In the late 1800s, Bristol Mills had a thriving weekly newspaper called “The Pemaquid Messenger.” The April 26th “Messenger” carried this notice in the “Local Events” column: “It is said for a certainty that a hotel will be erected at Pemaquid Point this summer.” On May 10, 1888 was this entry: “Bristol has many men with pluck and energy, but she needs more of them. One of her citizens who is moving in the right direction is J. E. Nichols of Round Pond, who has contracted for a hotel to be erected on Pemaquid Point, and to be completed before July 4th, when it will be opened with a celebration at that place. The house is sure of a large patronage, and the guests may be assured of good treatment if it is managed by Mr. Nichols.”
Well, ten weeks later, on July 4th, 1888, Mr. Nichols made his word stand firm, and a gala celebration was held for the opening of the new Pemaquid Point Hotel. The Bristol newspaper’s own band played, and the oration was given by Judge Oliver G. Hall, secretary and director of the Pemaquid Land Company, and great grandfather of our own Edith Hary.
The Hotel Pemaquid was opened to guests on July 4, 1888 and still greets guests on a seasonal basis to this day. While we do not boast an ocean view from all rooms, we are located 150 yards from the restored Pemaquid Lighthouse ($2pp (8-5pm, free after 5pm)). Our guests enjoy spending time sitting on and walking along the high rocks that line the coast of the lighthouse, strolling along Pemaquid Loop Road talking with other Pemaquid visitors while taking in the magnificent ocean views, and/or rocking on our large wrap-around porch enjoying a book; many of the attributes JE Nichols and the Pemaquid Land Trust had in mind when implementing their vision for Pemaquid Point. We are located between Boothbay Harbor to the south and Camden to the north where both of these locations are approximately 45 minutes away by car. There are a variety of restaurants in the area with one (Seagull) right next to the lighthouse serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. New Harbor center (10 minutes by car) offers dine-in-the-ruff seafood restaurants and daily boat excursions to Monhegan Island.
We offer a variety of rooms at reasonable prices, complimentary morning coffee, wireless internet, cable on flat screen televisions, in room refrigerators, laundry facilities, and the sounds of a crashing surf and magical sunrises. We know you have a number of hotel options when you visit the Damariscotta-Bristol area and we are confident that you will come back again and again after staying with us for the value and the unbelievable location. There is no other hotel closer to the ocean and the lighthouse than the Hotel Pemaquid!