January was cold, snowy and confining in Maine - much more of each than in recent winters. I have never spent more time at home (other than Covid) and I have one very stir crazy Yorkie and two very, very happy kittens. They are going to think I have moved out when we can start leaving the house again on a regular basis. If it sounds like I am complaining, I’m not. I kind of loved the forced hunker down.
But February has now hit and EVERYTHING has changed. February 1 always starts our 90 day countdown to season and though my real estate brokerage work has become more selective and discerning, the Swan Song Collection of properties is all consuming.
We are going into the season with five properties as part of our hospitality collection (unless something else comes on the market that is irresistible) that I mentioned in last month’s blog.
Swan Song Saltwater Farm in Sullivan is finally going to be open in it’s entirety with everything from our gorgeous studio cottages accepting guests for the first time to our new and improved farmstore to our acres and acres of organic gardens. Excited is way too mild to understand our anticipation. We are even going to have a community day each weekend with some fun events, this is going to be a fun summer.
Second is our 880 acre Fox Pond Estate. Soon to be available will be our hosted weekly stays at the Lodge compound. We are excited about the model of the primary guest bringing up to 10 friends and/or family to the Lodge to enjoy the spectacular property with a host on hand to help plan outings, special meals at the Lodge etc.
Third is our little treasure, Camp Avaliz - in the Maine vernacular of being UPTA CAMP, Avaliz is our version of that tradition. We have added a kitchenette and full bathroom to a former off the grid oceanfront camp and luxed up the furniture and decor. The views across the bay are breathtaking. Camp Avaliz is only a few miles along the ocean from Swan Song Saltwater Farm.
Fourth is our Prospect Harbor oceanfront property in Gouldsboro, the next town over from Sullivan where the Farm is located. We purchased this beautiful farmhouse, barn and oceanside cottage and have simply designed it as an homage to the former Pomegranate Inn, one of my longest term real estate holds in Portland, Maine. Pomegranate, or as known to friends “The Pom”, was sold and is now a renovated and redesigned member of another boutique hotel collection in Portland. To keep the spirit of it alive we have given the new Prospect Harbor property a dose of Pomegranate design and appropriately named them Pom and Aril.
Finally, Little Berry, is a design dream purchased recently from a friend who I believe has the most exquisite design taste and creative people making his properties truly magical. Little Berry is on Islesford, part of Cranberry Islands off Mount Desert Island. We are still working on concept here and may even offer it as a rental for the entire season as direct oceanfront properties are so desirable for those wanting to come for the whole summer.
I don’t want to jinx it by saying that’s everything for that collection because… you know what happens then.