Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
Highlights
Made for relaxation
Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
Arcade/game room
A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade and game room.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10
Popular amenities
Spa pool on site
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Explore the area
Bridgton, ME
Narramissic Historic Farm
Place, Narramissic Historic Farm
3 min drive
Holt Pond Preserve
Place, Holt Pond Preserve
5 min drive
Sebago Lake
Place, Sebago Lake
19 min drive
Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport)
Airport, Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport)
59 min drive
Rooms & beds
4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Single Bed and 1 King Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 4
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 5
1 Single Bed
3 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 3
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna
New 1200 sq ft barn game room with ping pong table, video arcade games, air hockey, pop-a-shot, poker table/bumper pool, foosball, large screen TV with comfy seating for movie night and more!
This lovingly restored schoolhouse is a unique mixture of historic charm, warmth, character and modern ease. Make memories together in the school's large classroom which is an impressive gathering spot for the whole group with the modern kitchen, massive dining table and comfy living room. Gather outside on the 7 acre property for a cookout, chat by the fire or relax in the hot tub after hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, dining or shopping - all within minutes of the school. Quiet & peaceful!
OVERVIEW
Far from a little one room schoolhouse, this 2400 square foot space built in 1861 feels bright and open with its 11 ft ceilings, open concept living area, 4 comfortable bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. It is the perfect mix of old and new. Natural light streams in through the massive original windows and the wood floors and butcher block counters and furnishings make it feel warm and homey. The school boasts unique features such as the original chalkboards and "good morning" staircase - well traveled by hundreds of little feet from the nearly 100 years that the school was open.
The property is a peaceful combination of fields and woods in a quiet, private setting. The outdoor space allows for grilling, roasting s'mores over the large seasonal granite fire pit or relaxing after a day of swimming, hiking, shopping or skiing in the 7 person year-round hot tub while looking at the stars.
BEDROOMS
There are four bedrooms in the house with an additional upstairs common area with a daybed that can be used for sleeping. The downstairs has one bedroom with a king bed with a comfy hybrid memory foam mattress. Please note there are 3 steps up to this room. The remaining bedrooms are on the second floor. One room has a queen bed with memory foam mattress, another has two twin beds and the primary bedroom includes a king hybrid memory foam bed plus a daybed. In total, the schoolhouse sleeps 10 comfortably.
BATHROOMS
The schoolhouse has three full bathrooms. One is located downstairs between the great room and king bedroom. The other two are located on the second floor, one for the queen and twin bedrooms to share (includes a full tub) and the other as part of the primary suite.
KITCHEN The kitchen is located in the open concept great room and boasts a large island for gathering or prepping food with bar stool seating for 6. It is well stocked with cookware, bakeware, dishes and utensils as well as a toaster, blender, 2 crockpots, and electric skillet, some spices and cooking spray or oil. The gas cooktop is perfect for the chef in the family and the wall oven and microwave make cooking easy and convenient. There is plenty of storage.
We built a coffee and tea bar with the coffee lover in mind! Drip and French press coffee can be made to allow you to enjoy the perfect cup your way. A variety of tea is provided as well as regular and decaf coffee beans for grinding. While we provide enough to get you going for a few days, longer stays may require a trip to the grocery store to replenish the supplies.
The dining and living room areas are also in the great room. Enjoy meals or games as a whole group around the massive Restoration Hardware dining table. Gather in the living room for conversation or a movie on the 65" Roku tv with streaming apps and cable tv.
THE OUTDOOR AREA
Just outside the inviting sunporch is a small deck that leads to the 7 person hot tub. The hot tub is open year round and has a new pergola over top to protect you from rain! Down the steps is 2 picnic tables with umbrellas. Also in this area is the firepit with seasonal seating for 10 around the fire. This will be a favorite spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature! Brand new 6 person sauna is the newest feature at the schoolhouse for the ultimate wellness experience!
Guests will have access to the schoolhouse and surrounding yard. Guests are welcome to enjoy the yard, field and woods. Please keep in mind that this is Maine and there is wildlife in our area including ticks.
While I won't be available in person I do live nearby and am available to answer questions!
