History
of the Kawanhee Inn - Since 1929
The
Kawanhee Inn was built in the 1920’s by George and
Raymond Frank, brothers living in Tenafly, New Jersey
and Columbus, Ohio. The Main Lodge and Cabins were built
with on site timber and stand today, as they did years
ago, a testament to the Frank brother’s hard work
and ingenuity. From its original Birch decor to the classic
hickory furniture, the Inn is proud to have maintained
its rustic character while continually improving its facilities.
The story of Kawanhee began on a hunting trip to nearby
Mount Blue State Park in 1909. While standing on the summit
of Mount Blue, George Frank was so inspired by the beauty
of Webb Lake that he chose to honeymoon on the Lake in
1912. It was not long after that the brothers decided
to pursue their dream of building a Boys Camp on the lake.
Founded in 1920, and still flourishing today, Camp Kawanhee
for Boys was built to teach young men leadership responsibilities
and outdoor living skills. As the Camp grew in popularity,
the brothers then designed and built the Kawanhee Inn
and Cabins to support the Camp’s growing staff.
Cabin #1 was the first Cabin built in the mid-twenties,
with the Main Lodge and Dining Room completed in 1929.
Since its inception, the Kawanhee Inn has gained tremendous
popularity as a rustic and tranquil retreat among Maine’s
beautiful Western Mountains. Surrounded by stunning scenery,
the Inn has been recognized nationally for its inherent
beauty and has even hosted international dignitaries such
as the Queen Sofia and Prince Felipe of Spain, as well
as, the German and Spanish Ambassadors to the United States.
Through its history the Inn has changed ownership only
three times. Following the Frank brothers were Walter
and Jane Easterbrook, former owners of the Boys Camp and
frequent guests to the Inn. The Inn was then sold to Martha
Strunk and Sturgis Butler who have successfully guided
the Inn over the last 20 years. Most recently, the Inn
was purchased by a small group led by Kawanhee alumni
Chris Huntington and wife Jodi Schimpf. Together, with
the support of the local Weld community and long time
patrons of the Inn, Chris and Jodi are looking forward
to many memorable years preserving this unique and special
place.
While the world has changed in many ways over the past
century, the Kawanhee Inn has remained a gem of the past.
With many authentic and historical buildings being lost
to overdevelopment and disrepair, it is a blessing that
the Kawanhee Inn has remained true to its character and
roots. We thank you for respecting the history and character
of the Inn and look forward to making your time here memorable.
