This ocean-front home rests on Kilkenny cove in Hancock/Ellsworth with about 13 feet of tidal rise/fall, conveniently located as a jumping point to shopping, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, and nearby restaurants in Ellsworth. Home is less than 10 min drive to downtown Ellsworth. The home is also centrally located between both sides of Acadia National Park. The Mount Desert Island side and the less traveled Schoodic Peninsula side. Both are a 20 min drive. For lobster, the Winter Harbor lobster co-op is about 20 min drive, but there are other places closer including the various lobster pounds leading into the entrance of Mount Desert Island.
This home is available during the winter/off-season. Our private lane is maintained year round and a number of our neighbors are year-round residents. The home also offers a private hot tub and gym for guest use.
If you are considering a home closer to Bar Harbor, it's worth considering the location of dining, supplies and groceries. In the peak season, it's challenging to be right in the middle of the buzz. In the off season, it's also challenging because many of the places close for the winter. When we chose our home in Hancock, we consciously chose a place that felt secluded but was practically located near everything you need to get to when catering in for a large family. There are grocery stores nearby, including the WalMart in Ellsworth, which is large enough to merit its own zip code. LL Bean also has an outlet about 10 minutes away.
The home offers dual master bedrooms, one on the first floor and one on the second floor. Both have queen beds. There are two other bedrooms that offer twin on full bunk bed set ups. We designed it this way to accommodate large families, or two families of up to five traveling together. The home is also situated well for an elderly couple on the first floor. This home has been tastefully designed to offer your entire family a great vacation experience in Maine. This home is our sanctuary, and we are confident you will enjoy your time in our home.
The home is located on a private tidal cove called Kilkenny Cove which connects to the Atlantic through the Mount Desert Narrows. It offers amazing and scenic kayaking, giving you the ability to explore countless islands and coves. The tidal changes are dramatic, offering a different landscape with each tide. A small island is directly out in the distance from the home and hosts and eagles nest. We regularly see bald eagles from the shore. The water is located about 100 feet from the home. We have intentionally left many trees in place in and around the property to balance the water view with the privacy and shade that the trees provide. We have a lot of spruce and birch. It's a 30 second walk through the woods to reach the shore. There is a small embankment leading down to the water where you can put kayaks in. Two single kayaks and a larger tandem sea kayak with rudder are included with the rental for your enjoyment. There are also other places on the peninsula where you can put in at to enjoy different environments and views. You can swim directly from the rocky beach and at high tide, you can jump from the granite ledges into the ocean below. In Maine, the water is cold, but on a hot day, why not? I also have two mountain bicycles in the garage for enjoying the private lane.
The home was built in 1997 and was constructed with an open layout...a post and beam with a contemporary design, all centered on the great room/living room which looks out over the water. The kitchen is modern and well-equipped. There is everything you need to cook and entertain. Currently we have a drip coffee maker as well as Keurig machine. The dining area seats 10 and offers dramatic views from three sides of the home including the water. With it's three enormous bay windows you will feel like you are sitting outside when you are seated there. There is a new gas grill out on the deck where you can grill and also boil shellfish on the side burner. There is outdoor dining seating for 10 on the deck as well as other outdoor seating that can be moved around as desired. Nearly every room in the house enjoys a water view. One room that does not, is the home theater in the basement. If the weather is unkind, you can forget about the world in the theater with a 65" LED LCD and theater seating. A two inch concrete subfloor above the theater renders the home theater nearly sound proof to every other room in the house. This also means that you can put a movie on for the kids, while the adults can enjoy a quiet evening on the deck with the view of the water and the stars. The lower level is also where you can find the gym and a door from the gym leading out to the small deck where the hot tub is located. We put the hot tub right next to the door for easy in/out during cold weather.
There is TV, DVD, Direct TV and WIFI included with the rental. The WIFI used to be an issue here, but we now have wonderful broadband and you will not have any trouble streaming or Zoom. High capacity laundry is also on site so you don't have to go home with dirty laundry.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, rentals are Saturday to Saturday only. All other times of the year we accept reservations with a three night minimum. A deposit of 25% is required upon reserving and the balance is due within 30 days of Check in. I am open to many types of off-season rentals, if you are interested in a longer winter stay, please contact me and I will construct a very competitive rate.
If you have any questions about the property, please feel free to message, email, text or call me directly. Pictures do not really do justice to the home, it's a beautiful place. We plan on retiring to this home, but in the meantime, we are happy to share it with families who appreciate nature and want to explore the area. Thank you for your consideration.
