The Woods Maine – A Luxury Treehouse Experience

“Treehouses lift the spirits. They inspire dreams. They represent freedom from adults or adulthood, from duties and responsibilities, from an earthbound perspective. If we can’t fly with the birds, at least we can nest with them.” Pete Nelson

When we first received the invitation to spend a weekend as one of the first guests at The Woods Maine, a luxury treehouse, that was in the process of being built in Maine, we jumped at the chance!

The treehouse dream was that of owners, Rob and Samantha Masabny. It was contracted and designed by the famous Pete Nelson, “ The world’s best-known treehouse designer and builder”  and built by Nelson Treehouse & Supply. The “Tree House Masters”, who brought their team all the way from Washington State to construct this masterpiece.  As the treehouse was being constructed during the winter and spring months, we began following their Instagram account and watching the daily progress with awe and anticipation.  Seeing the final design in real life was seeing a piece of art in the trees.  A truly majestic site!

If you are looking for something different this summer or fall, I cannot recommend a trip to The Woods Maine more.  Be away from it all and truly relax at this rustic chic destination. To me, The Woods Maine experience is the essence of true rustic summer getaway. Quiet, remote, full of natural wonders and beauty but most importantly, simple. This is a type of glamping reimagined.  If you are looking to experience Maine in a different light away from the coastal experience, I encourage you to follow read about our experience.

Located an hour northwest of Portland, Maine and situated in the western foothills is a town called Norway, Maine. This would be my first visit to this part of the state of Maine, so I was really looking forward to it.

This was probably the most the anticipated trip we took last summer.  I think the fact that Pippa would not stop talking about getting to “sleep in the trees” was making the experience that much more fun!

As we made our way from Portland to Norway, Maine, most of the drive was two lanes, so it moves a bit slower.  Already the feeling of leaving all the weekly stressors behind was taking place.  We drove through the town of Poland Spring, where yep, you guessed it, that popular water comes from.  Before arriving into Norway, we passed through Oxford, Maine.  Definitely recommend making a stop at Smedberg’s Chrystal Spring Farm, the roadside indoor farm store where we picked up some goodies to bring to the treehouse. The drive in takes you through the small town of Norway before reaching the pristine shores of Lake Pennesseewassee.

It was a sunny summer July day when we arrived.  As we pulled down the dirt road up to the structure in the trees, I couldn’t believe we were going to be sleeping here for two nights.  I felt like a kid all over again.  Pippa could barely contain her excitement as she was the first to make her way up the winding steps, all the way to the top.

The treehouse is perched high above some of Maine’s most fragrant pines, amongst 10 acres of privately-owned land.  The luxurious two-bedroom, two-bathroom treehouse perfectly accommodates a family up to four or even a fun friend’s get-away.  Stepping inside the tree house for the first time was one of those moments I will never forget. I couldn’t stop looking to the left, the right and all around with my eyes wide open and camera clicking away.   The décor is rustic yet refined; the faint aroma of the white-washed Douglas Fir wall was so inviting.  As you enter the front door, the kitchen and living area with its open floor plan greets you.  The kitchen is what most kitchen Pinterest boards are made of… navy blue cabinetry, high end kitchen appliances and gold fixtures.  The entire space looked like it deserved a cover in a home design magazine.

Sitting atop of the kitchen counter was the most generous gift basket and note left for us from the owners filled with all sorts of local goodies.  While we had every intention of going out to dinner in town both nights, I suddenly had the urge to shop at a local market and come back to cook dinner in the beautiful kitchen every night (highly recommend giving yourself enough time to do both)!

The first floor offers a beautiful sitting area of navy gingham chairs in front of a gas fireplace, an adorable wooden bench eating nook, perfect for morning cereal and nightly board games.  One of the two bedrooms is located on the first level, offering two twin bunks and a private bath.  This is the perfect set up for the children.  As one makes their way up the wooden curved staircase there sits a large master suite with a king bed, sitting area and master bath.

