They really think of every detail...from champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to candles and cookies. Jim and his family are great people...super friendly and accomodating hosts. We eloped here last year on New Years and came back to celebrate our one year anniversary this year. Amazing 2 person jaccuzi in the bear paw room is highly recommended! Be sure to check out Ebenezers when you are here...it is rated the number 1 beer bar in the world! Venezian is a great Italian restaurant...a little pricey, but well worth it. The view of the lake is gorgeous...a star filled night in the outdoor hot tub overlooking the lake makes a nice end to a great day. We will be back for sure!

Very well maintained and decorated Classic New England Inn. Beautiful setting, perfect for a small wedding. Jim, the host, was warm and approachable. He had everything under control without being overbearing. We had a splendid time!

Staying at this Inn was like being at Home. Jim was very personal and had hot cookies when we would return from our day out in Maine. I would definitely recommend staying at this Inn.
Great Trip!!!

This is going to be both a review and a story, so please be sure to read this in its entirety...it will be worh it. I was trying to plan a weekend away for me and my girlfriend Robin. But this was going to be a weekend that was filled with surpises for Robin. Not only was she unaware that I was planning a weekend away for us, but I was also planning on asking for her hand in marriage on this little trip, as well. I wanted this weekend to be perfect, from the place that we stayed, to the spot that I got down on my knee and proposed. I wanted to be sure that it would be something that Robin would never forget, and thanks to Jim and the rest of the staff at that Bear Mountain Inn I acheived just that.

I did what seemed like endless research trying to find a BB for Robin and I, and I finally deicded to look for a place to go up in Maine. That is when I came across the the website for the Bear Mountain Inn and I was almost instantly hooked. It looked and sound like the exact place that I was looking for. At the time I was planning this weekend there was 103 reviews online...and I read each and everyone of them. I promise you, that pictures and reviews that are written do not even come close to doing this place justice. The property was truly breath taking.

Robin not only had no idea that we were going away for the night ( I told her around 8 am the morning we were heading up to the inn to be ready to go by 10:30) but she also had no idea where we were going. I had told her that I knew she had a rough week and that I wanted to take her away for a night. I told her that I wasn't sure what the place was going to look like because it was a "last minute reservation". She fell for the story hook, line, and sinker! The truth of the matter was, I was not only talking to Jim, but I had also talked to Matt serval times about two weeks before our weekend away.

As we approched the inn and started to see the the property, I remember thinking to myself "my God this place is beautiful". Robin actually gasped with both a sense of awe and excitement when we pulled into the driveway. The grounds were incredible, truly breath taking. Beautiful gardens, magnificent views, and a gorgeous building. It was perfect.

We went to go check in, but saw a note on the door stating that the inn keeper had to run out, but would be back in a few moments. I pretended to be mildly annoyed with having to wait to check-in, but I knew where everyone was. The staff was out setting up the rest of our day. Everything was going according to plan...everything!

Like I said, I pretended to be mildly annoyed with the lack of staff. Robin suggested that I relax and that we take a walk around the grounds. So that is exactly what we did. We walked everywhere stopping often to take in the all of the views. While exploring, we walked by the Sugar Bear Cottage and Robin asked if I thought it was another room. I told her I wasn't sure. She fell for it again! Not only did I know it was a rooom, but I also knew it was our room for the evening. When the staff got back, they checked us in and informed us that we would be spending the night in the Sugar Bear Cottage. Robin's jaw hit the floor. She said to me " how was this the only room left available?" She was in awe. It was great.

We were led to the cottage and shown around. It was incredible. The atmosphere in the cottage was warm and welcoming. It was extremely clean, yet still had that country cottage smell to it. There was a welcome note and a plate of fresh baked cookies for us. Robin also noticed what she called a "nice touch". It was a vase filled with a dozen red roses. I then took the liberty of informing her that they were for her. You see, I had asked Jim if he could put some flowers in the room. He said no problem, but it went beyond that. He told me he would pick up whatever looked the best on that particular day, but he knew a florist who had really nice roses. I have never experienced such service or attention to detail.

Once we got settled in, I asked if there was a short hike we could take to stretch our legs, and maybe take in the views from a higher vantage point. It was suggested that we take a hike up Hawk Mountain. The trail head was just up the street and it was a nice, easy 15- minute hike. I looked at Robin and asked her if she wanted to go. She said sure. I got her again!

While planning this weekend away, I wanted to find the perfect spot to propose. While talking to the staff at the inn, they told me there was plenty of places on the inn's property that were nice and secluded. I asked them if there was a place we could hike to... maybe a small mountain close by. That's when they told me about Hawk Mountain and together we came up with a plan. I decided that I was going to propose on top of Hawk Mountain. I mean, I know it is cliche to say you would shout from a mountain top how much you love another person, but honestly how many people actually do it? I was going to. I was going to profess my love and ask Robin to marry me on the top of the world. I asked if it would be possible that before Robin and I got to the top of the mountain there could be some champagne waiting for us when we got up there. Again, the staff out did themselves.

When we arrived at the top of Hawk Mountain, Robin noticed a table with white linen on it, a folded blanket, freshly baked scones, a single rose, a champagne stand with an iced down bottle in it, and two champange flutes. Amazing! She looked right at me and asked what is all of this? I told her that all of this was for us as well. She asked me how i did all of this, and I replied not to worry about how I did it...to just enjoy it. I unfolded the blanket, laid it on a rocky ledge, and we sat there drinking champagne, looking out over the inn and the surronding lakes. It was stunning. Robin is a writer by trade, so I know how important the written word is to her so I wrote her a letter. I pulled out the letter, read it to her, stood up and then got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said YES. Before we left the top of that mountain, high on top of the world, I shouted that I was getting married!

That weekend was truly the greatest weekend of my life, and I could not have pulled it off without the help of Jim and his staff. They were not only professional and courteous, but they were beyond helpful. I wish there was a way for me to better convey to Jim, his staff, and anyone else who reads this how truly thankful I am for all their help, and how truly spectacular the Bear Mountain Inn truly is. All I can tell you is this: that it holds a very special place in our hearts. And we will be back. We will be back whenever we need a weekend to just get away. And we will be back every year from now til death do us part to stay at the inn and hike up that mountain, so we can relive that weekend. That absolutely perfect weekend!

George Farrington