Mira Monte Inn

Garden Renovation to Begin

Lilac

The expansive, impeccably-landscaped grounds of the Mira Monte were once the crown jewel of the property.  Over the years, they have been featured on HGTV and in numerous travel publications from coast to coast.  Though the garden’s spring blooms remain beautiful, their beauty belies a pressing need for renovation.  The award-winning firm of Burdick and Associates has been selected to create a comprehensive “master plan” for the restoration and renovation of Mira Monte’s grounds.   Burdick specializes in landscapes that create a harmonious balance between human and natural elements that draw upon the native beauty of Maine.  While newly-planted areas will focus upon local flora, the 2 formal gardens of the estate will continue to retain their historic character.  It is our hope that the grounds will provide a place of beauty and respite for our guests for many years to come!

2 Rooms to Receive a Bold New Look for 2020

We are happy to announce that we have contracted Wallace Interiors of Trenton, a leading area design firm, to perform a makeover of 2 of our guest rooms at the Mira Monte.  In this pilot project, the North Suite and the Newport room will be re-imagined to feature a bright, refreshed “contemporary Victorian” look.  Under the plan, care will be taken to preserve the historic elements of each room, including the many fine Eastlake-style antique furniture pieces in each. We will post updates as work progresses!

Restoration Update

The Mira Monte is full of charm, character and history but caring for this 150-year-old structure can be a daunting task.  To us, it’s a labor of love.  Time, sub-zero temperatures, snow and our fearsome nor’easters exact a very heavy toll on old wood.  We perform regular maintenance at the end of each season to address potential problem areas.  The winter season affords us some valuable time to devote to the ongoing renovation of the inn- even when the temperature outside is in single digits and snow blankets the ground.  Below, our staff removes a section of damaged sheathing and installs new insulation, wrap and clapboard.

Remembering Ash Cottage

This plaque, to be displayed near the entry, recognizes the Mira Monte inn as the former home of Orlando Ash, an early Bar Harbor entrepreneur and developer who built the Mira Monte and many of the surrounding historic homes. Ash’s holdings were once said to extend from Cadillac Mountain to the sea. Although there have been some competing claims regarding the precise age of the building, the inn is widely recognized as one of the oldest homes in town, as well as one of Bar Harbor’s first B&Bs. 

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