Entire home

Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake.

Lakefront cottage with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake.

Exterior
Exterior
The hammock is calling!
Exterior
Room

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 674.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

View map
Strong, ME
  • Place, Porter Lake
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Sugarloaf Mountain
  • Place, University of Maine - Farmington
    ‪36 min drive‬
  • Airport, Waterville, ME (WVL-Robert Lafleur)
    ‪95 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

guest

1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Double Bed

Master

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake.

Our club has 60 miles of ATV trails in town. We have spent $60K on trail and bridge improvements last summer. We are in the middle of Franklin county, minutes from Rangeley and Kingfield. Drive a little and save a lot on lodging costs. We are truly a hidden gem in the western mountains without high traffic of the more well known towns.

Our simple dwelling is well equipped with a queen bed, a bunk bed (single bed on top, full size bed on bottom.), and a well appointed bath room. A dishwasher, washer/dryer, and air conditioning are also included. The interior was completely remodeled, and insulated in 2017 for year round use. The rooms are covered in native white pine sawed on our own sawmill. Right outside you will find a 10x20 deck equipped with its own gas grill. Of course there is a fire pit with firewood provided. Campfire tales, s'mores, and hot dogs for roasting are on you. The White Elephant country store and restaurant is a local business right down the road. We recommend the bacon chicken wrap, or the prime rib which is a special on Friday and Saturday nights.
Nestled in the western mountains of Maine in the town of Strong, the cottage is literally a stones throw to the beach and boat ramp on Porter Lake. 137 steps to the beach from the deck as counted by my two nieces.
The beach is maintained by the town with several picnic tables and grills. The swimming area has a float and a dock. The lake association sponsors certified swimming lessons during the summer months.The lake is stocked with Salmon, Brooke trout, and Splake by the department of Inland fisheries. It is a local favorite for ice fishermen as well as our resident bald eagles.
This is a quiet location with access to all that makes Maine a true vacation land. Moose are often seen up in Dead Stream a tributary on the eastern side of the lake. Explore the island with its rope swing, campsites with approved fire-pits, and solar outhouse. Beware the eagles will attempt to make off with any fish you catch that are not well guarded.
Skiers, Google maps lists the travel time form the cottage to Sugarloaf at forty minutes via Rt. 27 and one hour to Saddleback via Rt.4. Farmington has Ticomb Hill, which has night skiing three nights a week, a great family facility. The property has direct access to well maintained ITS snowmobile trail system as well as ATV trails. The Black fly Loop to Phillips, Rangeley, Stratton/Eustis, and Kingfield is filled with scenic stops and a multitude of different dining options. Three of the most popular stops for the views are Allen's Pinnacle, Small's Falls, and Coo's Canyon.
Come begin your Maine mountain adventure with us!

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
The keys are hanging on the hook by the door.
Wlfi password is on the black box near the TV
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 24
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 first aid kit

About the area

Strong

Located in Strong, this cottage is in the mountains and on a lake. Stanley Museum and The Nordica Homestead Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Lower Fox and Titcomb Mountain Ski Area. Ski Museum of Maine and Maine Huts & Trails are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Strong, ME

What's nearby

  • Porter Lake - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Maine Huts & Trails - 36 min drive - 31.7 km
  • University of Maine - Farmington - 36 min drive - 29.5 km
  • Titcomb Mountain Ski Area - 38 min drive - 31.5 km
  • Embden Pond - 56 min drive - 42.6 km

Getting around

  • Waterville, ME (WVL-Robert Lafleur) - 78 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪White Elephant - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Country Delight - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Haunted Train Ride - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪The Rib - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Country Delight - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake.?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Paddle, float, fish, or rope swing into the near by crystal clear mountain lake. located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Porter Lake and within 16 miles (25 km) of Mount Blue State Park and Stanley Museum. The Nordica Homestead Museum and Ski Museum of Maine are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 102 out of 134 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 22 out of 134 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 134 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 134 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 134 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Dr. Melynda R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tom was an exceptional host, and this cabin was perfect for our small family. Beautiful location. 10/10 will stay here again. Thanks, Tom!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Vinish Reddy Y.

Liked: Check-in, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
during our stay we noticed a lot of small flying insects coming inside whenever the lights were on, and the property seemed a bit dated with some gaps near windows and ceilings. I just wanted to bring this to your attention, as it affected our comfort.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Loretta F.

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

Excellent stay

Cabin was amazing. My second time staying at this place. Amazing host. Clean cabin with all the amendities.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Sterling L.

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

Porter Lake stay

Camp was as advertised. Owner very friendly and helpful. Nice quiet location and clean.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Very peaceful exactly what I was lookin for dog friendly love the feel at home open concept inside owners very friendly door open when arrive the owners let u settle in then great u very friendly people will definitely be returning
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer D.

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

Lake retreat

Tom was welcoming and let us know he was there if we had any questions
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danielle

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Zach is the best camp host I've ever met Always smiling and laughing with the guests
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mike K.

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

Stay at the Lake in Maine

The cabin was very clean and well-stocked. Tom was very helpful in giving an overview of the property and providing information on hiking spots in the area, in addition to other local information.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

VICTORIA R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Peaceful

The house was clean. It was peaceful
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian G.

