Our History —
A CENTURY-OLD SEA CAPTAIN’S HOME TURNED COASTAL RETREAT
Lindenwood Inn is more than a place to stay, it’s a storied escape where ocean breezes whisper secrets of the past. Built in 1904 for sea captain Olas Mills and his wife Nettie, this grand coastal home has stood just steps from the ocean in the quiet village of Southwest Harbor for over a century. First a cherished family home, then a haven for travelers since the 1970s, its walls hold the echoes of seafaring tales, love, and longing.
The third floor—now the coveted Penthouse Suite—once served as a widow’s walk, where Nettie would scan the horizon, awaiting the return of her husband and the treasures he carried from faraway lands. Today, just as Nettie once stood watch with anticipation, our owner Jim King welcomes you to the Inn, eager to share in your own stories of adventure and escape. Let Lindenwood Inn be your retreat, where past and present blend seamlessly into an unforgettable coastal experience.
MEET OWNER, JIM KING
Jim was born in Australia and loves traveling the world. After getting mugged in NYC on one of his adventures, he went to the Port Authority, explained his situation, and was put on a bus to Bar Harbor, Maine by the caring woman behind the counter. This chance journey was the beginning of Jim’s story in Maine.
Shortly after purchasing the Inn in 1993, a nor’easter blew off half the roof and the furnace went out. Jim immediately got to work putting his touch on the Inn as he made the repairs and started welcoming guests. He planned to run the Inn for about five years, yet he felt the island’s pull as he returned to open the Inn each season.
A former cabinet and furniture maker, Jim’s design touch is infused throughout the Inn. His love for art flows throughout the Inn with carefully gathered pieces from his adventures around the world. What Jim loves most, however, is connecting with guests and welcoming them to the space he has lovingly created over the years. He knows we are all on a journey and appreciates the opportunity to provide travelers with modern comforts and simple luxuries during their stay at Lindenwood Inn.