The Pond Retreat

Come to the Pond

Interior of a rustic home with wooden flooring, a white weathered door, and a bench. A potted fern is on a side table next to the door, and a coat hangs on a wall hook. The background shows a staircase and a modern living space.
Interior of a rustic home with wooden flooring, a white weathered door, and a bench. A potted fern is on a side table next to the door, and a coat hangs on a wall hook. The background shows a staircase and a modern living space.

The Pond Retreat is an off-grid retreat, event, and vacation property on the shores of Walker Pond in coastal Maine, designed as a place for restoration, connection, and time in nature.

The property includes a spacious Guest House, with modern comforts and expansive views, along with two rustic sleeping cottages, beautifully furnished for a comfortable stay. Guests have access to the shared spaces and amenities throughout the property, creating a flexible setting for individuals, families, and groups.

Person in a small boat on a lake at sunset with trees along the shore and reeds in the water.
A young girl standing on a small dock that extends into a lake, with trees and boats nearby, under a partly cloudy sky with the sun visible.
A small wooden sauna with a round shape, situated outdoors on a wooden platform in a snowy forest.

The landscape is part of the experience. A private dock opens onto Walker Pond for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. A wood-fired sauna offers a place to warm up and unwind, while fire pits, hammocks, and quiet places throughout the property invite people to gather, reflect, or simply be.

Whether you're coming for a therapeutic retreat, gathering a group for a workshop or wellness experience, or simply looking for a restorative vacation in nature, The Pond Retreat offers a place to slow down, reconnect, and make space for what matters.

Person ice skating on a frozen lake during sunset with a colorful sky and distant horizon.
A modern blue house with large windows and outdoor seating, featuring a wooden dining table with chairs and a lounging area with chairs and cushions, set against a forest background in autumn.
A man standing outdoors on gravel and holding a large fish, flanked by two young girls, with a wooden planter box and potted plants behind them, surrounded by tall trees.

Your Stay Gives Back

A portion of the proceeds from every stay, retreat, and event helps fund therapeutic retreats and time away for trauma recovery, as well as restorative experiences for helping professionals.

When you choose to stay here or host an event, you help make this work possible.

Our nonprofit arm, Wake Up, extends this work through grants and philanthropic partnerships, helping us expand access to restorative experiences and find new ways for The Pond to serve the wider community.

Guest House Booking

A wooden dining table set for a meal with plates, glasses, utensils, small yellow lamps, a centerpiece with red berries, and a pitcher of water, in a cozy, warmly lit room with a sliding glass door and chairs.
Living room with large sliding glass doors opening to a wooded outdoor deck, featuring a bouquet of colorful flowers on a dining table, a dark sofa with pillows, a patterned armchair, and a two-story ceiling with wooden accents.

Sleeping Arrangements

  • 3 private bedrooms, each with a queen bed and a door that closes for privacy.

  • 1 queen bed in an open loft sleeping nook.

For larger groups, the house also includes:

  • 2 queen sleeper sofas (one in the upstairs loft and one in the downstairs living area)

  • 1 single sleeper couch in the upstairs loft

Removable curtains are provided for those staying in the loft area. Eye masks are recommended for those who need full darkness to sleep.

Please note: When the sleeper sofas and couch are in use, common areas become significantly more crowded. This arrangement allows for additional guests but offers less privacy and tighter shared living space.

Bathroom Access

  • One bathroom features a handcrafted cement soaking tub with a shower wand (not a traditional stand-up shower).

  • The second bathroom features a walk-in shower and no tub.

An outdoor shower is also available for guests to use during the warmer months.

Please note: There are no bathrooms on the second floor. All indoor bathrooms are located on the main level.

Additional Accommodations

For larger gatherings, reserve the two sleeping cottages as well! Booking link is in the following section. Sleeping cottages are available May-October.

    • 50% non-refundable deposit due upon booking.