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

Nice place in a great area.

. Only stayed one night and will be back.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bridgett C.

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

Perfect get away

My family and I had a blast! It was the perfecr place to unplug and un wind. Owner was nice and made sure to tell us all the little tips about the cabin and area. We loved this vacation! Thanks for an awesome experience!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andrew P.

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

Relaxing trip

Our trip was relaxing and peaceful, enjoyed everything the cabin had to offer. Very neat and clean. Loved the lake and the night sky filled with stars. Thank you for this opportunity
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Eliza D.

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

Clean and cozy

Very clean, with everything you could need and then some. The host was super friendly and accommodating. We would definitely book again and stay longer! :)
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Suzi B.

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

Perfect experience

Tom and Mary’s place was exactly what we were looking for. A comfortable spot with beautiful surroundings. We swam in the lake and took the canoes around the island. We wish we had time for the rope swing! It would have been nice if we had more days to stay and relax , but Katahdin was calling! Maybe next summer we can stay longer!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Patty B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
First off Tom the property owner was wonderful. Very nice guy!! He gave us some tips on where to go in the area. The first day it rained to we travelled about 40 minutes to an antique mall. It had 5 floors and certainly worth the stop. Other days we travelled to Small Falls which was very beautiful. The Cabin is certainly in a pretty spot. There is Lake Porter just a 4-minute walk away. Remee, our four-legged girl went everywhere with us. So my recommendation is travel around but also plan to spend time at the cabin. Very quiet. Very peaceful and the Loons sang each night. It is pretty rural in this part of Maine so shop before coming into the Cabin and I would plan on games or TV or Movies and rest. Again, Tom was super helpful and wonderful. We also have not seen a lake as clean as Porter is at the beach! Enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

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

Away From It All

We had a great time in Strong! Tom was fantastic with his communication. He would quickly get back to me when I asked any questions, and he was very helpful. We enjoyed slowing down and enjoying the lake after a busy week beforehand. The house had everything one would need for a getaway - grill, firepit, pots and pans, etc. The kitchen was well-stocked which made packing much easier! Tom provided us with kayaks and canoes to enjoy the lake. The kids loved the rope swing on the island, while my wife and I enjoyed the leisurely float around the lake. While the couch and beds are not as comfortable as home, we would love to return to this beautiful area to see more moose, bald eagles, and loons.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

jose b.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The owner/property manager came by personally to welcome is. He also allowed us to stay late. Very nice person.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Madalyn P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The host was so gracious!! The spot was beautiful, location was perfect. I got to meet my best friend of 20 years’ infant son for the first time here. It will always be special to me!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had a great time. Tom was great, he was there for anything we needed. My sone loved kayaking on the lake. Nice, quite and relaxing vacation. We will be back again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Bradford B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very relaxing!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jen M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tom is awesome. Super helpful and friendly. Cabin is adorable with enough room for my family of 4. 10/10 recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne M.

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

Respite

Awesomeness and quiet, with views of a magnificent lake:)
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

2/10 Terrible

Nancy M.

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

BIG disappointment!!

Our experience at this cottage was extremely disappointing. After driving for 4 hours, we had to clean for two hours before unpacking to make it a bit more acceptable. Where do I begin, the cottage was very dirty and so are the pots and pans left there to be used by the guests. The kettle on the stove was filled with dirty rusty water, the cast iron pans were greasy and dirty, the table, chairs and wall behind the stove were very sticky. We rented a cottage with a dishwasher thinking we did not have to do the dishes but the dishwasher was out of order and we were not informed of that prior to our arrival..The faucet in the kitchen was wably
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynette S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice camp experience.

We enjoyed this camp for two nights. Our grandsons loved the pond and beach. The owner was readily available, friendly and greeted us upon arrival. Plenty of room for 2 adults and 2 children. Take out pizza from the White Elephant was really good and eaten during a rowdy game of monopoly at dining table. Thanks, Tom!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Raejeania

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Property was very nice and quiet. The host was very nice and he was easy to get in touch with if we needed anything. The beach, that is only a 5 min walk to get to, is clean and relaxing. I highly recommend this property!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by Tom Piekart

Host profile image
We have lived at the lake since May of 2000. It was our "camp" before that. We started out camping during the summer in 1987 with the purchase of our 1st half acre. We started construction of the lake house in 1990. and spent summers here since 1995. Over the years we have cobbled together about 30 acre including a lovely little camp ground. The cottage was purchased form my sister in law in 2015 and has under gone many upgrades in the last few years.

Why they chose this property

We purchased the property to keep it in the family. It was too much for my sister in law to maintain in addition to her shore front camp passed down from her grandparents. Now my nieces will have this wonderful little cottage to use when they have families of their own. I have traveled all over the country as a design engineer for Digital Equipment Cooperation in the late 80's and early 90's there is no other place I would rather be. We love this little corner of Maine any would not leave it for the world.

What makes this property unique

Western Maine has many great features for people to enjoy. Hunting, fishing, 4 wheeling, snowmobiling, and skiing are just a few. There is no where on earth more beautiful than New England during the foliage season. "Maine the way life should be!" is a vacation slogan often seen here in the Pine Tree State and should be experienced by everyone at least once in there life time.

Languages:

English

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