Awards & Accolades

ARTICLES

Travel + Leisure: 100 Best Hotels in the World

“Formally restored in May 2023, this 11-room inn is a year-round escape housed within a fairytale chateau originally built in 1887. The perfectly-executed cocktails, luxe rooms, and “attention to detail” from the staff stood out to our readers. The views of Camden Harbor are the cherry on top.”

Travel + Leisure: Top 5 Ranked Inns in the Continental U.S

“As wonderful as the glitzy, expansive resorts of the world may be, there’s something extra special about vacationing at an inn, particularly within the continental U.S. The ease of passport-free travel has its own appeal, and beyond that, there’s an intimacy to a smaller property, a kind of small-town warmth and collegiality so often struck up at these places that you may not find at a behemoth resort.”

DuJour: The Best New Hotels In Maine

“In 2023, partner-owners Brett Haynie and Will Tims, a trained architect, completed renovations on the former 19thcentury castle originally built as a (very) elaborate summer home for inventor Joseph Barkers Stearns (it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places). Walk to Camden Harbor for a schooner sail or snack, or claim a spot on the terrace overlooking the great lawn for an afternoon well spent with a book or a cocktail from the bar (ideally both).”

Travel + Leisure: IT List: The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year

“Just north of Camden, Maine, on Route 1, the towering, turreted Castle by the Sea has been winning the hearts of road-trippers and romantics for the better part of 130 years. After an overhaul by owners Will Tims and Brett Haynie, who purchased the property in 2022, the interiors of this Gilded Age treasure now live up to the grand facade.”

AAA Magazines: Draw inspiration from these 4 stylish New England inns

“A new generation of New England inn owners has turned the notion of what a B&B should look like on its head. Even more impressive: They’ve done so within the gracious walls of historic properties.

Start your journey at Midcoast Maine’s castle by the sea. When architect Will Tims bought this magnificent stone mansion, which has overlooked Penobscot Bay since 1886, the interior hadn’t changed much since its 1984 debut as a B&B.”

Travel + Leisure: A Couple Lovingly Restored This 19th-century Castle in Maine — Now It’s One of Our Favorite New Hotels

“It’s a rare B&B that expertly treads the line between history and modernity without edging too far into either zone, but in the capable hands of Will Tims and Brett Haynie, who bought the storied inn back in 2022 and spent all winter furiously updating the place ahead of the summer high season, the Norumbega hits the mark…”

Boston.com: 4 of the world’s best new hotels are in New England, according to Travel + Leisure

“The 11-room Norumbega Inn in Camden, Maine, billed as a “castle by the sea,” was recently listed among the 100 best new and renovated hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure. The 1886 building is on the National Register of Historic Places…”

Boston.com: Look inside Maine’s Norumbega Inn, recently named among the best new hotels in the world

“The 11-room Norumbega Inn in Camden, Maine, billed as a “castle by the sea,” was recently listed among the 100 best new and renovated hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure. The 1886 building is on the National Register of Historic Places…”

Condé Nast Traveler: Where to Spend an Off-Season, Crowd-Free Weekend in Maine

“…the historic and castlelike Norumbega Inn completed a grand renovation last year to reopen as an elegantly stylish year-round hotel under new ownership. This part of the state is a beautiful tableau of rugged beauty this time of year, with dramatic, rocky shorelines, charming towns straight out of a Hallmark movie.”

Wine Enthusiast: A Wine Lover’s Guide to Maine

“…For those who prefer a luxury stay, the recently refreshed Norumbega, a turreted Gilded Age-mansion-turned-inn just north of Camden, feels of-the-moment despite its historic setting.”

Domino: Backdrop’s Checkerboard Wallpaper Looks Right at Home in This Restored Historic Hotel

“The Norumbega Inn in Camden, Maine, wouldn’t look out of place in a kids’ storybook. Its exterior alone, complete with a magical turret, is like something out of a fairy tale. So when it changed ownership in 2022, the consensus among loyal guests was: “Don’t change the space; we love it as is!” recalls designer Lisa Galano, whose practice, Studiocake, was hired to refresh the interior.”

Boston Globe: Which coastal Maine town is actually better in the fall? (Hint: It has a fairy-tale castle.)

“Who needs Barbie’s Dreamhouse? We’ll take a dramatic stone castle over Pepto-Bismol-pink plastic any day. Reopened in May after a stunning makeover, the 11-room Norumbega Inn is now open year-round. This fairy-tale chateau is the perfect base for an autumn adventure in Camden. There’s very little pink involved, but, we promise, you won’t even miss it.”