    • Remaining amount due 7-days before check-in.

    • No refund if cancelled less than 7 days before check-in.

    • Up to two (2) well-behaved pets are allowed for a flat pet fee of $100 per stay. Service animals stay at no charge.

    • Pets must not be left unattended in the home unless crated. Pets are not allowed on beds or furniture, so please bring a pet bed or crate.

    • Please clean up after your pet immediately in the yard and common areas.  Place bags in the outdoor garbage bin.

    • Pets must be fully housebroken and flea-free. Guests are 100% responsible for their pet's behavior and any damages to the property.

    • Pets must be kept on a leash at all times while on the property's exterior grounds.

    • Please bring your own pet bowls and disposable bags.

  • Interior entryway with a black front door featuring rectangular frosted glass panels, a wooden bench on the left, a small metal shelf with lamps, a window on the left wall, and a painting on the right wall.

  • A spacious open-concept living area with large windows overlooking a wooded landscape, featuring a kitchen with a blue island, a seating area with a gray couch, cream-colored chairs, and a wooden staircase leading to an upper floor.

  • A cozy dining area with wooden flooring and ceiling. There is a long wooden table with multiple chairs, a vase with red flowers, and a pitcher. The room has a white wall with a framed map of Maine, and a doorway leading to another room with visible greenery outside. There is a kitchen area with a refrigerator, a white cabinet, and a small kitchen setup on a counter.

  • A spacious open-concept kitchen and dining area with wooden floors and a vaulted ceiling. The kitchen features a stainless steel stove, a wooden countertop, an island with a marble top, and a stainless steel refrigerator. There are chairs around the island and a long dining table with multiple chairs. The space is decorated with framed artwork, a clock, and a vase with red flowers.

  • Interior view of a modern kitchen with a wooden ceiling, an island with a marble countertop, and a blue kitchen island with gold handles. There are windows and a staircase in the background, with a ceiling fan and decorative art on the walls.

  • Wooden table set up for drinks with glasses, bottles, a lamp, and a small flower vase under a staircase with sunlight streaming in.

  • Living room with a dark gray sectional sofa, yellow patterned armchairs, a round glass coffee table, and large sliding glass doors with wooden frames leading outside. Decorative pillows and a floor lamp are also visible.

  • A room with blue walls and a large window showing a forest outside. The room contains a blue chair, a wooden chair with magazines, a potted plant, a blue upholstered sink, and a small bookshelf. There is a dog lying on the floor near the sink, and a round mirror and two wall lights decorate the wall.

  • A bathroom with a large stone bathtub in front of a window showing a forest view, blue walls, a small black table with a flower in a white vase, and various plants nearby.

  • A bathroom blue wall with two wall-mounted light fixtures, a round mirror with a distressed blue frame, a faucet, and a soap dish below the mirror.

  • A cozy bedroom with light green walls, a large window with a view of trees, a green wardrobe, a white dresser with a plant, a wooden chair, a bed with a floral bedspread, and folded towels on the bed.

  • A bedroom with large windows showing a wooded outdoor scene, a white dresser with a mirror and flowers, a wooden chair, a green wardrobe with a model ship on top, and a bed with floral bedding and pillows.

  • A cozy bedroom with light blue walls, a white bed with pillows and a quilt, a bedside lamp, a blue upholstered chair, a white dresser with a turquoise lamp, books, and decorative items, two windows with white curtains, and a framed nautical poster on the wall.

  • A cozy bedroom with blue walls, a wooden headboard, a floral quilt on the bed, multiple pillows, and two nightstands with lamps. There is a framed sailboat poster on the wall.

  • A small bathroom with pale blue walls, a modern white toilet, a small rustic sink with a wooden countertop, a mirror with a distressed white frame, a wall-mounted campfire style light, a framed beach artwork, a towel on a brass towel rack, and a trash can with a lemon pattern on the floor.

