Poland Spring Resort

A Stress Free Zone

It is hard to plan a vacation, much less even finding the time to take one. Sometimes the best vacations are spur of the moment and close to home. A few weeks ago, my friend and I spontaneously decided we needed a moment to relax. Our destination was the Poland Spring Resort. Located on 500 acres, the Resort has many activities to enjoy inside and outside, many free or for a small fee for guests’ enjoyment. Their most well known is the award winning Donald Ross Golf Course but for us non-golfers, they also have grass tennis courts, hiking and mountain biking trails, a crystal clear swimming pool, two museums, shuffleboard, bocce, tether ball, swings, horseshoes, playground, putting green, exercise room, ping pong, badminton, game rooms, mini golf course, driving range, disc golf, canoe/kayak rentals, and even a 10,000 volume library. So there is a lot to do at Poland Spring Resort for all ages and levels of athletic prowess. 

Since 1794, guests have enjoyed clean air, water, and beautiful scenery at Poland Spring Resort which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The Resort offers 4 unique lodging choices - the Maine Inn, The Presidential Inn, The Lodge, and 11 Cottages. We were staying in the Presidential Inn. Built in 1912, this historic Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. To keep its historic designation it has no elevator service for the 3 floors. Each room is dedicated to a different President or First Lady. I could feel the energy of 100 years of visitors as I walked around the Inn. Oh, if only the walls could talk. 

Poland Spring’s story began in 1794 when the Ricker Family, original owners of the land, began operating an Inn. Family members had found the spring to have healing properties. In 1859 they made their first commercial sale of the water. In marketing the Resort as a country getaway with recreational activities and having water with health benefits, the Rickers grew their enterprise. In 1876, the family opened the Poland Spring House with 350 guest rooms with amenities which soon became a popular attraction for the country’s social and political elite. 

Of course, with my background and degree in American History, my must see at the Resort was the Poland Spring Water Museum housed at the Maine State Building. The resort purchased the Maine State Building in 1894 from the State of Maine. The building, constructed of granite, hardwoods, and slate from Maine, was originally constructed as the state entry for the Columbian Exposition or Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Designed by Lewiston native Charles Sumner Frost, the building was purchased by the Rickers, carefully disassembled, transported to Poland Spring, painstakingly reassembled, and dedicated for use as a library and art gallery for the resort guests. It remains as one of 5 left from the almost 200 that comprised the grand and historic fair. It is owned now by the Poland Spring Preservation Society that oversees it as a museum. It was full of memorabilia dating back to the late 1700’s. I especially loved the collection of vintage fashions. Oh my gosh, women had such small waists back in the day. 

It was only a one night stay with a fabulous breakfast brunch in the morning, but it was enough for us to feel recharged and rested. A lot has changed over the years at the Resort but what continues is it being a place where folks can enjoy good food, clean air and water, and heartfelt hospitality.