Yankee Magazine: Best 5 Refreshed New England Inn Escapes for Fall

“Stately trees in fiery fall dress are all that separate this 1886 castle from the sea. Step through the doors and you’ll want to applaud, even if Brett Haynie isn’t singing by the baby grand. His eye for posh, exuberant style and architect owner Will Tims’s desire to preserve this landmark while injecting it with contemporary personality have transformed The Norumbega into a place ready for its next century…”

Forbes: Summer Is Not Over At These New England Resorts

“A comprehensive eight-month renovation brought this historic property into the 21st century while preserving what made the nearly 140-year-old mansion special—original wooden millwork, many fireplaces, a distinctive turret, a glass-enclosed front porch and original leaded glass windows are among the historic details.”

Boston Globe: A hotel is revived in Maine

“Embrace the charms of a late 19th-century masterpiece in coastal Maine at The Norumbega, reopening as a luxurious boutique hotel after eight months of redesign and renovations. Eye-catching historical details have been preserved in the property’s 11 unique guest rooms, suites, common areas, kitchen, and dining rooms, including original wooden millwork, many detailed fireplaces, distinctive turret, original leaded glass windows, large entry hall featuring coffered oak ceilings, richly wood-paneled walls, inlaid wood flooring, and carved banisters….”

The Spruce: 4 Game-Changing Design Lessons We Learned From This Historic Maine Inn

“On the Penobscot Bay in Maine’s Mid-coast region, a castle-like landmark with romantic features and a Queen Anne style sits seaside. The historic “Stone Castle by the Sea”, was built in 1886 for Joseph Barker Stearns, a miner and inventor who deemed Camden the most beautiful place in the world…”

Observer: Discover the Luxury and Charm of Maine’s Finest Hotels

“Under the seasoned stewardship of proprietors Will Tims and Brett Haynie, the Norumbega Inn has been meticulously reimagined with 11 distinctive guest rooms and suites, along with its common areas, kitchen and dining rooms that encapsulate a reinvigorated approach to traditional design…”

Robb Report: What’s New in New England This Summer

“Located in the absurdly picturesque town of Camden is the Gilded Age mansion-turned-inn The Norumbega, a neo-Gothic gem that was purchased last year by noted New York architect William Tims and his partner, Brett Haynie, who are currently working their magic and updating the historic property.”

Condé Nast Traveler: This Summer’s Most Exciting Hotel Openings

“…It served as a private residence for nearly a century before changing hands several times since the 1980’s, never really getting the full attention it deserved. That is, until New York architect William Tims purchased it in May 2022. Over the last year, he and his partner Brett Haynie have painstakingly updated the property, giving this historic landmark the new chapter it deserves, and reopening it as one of the most desirable places to stay in Maine’s midcoast region.”

NEW YORK POST: A new New England is here — and it’s awash in fresh-faced classic inns

“Further up the craggy coast, the new stewards of Camden, Maine’s tony Norumbega Inn — a landmarked 1886 castle-like stone mansion turned hotel — will keep it open year round, the better to show off the results of its eight-month redesign. New interiors celebrate the property’s stylish past and monumental architecture, while also lightening things up across all 11 sun-filled rooms with ensuite marble baths.”

ELLE DECOR: 7 Editor-Approved American Hotels to Add to Your Travel Itinerary This Summer

“…Fast-forward nearly 140 years, and the home (which became a hotel in 1984) has been renovated and reinvented by William Tims and Brett Haynie. The 11-room boutique hotel is minutes away from two state parks and, for the winter visitor, skiing at the Camden Snow Bowl.”

Maine Homes: 3 Stylish Maine Inns To Check Out This Summer

“New owners are putting their stamp on Maine’s historic inns with bold patterns, inventive wall treatments, and spray-painted art.”

Bloomberg: Everybody Wants to Go to Maine

“…It’s a moody 1886 mansion with a turreted, flint-gray exterior—a Wicked Queen among Snow Whites.”

Yankee Magazine: New England Castles

“This New England castle is perfect for a weekend getaway. Not only is the Norumbega pretty to look at, but it was also converted into a Bed & Breakfast in 1984.”

Yankee Magazine: Camden, Maine | Hotels & Inns Guide

“Eleven luxurious rooms and suites await guests at this high-end B&B, which is located in a stone castle built in 1886 by the inventor of the duplex telegraph.”

Fodor’s: Expert Review | The Norumbega

“With a commanding position overlooking the bay just north of downtown Camden, this impressive, turreted “castle” exudes Old World grandeur.”

AWARDS

Traveler’s Choice Award by TripAdvisor: Top 10% of Hotels Worldwide