Camp DeForest | Lincolnville, Maine, United States

Camp DeForest

EST. 1955

12 Whitney Road, Lincolnville, ME, USA

- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue
- Photographer: Peter Logue

Camp DeForest: Summer camp, grown-up style

Summer camp charm meets modern comfort in Maine’s most nostalgic event venue.

The Lowdown

Type: Boutique Hotel Cabins Camping / Glamping Field / Forest / Orchard Hotel / Resort / Spa

Views: Bay Coastline Forest Garden Landscaped Grounds Meadow/Field

Style: Eclectic
Mid-Century Modern
Retro
Vintage
Whimsical

Best type of Celebrations

Venue Setting

Camp DeForest is a rustic-chic retreat tucked into the evergreens of Maine’s Midcoast, where bay breezes and pine air set the tone. The design takes its cues from the golden age of American summer camps, with classic wood cabins, a central lodge, and playful mid-century details woven throughout. Guests step into a world that feels both nostalgic and elevated: evenings around the campfire, games in the lounge, starlit walks down wooded paths. The atmosphere is warm, whimsical, and unhurried — a place where groups can truly take over the property, celebrate without distraction, and feel as though they’ve discovered a timeless hideaway. Whether it’s a waterfront wedding, a family reunion, or a creative retreat, the style of Camp DeForest balances analog charm with thoughtful comforts, offering a setting that is as authentic as it is unforgettable.

Capacity

Seated: 200

Buffet: 200

Standing: 300

Fees

(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)

Price range: Join the party and sign in to view pricing

Does this include catering fees?: No

Estimated price per head: from $80 to $1,100

Full venue buyout option: from $21,000 to $45,000

Insurance: Additional Insurance May Be Required Depending On The Event

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Event Logistics and Amenities

(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)

Celebrations hosted here since: 1955
Renovated In: 2025
Curfew: 12 AM
Venue spaces: Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering: Client Can Select The Caterer Of Their Choice
Alcohol: Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services
Music: Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking: Non-smoking Venue
Accommodations: Camp DeForest features a collection of vintage-inspired cabins and lodge rooms, offering overnight accommodations for groups of all sizes. Each space blends rustic camp charm with modern comfort — wood-paneled interiors, cozy beds, and playful mid-century details.
Cabins & Lodge Rooms
Maple Cabin – sleeps 6 (two bedroom suite, queen bed, bunks beds, single bed, private porch, private bath, living and dining areas)
Pine Cabin – sleeps 4 (one bedroom, private bath, spacious living and dining area)
Spruce Cabin – sleeps 3 (one bedrom, private bath, perfect for small family or couple)
Birch Cabin – sleeps 3 (intimate one-bedroom cabin, private bath with shower and soaking tub, ideal for couples)
Bear Den King Rooms – sleeps 3 (lodge room with king bed, dining area, and breakfast nook)
Owl Roost Twin Rooms – sleeps 2 (two XL single beds and breakfast nook )
Event & Dressing Spaces
For weddings and group events, Camp DeForest provides private dressing areas and prep spaces in the main lodge and cabins, so couples and parties can get ready onsite with ease.
Group Capacity
In total, the property can comfortably host overnight stays for up to ~30–45 guests, with full-property buyouts available for weddings, reunions, and retreats. Keeping everyone together under the pines captures the true spirit of summer camp — cozy, communal, and unforgettable.
Eco/Green Events: Yes
Kid Friendly Events: Yes
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Other: Yes

Amenities

A/V Equipment
Bridal Suite/Changing Rooms Onsite
Valet Parking
Wifi
Ample Parking Onsite
Dining Chairs

