Harpswell, Maine
HISTORIC ISLAND COTTAGE
Built in 1918, The Gills is an original summer cottage perched above the sea at the very end of Bailey Island. Secluded far from the road, nestled in a grove of pine and spruce, the house is pure tranquility. Each beautifully appointed room is both comfortable and authentic.
Enjoy naps on the porch swing or walk to nearby beaches, restaurants and shops. Explore tide pools along the rocky coastline. Go sailing or kayaking. Fish for striped bass from the rocks, just steps from the porch. Enjoy fresh lobster pulled from the ocean that morning by one of the local lobstermen.
Whatever you choose to do, it all comes back to the view. Clear and calm one day, misty and grey the next. Sit back and watch the sea and sky change with the weather. Hour by hour. Minute by minute. Always beautiful. Always different.
The Gills will give you the opportunity to slow down, and remember how good it feels to do nothing at all, surrounded by friends and family.
THE GILLS sleeps 6 - with two queen beds and two twin beds.
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THE GILLS GROUP
THE GILLS GROUP is a collection of oceanfront cottages that can be rented together for larger groups or intimate events. The cottages are adjacent, each with its own spectacular ocean views.
For larger groups - please check out the other GILLS GROUP cottages (Jaquish Lane and The Red House).
Jaquish Lane sleeps 12 (VRBO property # 733483) and The Red House sleeps 4 (VRBO property # 1063510). Renting two (or more) of THE GILLS GROUP cottages together is the perfect way for larger groups to be “together” while still having a space of your own.
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BAILEY ISLAND
25 minutes from Brunswick and Bowdoin College. 40 minutes from Freeport and L.L.Bean. 50 minutes from Portland - Bailey Island is the perfect place to unplug, relax and recharge.
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THE OWNER
My name is Carter Smith and I am the owner of THE GILLS GROUP (The Red House #1063510, Jaquish Lane #733483 and The Gills). I was born on Bailey Island and after traveling the world I know that this little island is special. As both a photographer and filmmaker, I travel quite a bit and I've furnished the houses with things I've collected from around the world (and around Maine). These are not just "rental properties"to me . These are houses I've designed and furnished with love and attention to detail - places where I spend time with family and friends whenever I get the chance. Places that I love sharing.
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FROM THE GUESTBOOK
"We fell in love with the cottage as soon as we climbed the steps to the porch and saw the expansive ocean views."
Julia K.
"You have created a beautiful retreat that captures a time when life was slower and the focus was on what is truly important - those we love."
Cynthia M.
"Walking into The Gills was like taking a step back into another time. Every room feels like it has a story to tell."
Alison C.
"There are special touches in every room, and the owner has gone above and beyond with great mattresses, linens and towels"
Aja M.
"We loved starting each day on the porch with our coffee - watching the lobster boats, seabirds, and the changing colors of the ocean"
Kelly B.
"The location is breathtaking, with wonderful sunrises and sunsets."
Kim F.
"This place has stolen our family's hearts."
Michelle K.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
This cottage is perfect if you're seeking an authentic Maine experience and love historic homes - BUT - The Gills is over 100 years old and has all of the quirks of an old home. There are changes in the level of the floor at several of the thresholds between rooms. The original horsehair plaster in the upstairs bedrooms and hallway is intact - and imperfect in places. The original canvas floor runner on the stairs is still in place - and shows it's age with the wear of the many people who have enjoyed this magical cottage. As the owner - and lover of historic homes - I have chosen to keep these original details intact. If you are expecting something glossy and perfect and new - then The Gills is probably not the cottage for you. If you love the authentic charm of a truly historic home - the quirks and odd details that can't fully be shown in a photograph - then you just may fall in love. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact our property manager David Johnson - [email protected]
Keywords: Private, Oceanfront, Family, Cottage
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The perfect escape; private, the sound of the ocean crashing on the rocks, my wife and our dog Gus. The 4 days we just spent here were rejuvenating. Thank you for making it so seamless Dave. We will be back!
Pretty much the perfect Maine coastal cottage.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Gills. Dave, the property manager was very responsive and gave us great tips on kayak rental and where to put in. He was incredibly quick to reply with any questions we had and was very welcoming. The properly was clean and well maintained for an old home. The location can’t be beat and I could live on the porch overlooking the ocean- so comfortable and plenty of comfortable seats for everyone. I will remember that porch swing as my happy place for a long time to come. We look forward to coming back!
My family of four stayed at this beautiful property for a week and my only regret is that we didn’t stay longer. It’s like going back in time in a good way. Very peaceful property right on the water. Every detail was well thought out as far as anything you need. Bailey island and surrounding small towns have so much character and charm. We would love to come back!
Would love to have had more of a 180° view of the ocean but the view we had was terrific and the 1918 home exuded charm and great style. Large living room fireplace was comfy and warm especially when we had some rain our first week. Walking down to the rocks was enjoyable and gave us wonderful memories.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Gills! The view was beautiful! The house was amazing and perfect for our family. We spent a lot of time on the porch swing, and fishing off the rocks. We explored the island on bikes and did some sea kayaking and hiking nearby as well.-
This home has a lot of character. This is our 2 year in a row visiting. As accurately described in the listing, it is rustic without washer, dryer, dishwasher and ac; however, the peacefulness it provides are worth it. Compared to our first visit, it is in need of some tlc, elbow grease and some repairs to the porch. We hope that plans are in order for a little extra love prior to next season because this home and location are incredible.
Thoroughly enjoyed our week long stay at this quaint cottage. After spending a week camping on Hermit Island several years ago, we were looking for an alternative that provided the same throwback and rustic feel, with the comforts of a home. The Gills certainly delivered. Jumping off the rocks and watching the ocean for hours on end were the highlights. We spent our days relaxing on the front porch, reading and admiring the sea. We were also fortunately to kayak out of Mackeral Cove. The Gills was just as described, and we appreciated all this home offered. We hope to be back, as Bailey Island may be our favorite Maine destination yet. Thanks for this special place! The Hicks family Concord, NH
We had a fantastic week at the Gills. It is everything we could have hoped for. Stunning location, warm feeling inside. Short walk to a gentle beach. Dream trip for our family. Hope we can come back soon!
Our group of 5 with two seniors and three 20-30 somethings all loved our stay at The Gills. We had a hard time pulling ourselves away from the view on the front porch to enjoy all the other fun things to do in the area. Big front porch with comfortable furniture was the biggest hit with our group. We will definitely come back again. Our group loves to cook and we had great meals. Beds were comfortable, fans in the bedrooms were perfect when we found ourselves in a heatwave. Very private location and quiet. If you like to relax and watch the waves roll in and the boats go by, this is the place for you. Special treat was going down to the rocks very early and watching the sunrise!
This house was a dream and I hope to return again and again.
It was the perfect Maine experience.
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Includes taxes and fees