EXPLORE THE AREA

York - First settled by Europeans in 1624, York was originally called Agamenticus, the Abenaki term for the York River. Incorporated as a town in 1652, York is the second oldest town in Maine. As one of the earliest English settlements in the country, York became the seat of government for the Province of Maine and thrived as a center of maritime commerce.  As provincial capital, York prospered.  Numerous wharves and warehouses serviced trade with the West Indies.  Agricultural products and lumber were shipped in exchange for sugar, molasses and other commodities.  One notable merchant was John Hancock, whose warehouse on the banks of the York River is now a museum. The museums of Old York maintain numerous historic buildings including Jefferds' Tavern, the Old Gaol (America's oldest jail), and the Emerson-Wilcox House.  Lobstering, fishing, boatbuilding and farming were the foundations of the economy until the late 1800s when the southern Maine coast began to attract summer visitors in large numbers. 

​

Present day York is a beautiful mix of old and new.  York Village retains the look and feel of an 18th century village. York Harbor's stately mansions offer many distinctive examples of the 19th Gilded Age architecture, particularly the "shingle-style cottages" that once dotted the Maine coast from York to Bar Harbor. The Harbor Beach, with its gentle surf, the Cliff Walk, the Wiggly Bridge, and Fishermen's Walk showcase York's beautiful harbor and majestic ocean.  The York Beach area includes Long Sands, Short Sands and Cape Neddick Beaches.  It is also home to the Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country.  Sohier Park, overlooking the Nubble, offers benches for relaxing, reading, and enjoying the views of the island lighthouse as well as Boon Island. Mount Agamenticus, another of York's treasures, offers a unique trail system and rich natural resources for year round pleasure. 

​

The York Golf & Tennis Club is also close by, with a rich history and featuring a golf course designed by Donald Ross, a tennis facility with six Har-Tru and two hard surface courts, and the Old Clubhouse, which serves as a venue for wedding receptions and other special occasions.

​

York continues to captivate visitors with the beauty, culture and history of the area.  It has become a most desirable community for tourists, commuter families and retirees as well.

​

Ogunquit - According to legend, Ogunquit was named by the Abenaki tribe, because the word means "beautiful place by the sea".  It is a small, bustling resort town located along the southeastern seaboard of York County between York, and Wells.  Both the town and Perkins Cove retain the charm of a bygone era when artists and fishermen made their living here.

The town of Ogunquit is actually little more than a village, but this tourist hot spot and jewel of Maine's southern coast actually has quite a rich history.  The first sawmill here was established in 1686 and shipbuilding developed along the tidal Ogunquit River. Local shipwrights built schooners, brigs and dories.  In what was then called Fish Cove, fishing was a major livelihood, but the cove was unprotected from Atlantic storms.  Fishermen had to haul their boats ashore each night.  Resolving to create a safe anchorage, they dug a channel across the land to connect Fish Cove with the Josias River.  The resulting tidewater basin is today's Perkins Cove. Today, Perkins Cove offers a wonderful mix of fine waterfront dining establishments and intimate and unique shops and boutiques. With ninety percent of its shoreline open for the public to enjoy, leisure and recreation activities abound on the beautiful white sand beach. You can walk the Marginal Way, a scenic trail that meanders along the rocky coastline from Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach, or stroll among quaint buildings, coves and pedestrian bridges. Ogunquit's sandy beach stretches for 3 1/2 miles, forming a natural barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit River.    

​

Ogunquit's ties to the arts date back 150 years. Prominent artists spent their summers along its rocky coast and enjoyed its beauty, while famous 20th century actors and actresses made it a point to perform in summer stock at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Today, the Ogunquit Playhouse continues to carry on its legacy as "America's Foremost Summer Theatre." 

​

Ogunquit was named America's Best Coastal Small Town in USA Today's 10 Best Reader's Choice 2016 and it's no wonder. Those fortunate enough to live, work, or play here agree that this "beautiful place by the sea" is a remarkable combination of natural and man-made beauty.