01
The Start
An Inn rich in history…
Our Story
Bar Harbor achieved international fame during the latter half of the 19th century as the summer getaway of the country’s wealthiest families. These families erected grand summer “cottages” in which the households and their entourages could escape the summer heat in the metropolitan areas of the Northeast. Today, some of those grand summer homes remain. The Inn is one such summer “cottage,” built in 1903 for Scottish railroad tycoon Alexander Maitland and his family.
The original home is lovingly preserved as the elegant Balance Rock Inn, premier among Bar Harbor Maine hotels, named for the “balance rock,” a rare geological formation which seemingly defies gravity by balancing on a slender stone fulcrum just off the scenic Shore Path. The lovely shingle-style mansion was designed by the prestigious Boston architects Andrews, Jacques, and Rantouil, a firm used by many wealthy summer residents of Bar Harbor at the turn of the century.
02
New Beginnings
Bar Harbor's premier oceanfront hotel
Acquired by the Miles family in the mid 1980s the private home, Balance Rock, was lovingly restored and suited as a luxury destination for summer visitors. Hand crafted wood work, coffered ceilings, arched doorways, and leaded stained glass windows were all preserved. The Inn was outfitted with a nod to the Guilded Age and classic New England charm.
The original three story “cottage” lends an heir of mystery to its’ layout and design. Walls were rarely moved but old cookeries, libraries, and servants quarters have been transformed to allow entry for those who enjoy the historic nature of this property. Multiple hallways and hidden stairways lead to endless untold stories of times gone by. To this day guests still enjoy the few remaining accommodations with hand painted florid wall coverings, hand crafted wood work, original brick fireplaces, and fine antique furnishings.
