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area with a pristine pond. It is a nice spot to paddle around, fish, and check out wildlife. It’s a beautiful location with kid-friendly trails. This will be a must do on my next visit to the Inn with hopefully better weather. 

Overnight guests can choose from a variety of breakfast offerings including fresh muffins baked daily, fresh fruit, homemade granola, and organic fair trade coffee. Other brunch menu selections included wild Maine blueberry pancakes, french toast with thickly sliced bread and pure Maine maple syrup, Eggs Benedict Arnold, and eggs served in any style requested. Their big red barn is filled with animals and it is their own eggs being served at breakfast. They are farmers and innkeepers … it’s not just a business, it is a lifestyle. 

The Inn earned the designation of Maine’s first certified “Environmental Leader” green lodging establishment in 2005. A large solar electric and hot water generating system was added in 2006.  Maple Hill Farm Inn was named one of Yankee magazines “best 5 green hotels and inns” in 2017, with its wind turbine, solar array, wood pellet boiler, and electric vehicle charging stations. The Inn celebrates the past by honoring simpler times while forging ahead with being green and sustainable. This Inn has been around for over 113 years and will continue for another 100 years. I am looking forward to my next visit.