Venue Features

Standout venue features:: Mid-Century Summer Camp Design – A rare venue that channels the nostalgia of a 1950s Maine camp, reimagined with boutique comfort and style.
Full Property Buyouts – The entire camp can be reserved exclusively for weddings, reunions, or retreats, creating a private, immersive experience.
Bay side & Woodland Setting – Surrounded by evergreens and fresh Maine air, with water access and trails right outside your cabin door.
Campfire Gatherings – Custom s’mores kits, nightly fire circles, and a lodge stocked with games make group stays playful and memorable.
Seasonal Magic – From leaf-peeping in autumn to snowshoeing in winter, each season transforms the camp into a new kind of backdrop.
Camp Café & Store – A vintage-inspired café for coffee and treats plus a camp store offering whimsical finds and custom Camp DeForest gear.
Unique Event Backdrops – From a bay side ceremony under the pines to lodge receptions that feel like a grown-up camp social, the property offers a range of memorable settings.
Analog Luxury – No distractions, just thoughtful design and timeless experiences that encourage connection and celebration.
Extra perks:: Exclusive Use of the Property – Full buyout rentals include private access to all cabins, lodge spaces, trails, and gathering areas.
Tables, Chairs & Camp Furnishings – A mix of vintage-style and practical pieces included for dining, ceremonies, and lounge areas.
Onsite Dressing Areas – Dedicated prep spaces for couples and event parties in the lodge and cabins.
Campfire Setup – Firewood, firepits, and our signature s’mores kits ready for your group to enjoy.
Camp Café Access – Onsite coffee, breakfast, and light bites available to fuel celebrations.
Parking & Easy Arrival – Complimentary parking with room for shuttles or buses for larger groups.
Lodge Lounge & Game Collection – Indoor gathering spaces stocked with classic board games, cards, and vintage-inspired camp décor.
Overnight Accommodations – Lodging for up to 40 guests included with a full-property rental, keeping everyone close.

Awards & Notables

Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.

Select Registry Distinguished Inn Membership
Camp DeForest is proud to be part of Select Registry, a curated collection of independent properties that meet the highest standards of hospitality, authenticity, and service. This membership places us among the most trusted and exceptional stays in the country.
2025 Gold Key Awards Finalist
We are honored to be named a finalist in the 2025 Gold Key Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the global hospitality industry. This milestone highlights our commitment to thoughtful design, memorable guest experiences, and the reimagining of the classic American summer camp for today’s travelers.

Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges

This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.

Camp Café
The heart of our culinary offerings, the Camp Café is a vintage-inspired gathering spot serving coffee, espresso, teas, and light bites throughout the day. Guests love our homemade pastries, hearty campfire sandwiches, and rotating seasonal treats (think apple cider donuts in fall or s’mores-inspired brownies in summer).

Camp Store Provisions
Our Camp Store doubles as a snack stop, stocked with nostalgic treats, Maine-made goodies, and our signature Camp DeForest s’mores kits — perfect for evenings around the fire.

Event Catering & Celebrations
For weddings and group buyouts, Camp DeForest partners with local chefs and caterers to create menus that highlight Maine’s seasonal bounty — from lobster rolls and blueberry pie to elegant plated dinners. Couples can tailor the food experience, whether it’s a casual camp cookout or a refined farm-to-table reception.

The Lodge Lounge
Our central gathering space doubles as a cozy lounge, with vintage camp décor, big leather chairs, and a warm fire when the evenings turn cool. Guests can enjoy Maine craft beers, local wines, and a rotating list of cocktails inspired by camp traditions.

The Camp Bar (Seasonal Pop-Up)
In summer, our outdoor tiki-style bar brings the spirit of mid-century vacationland to life — twinkle lights strung through the pines, vinyl records spinning, and colorful cocktails served in camp-themed glassware.

The Campfires
At night, the campfires become their own kind of bar. Guests gather under the stars with s’mores kits in hand, swapping stories while toasting marshmallows. Drinks from the lodge or tiki bar can be carried out to the fire circles, turning every evening into a camp-style cocktail hour.

Signature Cocktail
Don’t miss our “The Pine Needle” — a refreshing gin and tonic brightened with house-made pine syrup and a twist of lemon, designed to taste like Maine in a glass.