The Schoolhouse Retreat is located near many of the area's best attractions including:
Downtown Bridgton - 9 min Naples Causeway - 10 min Pleasant Mountain Ski Resort - 16 minute drive Sebago Lake State Park - 16 min North Conway - 42 min Portland, Maine - 1 hr Sunday River Ski Resort - 1 hr Boston - 2.5 hrs
There are many wonderful restaurants close by in Bridgton and Naples. The closest restaurant, Campfire Grill (nothing fancy but so good!), is a 6 minute drive. The schoolhouse is also in the middle of many lakes and ponds including Long Lake, Sebago Lake, Moose Pond and Highland Lake with many places to swim, minutes from great hiking trails, the twin drive-in and a movie theater as well as shopping and all the White Mountains and North Conway have to offer.
Parking - 5 spaces. Please plan to car pool if necessary.
***Rental contract and photo ID required for every booking! To be sent to guest upon booking with the 48 hour zero penalty cancellation period.***
***We require all guests (unless children accompanied by a parent) be at least 24 years old.***
The Schoolhouse Retreat is perfect for larger families or small groups of friends to relax and enjoy vacation together. It won't be the right place for you if you are interested in having an all day and night drinking fest. We trust you will treat this old girl with the respect she deserves!
*****Sorry, no pets, no parties or events and no smoking or vaping of any kind ($300 fine).******
Cooling is provided by heat pumps in all bedrooms and the main living area.
Maine is home to ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, ladybugs, stinkbugs, spiders, deer, turkeys, bats, racoon, skunks, bees and more! While our housekeepers and pest control service work hard to keep things very clean and tidy, the reality is we are a 160+ year old building in the country in the mountains of Maine - so you may encounter some wildlife!
Please note that while we have a quiet 7+ acre property, the schoolhouse is located in a small rural Maine neighborhood with homes of all types and ALL conditions. There are a couple neighbors you can partially see through the woods and occasionally cars drive by. If your group does not also rent the Tiny Library next door, there will likely be guests there during your stay. It shares the property (but not any amenities - it has its own private hot tub and fire pit). The Library is about 100 ft away from the school on the side of the house opposite of the hot tub and firepit.
There are a few things we ask guests to do for checkout -
-load and start the dishwasher
-close any open windows, turn off lights and lock doors
-any full trash bags can be placed in the bin outside by the parking area
Add dates for prices
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Must follow all house rules including but not limited to no pets, no smoking, no parties
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2859028vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Bridgton
Located in Bridgton, this holiday home is in a rural area and near theme parks. Rufus Porter Museum and Gallery 302 are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Steamboat Landing Mini Golf and Shawnee Peak. Travelling with kids? Consider Narramissic Historic Farm and Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Center. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the ice skating and sledging.
Fryeburg, ME (FRY-Eastern Slopes Regional) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
The Queen's Head - 8 min drive
McDonald's - 7 min drive
Dunkin' - 7 min drive
Trailside Restaurant - 7 min drive
Randy's Wooster St Pizza Naples - 14 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna?
As of 9 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna on 14 June 2026 start from NZ$913, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Family & Friends Retreat*Hot Tub*Game Room*King Beds*Firepit*Near Lakes*Sauna located?
This family-friendly Bridgton holiday home is located in a rural location, within 2 mi (3 km) of Narramissic Historic Farm and Holt Pond Preserve. Wards Cove is 2.8 mi (4.5 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Very thoughtfully stocked and well equipped for a stay, spacious and easy to accommodate us as a couple and our extended family, plenty of room, great outdoor environment too!
Joshua F.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 27 August 2023
Thank you Joshua! Very much appreciate the feedback and how well you cared for the schoolhouse!
This historic building was the perfect spot to host our bookclub with the schoolhouse theme carried tastefully throughout. The large common rooms and hot tub made for a wonderful weekend! A very clean, beautifully restored building with attentive hosts!
Absolutely fabulous stay at the Schoolhouse in Bridgton - plenty of space for 8 of us, all the amenities we needed and close to town, ski areas etc - would highly recommend. Host was excellent and even gave early check-in which we very much appreciated!
We had family visiting from the Midwest and this home was the perfect spot for us all to enjoy! The house is charming, comfortable and well equipped with so many great personal touches. We would definitely stay here again!
This home is perfect in every way! It is well appointed, has all the amenities and is beautifully designed and decorated. We felt well looked after and truly enjoyed our family stay !
Lynn B.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 December 2023
Thank you so much Lynn! So happy you enjoyed your stay and I really appreciate the lovely review!
