This is the backdrop that concert goers enjoyed last Sunday evening at the Jonathan Edward's concert.  Jonathan drew a 'sell-out' crowd that night.  His music was simply beautiful and paired with such a breathtaking sunset, a glass of wine in hand and wonderful company - it was a night to remember.

Jonathan is seen here performing 'Sunshine Go Away Today' with a starburst quilt behind him in our carriage barn.  The quilt was a going away gift from dear friends of ours who collect quilts and gave us this prize before we moved here 13 and 1/2 years ago!

Our most recent honeymoon couple enjoyed their 'dinner with a view'.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Swing.

When you work so very hard to make something as beautiful and exceptional as you possibly can - to be featured in such a way as we are this summer in Victoria Magazine is thrilling!  Here is just a bit of what is said,

"Blair Hill Inn rises majestically on the crest of an endless lawn, as the last of the day's light shimmers far below on Moosehead Lake.  Welcoming and noble, the historical home-turned-inn beckons at the end of a long drive.  Once a thriving gentleman's farm, Blair Hill Inn remains a refined and polished haven."  Victoria Magazine, July- August, 2010.

Open for its 12th restaurant season overlooking Moosehead Lake, Blair Hill Inn is inspired to once again create a dining experience not soon to be forgotten.  Coming home to the inn after a leave of absence is Chef Jack Neal who lead the inn's culinary program to its successful status for many, many years.  Capitalizing on Maine's bounty from the inn's gardens and surrounding farms, you can always count upon Maine summertime classics with a fresh, light twist.   Think chilled garden pea & Maine crab soup blending freshly snipped sweet peas with a handful of sparkly mint and topped with cumin spiced crab meat.   How about homemade lavender ice cream or consider a fresh basil Mojito!  Add in the beautiful, airy decor of the dining room and cafe porch with lake views that dazzle and it can't be beat!  It's fun, its festive, its classy and welcoming.    

Check out the current issue of Victoria magazine, a national publication which features elegant home design, decor and sundries.  Blair Hill Inn is featured in a multi-page feature editiorial with color photos!  We haven't even seen it yet, but we just heard that it is out.  The writer stayed here last summer as part of a tour of special places in Maine.  In discussion with her just a few weeks ago, she said "I travel and stay at inns all over the coutry in search of those places that would excite and thrill our readers.  I am, truthfully, usually dissapointed in some aspect of my stay but not at Blair Hill Inn.  You have achieved something indescribable that supercedes every other place one could stay!"  Such conviction in her endorsement was wonderful to hear and it inspires us to continue to attain such accolades.

Select Registry is pleased to present five spectacular and unique wedding venues from among their over 400 members.  A press release highlighting these five special inss went out across the country yesterday and should begin to appear in national and regional magazines over the next several months.  Blair Hill Inn is honored to be one of the 5 wedding destinations selected for this recognition. 

"All of our members offer spectacular bridal packages and pampering accommodations. However, we're looking for unique wedding experiences that are unlike anything the bride and group would be able to find elsewhere - from historic settings and beautiful scenery to world-class culinary marvels  and one-of-a-kind ceremony/reception options." Select Registry.

One thing that is hard for us to portray in a website is the extensive restoration we undertake each off-season in an effort to make Blair Hill Inn beyond elegant!  This spring, we decided to restore Guest Room 8.  For us, that means  gut the room and start over!  We are vaulting the ceiling up into the attic, opening the front roofline and  builiding a beautiful dormer in keeping with the architecture of the inn, putting in all new windows, and so much more!  Here is a peek at some of our progress so far.  It will be done before the summer season starts.

In February we hosted a beautiful winter wedding.  The wedding photographer, Michelle Stapleton, shot this photo of the inn while guests were enjoying the winter evening reception.

The days are longer, the sun is warmer and the snow is deeper.  What a  magnificent combination!  Our Golden Retriever, Bell, loves to hike Blair Hill with guests but pauses to seemingly remember her dear, departed Olive who used to frolick alongside her. 

June is the #1 moose spotting month of the year at Moosehead Lake!  Stay with us in June and ask about our special pricing to celebrate this right of springtime!  Take a privately guided moose safari with a Maine Registered Guide.   You will be picked up right here at the inn, transported to the water, and provided with a 3-hour scenic canoe trip during which you can be guaranteed to see moose!  We provide snacks and binoculars and nature provides everything else!

We receive the most wonderful photographs taken by our guests and we thought it would be nice to post a few of the most recent ones taken.  If you've stayed here and have a favorite photo, send it to us and we'll post yours as well. 

Here are a few photographs taken of weddings summer of 2009.  

        photograph courtesy of Meredith Purdue www.andunlimited.com. 

Guests are enjoying the bounty of produce that is picked from our gardens each day.  The array of produce includes:  heirloom tomatoes, rainbow swiss Chard, lettuces, patty pan and yellow squashes, zucchini, hierloom beets, purple and orange carrots, beans, rosemary, thyme, parsley, dill, lavender, mint, cilantro and chives!   Also, our blueberries and raspberries are ripe for picking and soon our blackberries will be too.  The apples are small and green on their branches right now but they are a sign that fall is on its way!  A walk around our grounds can be a culinary treat this time of year! 

The new bar and cocktail lounge has exceeded our expectations.  Dan, Larry (our intrepid carpenter) and I worked since the end of last summer right up until the 1st of July to ready this room for both our guests and dinner guests to enjoy.  The view is over-the-top and the classic, 'Manhattan' feel to the room is wowing everyone.  We hope you can join us for a toast in this great addition to our inn and restaurant!

The State of Maine's Tourism Department selected Blair Hill Inn as a featured location in a new commercial being filmed to promote travel to Maine.  On Monday, August 17th over a dozen people including the producer, the creative director, film crew, and even models descended on our hillside.  They set up a track that looked like a train track up our driveway which then automatically moved the big movie camera up our hill!  Film was taken of the inn's exterior, the magnificent views for which we have become famous, and the broad porch of the inn.  The commercial is supposed to air next year in all of the New England States.  Here is a few photos I took that day.

"While every morsel they serve is delicious, right down to the homemade sorbet at meal's end, the true dessert is the view.  Overlooking Moosehead Lake, the inn has views stretching from Mt. Washington to Canada, and the sunsets have been known to inspire standing ovations."  Bangor Metro Business & Lifestyle magazine, August 2009.  Recently we had guests who own a home in New Hampshire which has a direct view of Mt. Washington.  While pouring fresh glasses of iced tea to guests relaxing on our porch, I overheard them pointing out the distinctive ridgeline of Mt. Washington to another couple from California.  They explained, "There, right behind Sugarloaf!".  It was great to have guests recognizing the various peaks in the distance!

This honor came as a real surprise to us.  We have been recognized in many different travel publications as possibly the best lodging establishment in Maine but 'Maine Biz', the business magazine of Maine, issued a special publication  identifying 13, out of over 500 businesses, as the most successful businesses in Maine across all industries.  Along with companies such as FairPoint Communications, Cross Insurance and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Blair Hill Inn was selected for our story of entrepreneurship, ingenuity and business success.  Wow!  We just do what comes natural to us and we have fun with it.  We are happy that seems to be working!  

Our July 5th concert with Jonathan Edwards and his band was wonderful.  We had a 'sold-out' crowd in our old carriage barn that evening and the energy was exciting.  When Jonathan announced to the audience "I'll be back every summer Greenville!", everyone was on their feet.  We love getting to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and our concert series is definately one of those opportunities!

We are so excited to introduce you to our 'swanky' new cocktail lounge!  The decor is a stunning blend of traditional and trendy making this space the coolest place in town!  Last fall we began the process of restoring the southern end of the inn and, as part of that project, have created a gorgeous new space for our guests to enjoy. 

The dark maple paneled room with 15 huge windows that  present Moosehead Lake and all it's beauty at every glance is sumptuous!  The handsome bar is yours to enjoy a martini or glass of fine wine.  You may want relax on the supple dark leather couch in front of the fireplace and take in a show on the large screen, hd plasma 1080 TV!  Or, sit at one of the cocktail tables in comfortable club chairs for a game of chess or cards.   No matter what, you will  find your self drawn through the summer screened door to the front veranda to feel lake breezes and watch the sun set!

We thought you might enjoy seeing the process beginning with the new roof line last fall!  Photos of the completed room soon!