There is a screened in porch off the kitchen where Matt and I would enjoy a glass of wine and talk after putting Pippa down to bed.  I am a sucker for a screened-in porch, especially one sitting amidst the fragrant treetops in Maine.  This is one of those ‘you had to be there’ experiences.  Outside wraps a large overflowing deck with navy Adirondack chairs, perfect for morning coffee and the local paper.  There were visible tree trunks popping up all around.  This place is a dream!

Once we settled in, we changed into our swim gear and headed down the path to the lake front access.  The stunningly beautiful path to the lake front is about a 5-10 minute gentle hike.  I say “hike” because when you go back up to the treehouse from the lake, you will be going uphill; not strenuous for most, but it is uphill. I would recommend wearing a sneaker or more stable shoe compared to a flip flop.

Lake Pennessewassee is a DREAM.  I am a lake girl at heart having grown up in the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York, so I was in my element here. The lake water was the perfect temperature for swimming in July.  We did not rent a boat but I was able to get out and see the lake by jet ski and the beautiful mountain views in the back drop.

The first night we decided to go into town for dinner.  The town of Norway, Maine is small and historic. It was once home to over a dozen mills and factories.  The revitalized downtown is home to some unique shops, cafes and restaurants. Norway was once known as the “Snowshoe Capital of the World”.

We opted for Smokin’ Dave’s Backyard BBQ and Grill.  If you like bbq you must go here!  The ribs were some of the best I have ever had. This hyper local, very home-style restaurant was so welcoming and such a breath of fresh air. With the cooker right outside and tables filled with locals this was as true local gem. After dinner, we looked forward to heading back to the treehouse so we could to enjoy some family downtime. The treehouse comes with board games and reading books for all to unwind. We were able to play one of my childhood favorites, Candyland with Pippa for the first time.  When I curled up into bed for the evening, I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the sound of loons from down on the lake. One of my favorite sounds in the world.

The second day we woke up to a pitter patter of rain on the tin roof.  Now most people do not wish for rain on their vacation but we welcomed it for many reasons.  Being inside the treehouse with the sounds and scents of summer rain is one of the neatest experiences.   It allowed for us to take it easy that morning, be a bit lazy and cook up some pancakes from our gift basket with local Maine maple syrup.

That afternoon, we decided to head to the town of Norway, just a few miles away and browse some of the unique shops.  We popped into The Tribune, which is the local book & gift shop.  I found a pair of vintage books which I picked up and Pippa enjoyed the children’s section in the back.  They also sell adorable tee shirts and sweatshirts for The Woods Maine, if you want a souvenir of your stay!  For the antique lover, there are a some really great finds if you are looking for coastal Maine vintage finds.  Fiber and Vine is another cute shop we popped into.  A wine store as well as a yarn store, I loved the concept of knitting and drinking wine together!

For dinner that night we opted for the popular Norway Brewing Company, the microbrewery and beer garden. The brewery uses all the goodness found locally in Maine.  We really enjoyed our dinner experience there.  Maine craft beer is something truly special if you like beer.  Once you have Maine craft beer you may never drink another beer again.

Our last morning, we opted to just stick around the treehouse and head back down to the lake for one last refreshing dip.  There are many great options for outdoor activities in the area, but given the age of Pippa last summer, it would have been difficult for us to fully explore.  If you have older children or opt for a kid-less weekend, there are great trails for mountain biking and hiking.  In the winter months, The Woods Maine would be a great base for a ski weekend at either Shawnee Peak or Sunday River, both within 45 minutes.  Click here for more local resources. 

Most importantly. this trip to The Woods Maine was an experience and one my almost four year old still talks almost a year later.  I often find myself, personally taking the most away from the natural experiences, the simpler plans.  This was one of those that tops the list for sure!

I hope you enjoyed my recap of our weekend at The Woods Maine.   As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! Please be sure to follow along their Instagram @thewoodsmaine and    Check it out for yourself here.

* Important to Note *

-A stay at The Woods Maine is a Contact-Less check-in

-There is a minimum of 48-72 hours in between guests to ensure the proper cleaning and sanitizing is taking place

-The owners, Sam and Rob own a home and live full time on the property, should guests need anything during their stay