THE ORCHARD HOUSE
INN ICE CREAM CAFE
HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY
The Orchard House is a charming, old-world country Inn located on 5-acres of open fields, one mile north of the Village of Freeport, off of Route 1. The original farmhouse, built in 1834, features five spacious bedrooms with private baths, a beautifully appointed living room, a sunlit dining room where a healthy continental breakfast is served daily and an outdoor deck off the living room.
The House, barn, and surrounding property have served multiple owners over its 170+ year history. In the early years, it was a working farm, changing hands only a few times until 1960 when it was purchased by Maine artist Thomas Crotty (picture to the left). Crotty opened the Frost Gully Gallery on-site, offering Maine artists a magnificent barn in which to display and sell their work. At the time of his death in 2015, Crotty was operating what was considered the oldest year-round art gallery in the state.​
The current owner & operator, Bill Hamlen, whose ancestors came from Portland, bought the property in 2016, converting the main house into a comfortable Inn, which opened in October of 2017. The Summer of 2025 The Cafe was opened serving coffee, espresso, tea, baked goods, sandwiches, soup and delicious Toots homemade ice cream! We are proud to serve Freeport and the surrounding communities for year-round dining and events.
