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The Tortoise and The Mare self-keeping Inn~Peaceful or Playful~it's up to YOU!

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Property grounds
Interior
Interior
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Dining

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pet friendly
    Pet friendly
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Sumner, ME
  • Snow Falls
    19 min drive
  • Worthley Pond
    21 min drive
  • Shagg Pond
    24 min drive
  • Auburn, ME (LEW-Auburn - Lewiston Municipal)
    53 min drive

Room options

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$215 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 6 - Dec 7
An Authentic Clean & Cozy Maine Homestay

About the neighborhood

Sumner

With a stay at this farm stay in Sumner, you'll be in the mountains, and 29.7 mi (47.8 km) from Sunday River and 31 mi (50 km) from White Mountain National Forest. .This farm stay is 6.6 mi (10.7 km) from Worthley Pond and 7.6 mi (12.2 km) from Shagg Pond.
View more Agritourism in SumnerOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Snow Falls - 19 min drive - 11.6 miles
  • Worthley Pond - 21 min drive - 6.7 miles
  • Mt. Abram - 35 min drive - 20.8 miles
  • Oxford Casino - 42 min drive - 26.9 miles
  • Sunday River - 46 min drive - 29.8 miles

Getting around

  • Auburn, ME (LEW-Auburn - Lewiston Municipal) - 53 min drive

About this property

The Tortoise and The Mare self-keeping Inn~Peaceful or Playful~it's up to YOU!

Welcome Sunday River skiers! Secure now for Total solar eclipse on April 8th 2024! The Tortoise and The Mare Self-Keeping Inn -- Offering unparalleled space and freedom! This immaculate 1786 farm house offers guests the privacy and flexibility that they deserve! Guests reserve the ENTIRE Inn to enjoy in complete privacy .Spacious and stylish , open and flowing floor plan - all on 140 private acres of unbeatable mountain views, wooded nature trails and open fields.

. Guests will have use of all grounds, deck off the "lounge", firepit.. Inn is fully equipped and all rooms are thoughtfully appointed by. The Edgar Allan Poe room a favorite! Secluded but not remote Four bedrooms and two full bathrooms, kitchen, living room,three season lounge, and deck.

Ideal for entertaining. Quiet retreats or elaborate outdoor events, including weddings, honeymoons,reunions, vacation stays and holidays! Let your unique-ness unfold!.Artists' and musicians' paradise! IDEAL for holidays!. Wonderland for sports enthusiasts year round. Hiking, biking, sledding, skiing, snowmobile, ATV's - the ITS connector trail begins on the farm!Close to lakes for swimming, boating, fishing. 25 minutes from Bethel and Norway. Robert's Farm preserve offers FREE rentals for the day to enjoy snow shoeing and X-C skiing!

For additional accommodations, ask us about our additional guest houses, located down the lane from the Inn - perfect for those who desire even more privacy, yet are still able to enjoy and access entire property! One is a sweet, Christmas cabin and the other is a super, sexy shipping container home! All homes boast spectacular mountain views, inside and out! Freedom and flexibility - peaceful or playful ~ it's up to YOU!!

. High speed internet, Pet friendly! Discounted corporate rates available! . Large events - serious inquiries please! Weddings and events please visit us on The Knot for additional info including contact information
There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a Smart television is provided for your entertainment. The bathroom has a shower/tub combination and a hair dryer. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Pamper yourself with onsite massages or take in the view from a garden.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

laura falconer

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Internet access

Things to do

  • Books
  • Golf
  • Snow sports gear
  • Stereo

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • In the mountains
  • Outdoor furniture

Spa

  • Massage

More

  • Note from host: designated smoking area outside
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Food and drink

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dining table
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Living room

Policies

Check-out

Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk hours vary at this property
Guests must contact the property for check-in information
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Check-out time is flexible; to make arrangements, please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: Pet friendly!