We were a group of 6 moms needing a weekend away. The place was great! Nice and big and very well appointed! The hot tub was perfect! the kitchen, dining and sitting area were ask really great. Very very happy with this property and the host was very responsive.
We loved the Schoolhouse for our three families. Plenty of space to spread out, but huge common area and dining table that easily fit all of us. The photos are an accurate representation and the place is gorgeous!
We had a very pleasant stay and experience at the school house in Bridgton. We had all of the expected creature comforts and then some! With several teachers in our group, we enjoyed the historic building, the school themes and the variety of books sprinkled about. We look forward to returning and would whole heartedly choose to book the same accommodation during our next trip!
My girlfriends and I had the most amazing stay. It was a gorgeous space, extremely clean, the most comfortable beds, close proximity to lakes and restaurants. We can't say enough great things about it. Thank you for creating an amazing get away!
We really enjoyed our stay at the Schoolhouse. Owner of the property was very responsive and helpful. The house was fully stocked as described and plenty of space for 5 adults and 5 children. Definitely would recommend this property to others!
The school house vacation home was fabulous. The owners have done a fantastic job in keeping the vision of an old school. The double stair case is something you won't find anywhere else!
We had an amazing stay at the schoolhouse. We were visiting for a very important family function and we could not have asked for a more perfect home to stay in during this time. It was spacious but still intimate. Newly updated but still had incredible character. Thank you for the special experience.
Gary B.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 October 2024
Thanks so much for your wonderful review! I'm so happy you found the schoolhouse to be comfortable and perfect for your group! Thanks for staying and come again!
The Schoolhouse Retreat was PERFECTLY suited for our group of 7 adults and 2 children. It was so fun to stay here just before the grandchildren (5 and 8) went back to real school! The schoolhouse is lovingly restored and cared for.. close to beautiful Bridgton Center and lovely beaches and hikes. We’ve stayed at gorgeous homes in NH and the Cape but nothing beats this home in Maine for this mountains and lakes family.. so grateful to have found the Schoolhouse retreat
Unique, Historic Property in the Lake Region of Maine!
We had a wonderful time in this beautifully restored authentic Schoolhouse in Maine. The property has been appointed with design-friendly finishings and modern amenities to make this historic property feel new and current. We loved the bucolic setting and the many activities in the surrounding area. Thank you Kari!!
We had a wonderful time staying at the newly renovated schoolhouse. This is a very spacious rental with plenty of sleeping room as well as a nice space to hang out, cook and enjoy your company. The hot tub was lovely, especially at night time sitting under the moon and stars.
This rental was fully equipped with everything we could have needed. We enjoyed our time very much and would definitely consider renting again in the future.
Bridgette F.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 27 August 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a thoughtful review and for taking great care of our schoolhouse! Happy to have you and your family back any time.
My friends and I stayed for a winter weekend away. The schoolhouse was even more adorable in person than in the pictures. Everything is very thought out. It was clean and spacious and cozy and the hot tub was great. The owner was super communicative and the check out process was simple. Our group is already talking about coming back!
My wife, 3 adult children, their spouses and our granddaughter spent 4 nights at this location for my sons wedding. Location was exactly as described and property manager was fantastic at checking on us to make sure our stay was as we expected. Hopefully we will make it back to Maine in the future and have the opportunity to stay at the schoolhouse again. Don’t miss out on this one, it is fantastic!
Donn R.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 September 2023
Thanks so much Donn! It was a pleasure hosting you and your family!
We absolutely loved the School house. My husband and i stayed with our grown children. So 10 adults stayed. Owner checked in with us to be sure everything was going as planned. Close to activities and town. Hiking was excellent. We would stay there again. Hot tub and hammock swings a big hit! Also would be children friendly. Thanks
Diane B.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
About the host
Hosted by Kari Doiron
I've worn many hats in my life including teacher, chef, entrepreneur and avid DIYer. I'm beyond thrilled to have created a special place for families and friends to rest, relax and create amazing memories.
Why they chose this property
When I decided I wanted to own and manage a vacation property, I wanted it to be something unique in a great 4-season location in Maine. I saw this old run down schoolhouse and knew this was it! I spent 8 months renovating and getting it ready for guests. I hope you'll find it just as special as I do!
What makes this property unique
This historic schoolhouse vacation rental in Maine lets you step back in time a little, all while still enjoying modern comforts and conveniences. It's a truly unique experience!
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests