The Inn at Diamond Cove
Portland, Maine
22 McKinley Court, Portland, Maine 04109
Original Property Opened in 1910
Historic Hotels of America member since 2015
The Inn at Diamond Cove is part of a small, island community called Great Diamond Island off the coast of Portland, Maine. Once pivotal in the defense of the United States, Army structures that were once scattered over the island have been restored and are now homes with wonderful historical detail and character. Prior to being the site for an Army base, Great Diamond Island featured a famous artistic retreat. American literary greats such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe spent time experiencing quiet island living there.
After several years of careful restoration, The Inn at Diamond Cove reopened in 2015 with a revitalizing new layout boasting 44 deluxe guestrooms and suites with balconies. All suites maintain a New England charm with a fireplace, parlor, and separate dining area. Much effort has been made to maintain the historical detail and preserve the original character of this secluded retreat, open seasonally between Memorial Day and Columbus Day.
Discover
- Gain insight into how the Cove got its name from mica, an iridescent group of sheet silicate minerals, which forms naturally along the coast of Maine making the beaches appear to sparkle like diamonds.
- Discover how the now-Fort McKinley Historic District played a key role in the seacoast defense of the United States prior to World War II.
- Gaze at the idyllic Diamond Cove, a favored en plein air setting for landscape painter Charles Codman (1800–1842), who created dozens of images of Diamond Cove on Great Diamond Island.
Explore
- Take a sunset cruise on a sailboat and revel in the pastel hues that shimmer off the waters of Casco Bay.
- Visit Fort McKinley Museum containing relics of the fort’s past. Guided tours of Fort McKinley and Diamond Cove sites within its 43 acres are available by appointment.
- Peer through binoculars to witness the eagles, seals, osprey, herons and loons frequently seen along the shore.
Experience
- Enjoy a delicious picnic packed with Maine lobster rolls at Diamond Point Beach and Picnic Area. Featuring chunks of fresh lobster, the Maine lobster roll is a cold, mayo-dressed salad heaped into a grilled bun.
- Engage in a game of Duckpin Bowling at Diamond Cove’s restored turn-of-the-century bowling alley. Smaller balls and pins than the more common ten-pin bowling make strikes much more challenging.
- Unwind in an Adirondack chair and savor the views of the stunning blue waters banded with boats.
Taste
- Engage in a Maine Lobster Bake, traditionally made with a fire pit dug in the sand filled with heated stones and seaweed, cooking lobsters, steamers, mussels, and quahogs.
- Embark on a culinary adventure at Diamond's Edge restaurant, formerly the quartermaster’s storehouse overlooking Diamond Cove. With amazing water views, this casual restaurant serves up quintessential New England fare such as Maine lobster rolls, peekytoe crab cakes, and fresh summer salads.
- Order a Maine Saltwater Fishing Permit and catch dinner. Aboard a fishing charter, experts help lure the bounty of Casco Bay—striped bass, mackerel, and tuna.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
Featured Offers
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