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Cashless transactions are available
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Outdoor only. Info at thetortoiseandthemare.com
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Tortoise Mare Self-keeping Inn peaceful or Playful it's up You
Tortoise Mare Self-keeping peaceful or Playful it's up You
Tortoise Mare Self-keeping Inn peaceful or Playful it's up You
Tortoise Mare Self-keeping Inn peaceful or Playful it's up You
Tortoise Mare Self-keeping peaceful or Playful it's up You

The Tortoise and The Mare self-keeping Inn~Peaceful or Playful~it's up to YOU! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 24 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Donald P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent hosts, property and location
Our hosts were above welcoming! Property was exquisite in space and ambience. Location was beautiful and drivable to all that Maine has to offer.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

c E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful views, very peaceful
Can't beat the views from the porch. Lovely walks all around the property. Host is attentive and thoughtful.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ellie G., Trumbull, CT USA

Liked: Cleanliness
An Exquisite Property AND friends for life!
It is difficult to put into words how much we enjoyed our stay at The Tortoise and The Mare property. This place was built for us. We were traveling with two of our kids, 12 & 13, and 2 friends of ours along with me and my husband. It is difficult to impress my tweens but they were! We loved our private rooms and the attention to detail. Laura has so lovingly decorated each room and the entire house. My children especially loved spending time with the tortoise and the mare! Anyone with teenage kids know how difficult it is to get them away from their phones. But Chewy and Hartley put a spell on them. Watching our kids just walk around the incredible grounds or spend time staring into Hartley's beautiful, big, brown eyes made me feel like I was doing something really 'right' for my kids. We can't wait to come back and stay in the Containerminium. Laura and Steve are the most gracious, loving and open hosts. We are already planning our next trip! Friends for Life!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robert G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family gathering
We needed a place for a small family group to stay while in the area for our son's graduation from Hebron Academy. The Tortoise and the Mare was perfect for us. Beautifully decorated yet comfortable and homey, it was perfect for our needs. Everyone remarked at how nice their beds were for sleeping, a small but important detail. The large kitchen was great for our celebratory gathering. The vista of the hills from the closed porch and deck was a peaceful spot for coffee or a drink in the evening. Just a wonderful place to spend a few days with family. We highly recommend it.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bob B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Place & People
Three generations of our family loved the Tortoise & Mare. It's a beautiful setting and was very comfortable. There was something for everyone. The kindness our hosts Laura & Steve showed us, put our stay over the top. They truly have the gift of hospitality.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

8/10 Good

Brooke M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Rustic and cozy canin
Had a great time!

10/10 Excellent

Paul R.

Quaint, clean, spacious, charming.
We enjoyed the privacy and vastness of the property, and the quaintness and decor of the premises. The grounds were meticulously maintained as well. A perfect fit for me and my guests.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Teri P.

Best vacation ever!
I could not recommend The Tortoise and The Mare more highly! amazing house, incredible views with so much space and privacy.Steve and Laura are beautiful people and excellent hosts-truly inspiring! Everything was PERFECT! Exceptional place to stay! Tess Northeast , USA
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

laura f.

Exceptional!!
After searching for the perfect place, we discovered The Tortoise and The Mare online and knew immediately that it was the place we would inevitably choose! The mountain views and large property delivered the natural, country setting we were looking for and the Inn itself made us feel right at home ~ we were in heaven! The decor is intriguing and the rooms are uniquely themed. Beyond the splendid setting though, which I can't emphasize enough, are a couple of exceptional character, who are a pleasure to meet and work with. Laura and Steve are down to earth, fun, caring, unique individuals who do a great job helping in any way they can to assure their guests are more than satisfied. We recommend The Tortoise and The Mare to anyone and everyone with no hesitation - WE LOVE IT !
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2018

2/10 Terrible

Rich E., Needham, MA

I paid for a house with no electricity. Would you?
Here was my experience, I had intended on leaving no review at all but the owner leaves me no choice. You’ll see why. We rented this property for two nights (the required minimum stay) to do some snowmobiling in the area. Due to a warm up the day before arrival a lot of the snow here melted, but that’s no big deal, we can just trailer up north for the day and come back to the farmhouse. However, within 5 minutes of our arrival at 1pm, the electricity went out (and most importantly the HEAT, it was 15 degrees and dropping into the negatives). The owners called the power company who gave a repair time of 3:15pm. The outage was widespread throughout the area. So we waited over 2 hours, and then by 4pm had to make a decision: If you were in a farmhouse in rural Maine, with no electricity/heat/light, and there was no certain time this would change, what would you do? We did what any halfway reasonable person would do-we left. I called the owner and advised that given the situation we would need to find other accommodations as this one was not legally inhabitable under Maine state law. As it turned out we could not find any nearby accommodations due to the power outage so we made the 3 hour drive home. The next day, I contacted the owner and requested a refund for the booking as the home was uninhabitable on arrival. The homeowner would only credit one third of the total, forcing me to pay (a censored amount of money because Home Away won't let me tell you) for a house that I couldn’t stay in (including a cleaning fee!!) The owner stated that it was because we “chose” to leave, and the power came back on later “that evening” Here’s the bottom line, most reasonable adults would shake hands and agree it’s too bad an unforeseeable circumstance like a power outage happened, here’s your money back, we’ll try again next time. But these greedy people are not reasonable. So if you choose to get involved with them, good luck, you’re on your own. You’ve been warned.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