  • A walk-in shower with beige tiled walls, a ceiling light, a rainfall showerhead, a wooden frame, and a blue partial wall with hooks. A pebble-patterned shower floor and a white bath mat outside the shower.

  • Second floor living room with large windows overlooking woodlands, two sleeper sofas, round black coffee table with books and a candle, local artwork on the walls, and hardwood floors.

  • The second floor living room with electronic keyboard. The space has a wooden floor and a railing overlooking the open first floor plan with kitchen, dining, and living rooms.

  • A cozy second floor sleeping nook has a bed with pullout drawers.

  • Second floor living room with wooden ceiling and large windows overlooking trees, tan leather sleeper sofa, black coffee table with local books, small black cabinet, local artwork on wall, bed with pillows and floral bedding nearby.

  • A second floor bedroom with forest green walls and a wooden vaulted ceiling, featuring a queen bed with pink and blue pillows, a wooden chair, a dresser with a plant, and a small window framing the forest outside.

  • The second floor bedroom dresser has books about the Maine coast resting on a runner. A potted orchid is placed beside the books with a round wall mirror positioned over the dresser.

Cottages Booking

A small green building with steps, surrounded by trees and a gravel path, with other outbuildings, picnic table, and blue umbrellas in a wooded area
The Fern Cottage nestled at the edge of the forest with rocking chairs overlooking the outdoor dining area.

  • 2 cottages sleep up to 4 adults

  • Includes LED lamps, outhouse, heated outdoor shower, porta potty, grill, fire pit, and picnic tables.

  • All guests have access to the private dock and watercraft.

  • Cottages available from May - October.

    • 50% non-refundable deposit due upon booking.

    • Remaining amount due 7-days before check-in.

    • No refund if cancelled less than 7 days before check-in.

    • Up to two (2) well-behaved pets are allowed for a flat pet fee of $100 per stay. Service animals stay at no charge.

    • Pets must not be left unattended in the home unless crated. Pets are not allowed on beds or furniture, so please bring a pet bed or crate.

    • Please clean up after your pet immediately in the yard and common areas.  Place bags in the outdoor garbage bin.

    • Pets must be fully housebroken and flea-free. Guests are 100% responsible for their pet's behavior and any damages to the property.

    • Pets must be kept on a leash at all times while on the property's exterior grounds.

    • Please bring your own pet bowls and disposable bags.

  • The Fern Cottage interior has a king bed, indoor sitting area rocking chairs and a small table, and double barn doors opening onto the woodlands and outdoor seating area.

  • Interior view of the Fern Cottage shows the king bed, nightstand with bluetooth speaker and radio, indoor sitting area with rocking chairs, and dresser with fresh flowers and water dispenser.

  • A knit throw blanket and decorative pillow make the rocking chair a cozy space to rest. Fresh flowers bring a burst of golden color to the white walls and Robin's Egg blue painted floor.

  • The Fern Cottage also has a turquoise dresser for clothing storage.

  • Fresh towels are provided with the Fern Cottage.

  • The Fern Cottage also has a small vintage green nightstand with three drawers, LED lamps, and a bluetooth speaker and radio.

  • A view of the Fern Cottage interior with king bed, rocking chairs, blankets, table, and dresser with double barn doors closed for privacy.

  • The Fern Cottage double barn doors open onto the outdoor seating area with the fire pit just at the edge of the forest beside the cottage.

  • A circle of blue Adirondack chairs around a fire pit in a wooded forest area.

  • The Owl's Perch cottage has double barn doors that open, revealing a queen bed, fresh towels, and windows on the back wall.

  • The Owl's Perch cottage has a comfortable armchair, dresser, LED lamps, and local artwork.

  • A cozy bedroom with a floral bedspread and a cream knitted throw blanket. There are four white pillows and one beige decorative pillow on the bed. Two white nightstands with lamps are on either side of the bed. Three small vintage-style windows with mirrors above the headboard and a small horizontal window on the right wall, which is partly open. There is a folded turquoise towel and a stack of smaller towels on the foot of the bed. A framed picture and a small radio are on the left nightstand.