Venue matched with reports

Gatherings

A Camp VR Cozy-Season Guide: Dinner Party Themes and Where to Host Them

This season, we pulled together a mix of our favorite venues from the Camp VR collection alongside a few new discoveries and paired each with an outdoor dining theme designed to actually work in winter. Inspired by Tabloo Margot’s Heritage Season dinner in the woods, complete with Wellington boots, hip flasks, and clay pigeon shooting, and our deep dives into Ralph Lauren’s American West holiday window and Le Supper Club’s approach to theatrical hosting, the throughline is clear: the most compelling dinners start with a strong sense of place and let everything else follow. When the setting is right, the details, food, drinks, table styling, even how guests arrive, come into focus. The venues that follow are cabins, lakeside lodges, ranches, camps, and glamping sites that already do half the storytelling for you. A pavilion between mountain ranges calls for late season harvest cooking; a Maine camp leans naturally into nostalgia and fire circle dining; a Wyoming ranch begs for stews, boots, and an after-ride cocktail by the barn. Winter is when themed dining shines. Cooler temperatures invite heartier food, longer tables, warmer drinks, and a sense of shared experience that feels earned. Start with the venue, choose a theme that fits its bones, and you’ll find the dinner practically hosts itself.

Read roundup

Bunk, Feast, Repeat: A Field Guide to Camp-Inspired Event Venues Across the U.S.

From tartan-lined lodges to glamping tents with martini carts, these aren’t just places to crash, they’re places to convene. Heritage plaid, canvas, wood smoke and a little Champagne sparkle, because camp can be both rugged and refined. If Camp VR were a weekend escape, this would be the map. Picture bunk beds turned boutique, bonfires turned dinner parties, and cabins styled with the kind of quiet luxury that feels half Martha Stewart cottage, half Ralph Lauren catalog. The menu? Wood-fired paella, grown-up s’mores, and a bourbon cider punch bowl that deserves its own merit badge. These venues aren’t just made for sleeping, they’re also made for gathering. Lakeside lodges that double as wedding backdrops, glamping estates with long tables set in the fields, and cozy cottages ready for birthday feasts or fall reunions. It’s fisherman-core meets fine china, enamel mugs clinking beside crystal stemware. Explore The Camp VR collection on Venue Report: search, save, and message real venues built for bunking up, feasting well, and gathering under the same roof (or sky). Because campfires fade, but the stories? Those last all season. Read the field guide below.

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A Former Motor Lodge Turned Into Maine’s Most Charming Grown-Up Campground

There’s camping, and then there’s Camp VR camping, where we trade rain-soaked tents for mid-century cabins, and sleeping bags for king beds, all while maintaining those classic feelings of nostalgia that we get from films like The Parent Trap or The Rainbow Tribe. For our fall series, we went looking for places that still understand the point of camping: smoke in the air, dirt under your shoes, and the simplicity of being in the great outdoors with your favorite people. That search led us to Camp DeForest, a former motor lodge in Maine’s MidCoast that’s been reimagined into the grown-up version of sleepaway camp. The kind with proper beds, a general store, and enough activities to keep everyone convinced they’re “unplugging,” even with perfect Wi-Fi. Picture pinewood walls, trumpets at dawn (figuratively speaking), grilled dinners, and the unmistakable smell of bugspray on your sweatshirt. If Camp VR had a field trip, this would be it, rooted in nostalgia, slightly competitive about cornhole, and absolutely certain that s’mores taste better when someone else bought the provisions. Photography Courtesy of Camp DeForest

Read report

Mountaintop Movie Nights and Forest Picnics: 12 Boutique Hotels Across the U.S. Made for Group Trips

Because finding the hotel is easy, it’s the “what are we doing once we get there?” part we’ve solved for you. When you’re plotting a getaway with your favorite couples, family or friends, you’re not just scrolling for a pretty hotel, you want a built-in answer to the fun things to do in the area. Lucky you, these 12 spots deliver both. Roomy rooftop cocktails without the elbow jabs, private chefs who make you look like the host of the year, e-bikes that turn sightseeing into a team sport, fireside spreads and hotel bars where the playlist rivals the cocktail list. Translation: itinerary ideas galore. From Berkshires hikes to posting up poolside in Palm Springs, you’ll still swap chargers, share snacks, and divvy up sunscreen, but now the setting feels like vacation, not logistics.

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Camp DeForest

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