Lisa D.

Farmhouse is absolutely beautiful inside and out. The views from every window are gorgeous.
My husband and I rented the Farmhouse for New Year's weekend to go snowboarding and snow mobiling with our 2 boys; 15 and 12 years old. Steve and Laura are probably two of the kindest and most accommodating hosts and people we have met. The Tortoise and the Mare farmhouse is so beautiful inside. They keep it so clean and decorate it so nice in every room. Each bedroom has a theme which was really cool. Loved the wood burning stove in kitchen and the beautiful back room, which we used the most for hanging out, that had panoramic views of mountain sides. From mints on the pillows, champagne and glasses set for us to toast the new year and there in a second when we needed a tow out of a gully we slid into....Steve and Laura are people you want to know and meet. You will feel comfortable the moment you step into their Farmhouse and will enjoy every minute of your stay. We even got to bring our Golden Retriever, Bella, which for us was a huge relief that she could enjoy our get away too!! Fantastic time and fantastic place to stay!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Casey G.

A winter wonderland in Maine, and it's all to yourselves!
We rented the Tortoise and the Mare Inn for our Christmas vacation and could not have asked for a better experience. The property was absolutely gorgeous and Steve and Laura were the most gracious hosts. Setting: The Inn is located on 140 acres of property and it feels all to yourselves. Throughout the property there are picturesque views and plenty to do outside. We had over 12" of snow while we were there, which was perfect for playing in the snow and great for snowshoeing through some of the trails around the property. The Inn: We had 8-10 people throughout our stay and there was plenty of room for all. The kitchen is one of the largest rooms in the house and we spent lots of time in there gathered around the table and having a great time. There is an old wood burning stove that kept the kitchen plenty warm and was fun to keep the fire going in. Hospitality: You won't find better hosts than Steve and Laura. When we first arrived there were chocolates on every bed, the Inn was beautifully decorated for Christmas, the kitchen had a basket full of cookies and other goodies, and they left out treats and bowls for our two dogs. Throughout our stay, we got to know Steve and Laura, which was a real delight. If we needed anything at all, they were willing and ready to help. Steve even made these beautiful ice vessels with candles that he lit at night around the property. We absolutely recommend the Tortoise and the Mare Inn and are very grateful to Steve and Laura for making our stay perfect.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Hannah U.

absolutely amazing
I can't stress enough what a beautiful home this was. The kitchen was amazing and perfect size for 8 people to hang around the island. Honestly, if I could design a "dream kitchen" it would look a lot like this one. Every room is furnished with beautiful handmade wooden furniture and every touch seems thoughtful. The bedrooms were clean and spacious, all with a different theme. My favorite was the edgar allen poe room, just a little creepy and cute!! I loved all the knick knacks and books. Our one complaint was that we couldn't find any extra toilet paper, luckily I had packed a roll!! The back porch, where we spent most of the weekend, gave us incredible views. The mountain in the distance was just breathtaking. Drinking my morning coffee on the porch was just so peaceful and beautiful. The property itself was spacious and secluded, with a trail into the woods and a few large rolling fields. We loved seeing the beautiful mare just trotting around in her enclosure. Lastly, Laura and Steve were wonderful people. You can immediately tell the love and care they put into their inn. I cannot stress enough what a lovely couple they are. They immediately made us feel welcome and right at home. They were flexible about checking in and out which was very nice. I will be renting from them again, because my experience was so magical. I highly suggest the tortoise and the mare to anyone visiting maine.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2016