  • A cozy bedroom with a floral quilt, white pillows, and a crochet blanket on the bed, overlooking a forest with a black poodle outside the open door, and Adirondack chairs visible through the trees.

  • Outdoor shower with black and light wooden frame in a backyard near a blue shed with double doors and a small window.

  • A small blue cabin in a forest, with an open door revealing a bed inside, and outdoor seating with wooden chairs in the background.

Planning a Special Event?

The Pond Retreat is available to rent for large gatherings, reunions, group retreats and workshops. Connect with us to discuss the details of your event!

Plan Your Event
The waterfront dock on Walker Pond is a minutes walk from Pond Retreat accommodations and includes access to paddleboards, kayaks, row boat, and sailboat.
A chartered sailing trip with friends on Penobscot Bay.
A house with a lit interior, surrounded by trees at night, with the moon and a bright star visible in the sky.
People gathered around a lit fire pit and dining outdoors at night with string lights and a large patio umbrella, near a modern house surrounded by trees.
Three people in warm clothing gathered around a hot food container, serving or preparing food together in an outdoor setting at night.
A scenic landscape with a grassy field in the foreground, dense trees in the middle ground, and a body of water with distant landforms under a partly cloudy sky at sunset.

Surrounding Area

The Pond Retreat is surrounded by Maine Heritage Trust conservation land, with protected land and miles of trails nearby. There is plenty to explore close to the property, as well as along the coast and throughout the Blue Hill Peninsula.

A short walk from the Pond, Cooper Farm Preserve offers blueberry picking and the quarter-mile Peter Clapp Trail. Nearby, Caterpillar Hill has expansive views of the surrounding hills and water.

A peaceful lake at sunset with reflections of orange and pink clouds in the water, surrounded by trees and rocks.

A short drive brings you to Lookout Rock Preserve, with views of Eggemoggin Reach. In nearby Blue Hill, explore the forests and shoreline around Snow Cove, or visit Bluff Head Preserve for views of the Bagaduce River.

A peaceful landscape featuring a river with rocks in the foreground, surrounded by trees and large rocks on the riverbank, under a clear blue sky.

The Bagaduce River runs toward Penobscot Bay, connecting forests, working waterfronts, blueberry fields, and coastal communities. From Walker Pond, you can spend a day sailing, exploring the coast, visiting nearby harbors, or taking a ferry to islands including Isle au Haut and Vinalhaven. Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor are both an easy day trip from the property. Blue Hill has galleries, shops, restaurants, farms, and other local places to explore.

A beach shoreline with several kayaks and paddles, surrounded by a forested cliff and blue water under a partly cloudy sky.

And, of course, you can stay close to home. Walker Pond, the trails, and the property itself offer plenty to explore, but many guests find that their favorite days are the ones spent simply being here.

A person's legs in the foreground are resting near the edge of a body of water. On their lap is a watercolor paint set with a painting of the shoreline and water above it.
Sunset over a forested lakeshore with rocks and reflected trees in the water.

Honoring The Land

The Pond Retreat sits on land that has been part of the Wabanaki homeland for thousands of years.

Walker Pond and the surrounding Bagaduce watershed have long been places of travel, gathering, fishing, hunting, and community for Wabanaki people. The waterways connected villages and coastal communities by canoe, and Walker Pond was part of this network. A Penobscot village once stood near the outlet of Walker Pond, a place that also holds a history of profound loss.

We honor the Penobscot Nation and the broader Wabanaki Nations—the Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq—who have longstanding relationships with these lands and waters and continue to live here today. We recognize their sovereignty and their ongoing connection to this place.

As stewards of this property, we have a responsibility to learn its history, acknowledge what has been lost and what endures, and care for the land and water with respect.