Lakeside living and seasonal camps define Belgrade
Life in Belgrade, a rural lake town in central Maine, offers a quiet setting surrounded by water and woods. With a year-round population of about 3,500, the town nearly doubles in size during the summer when seasonal residents return to their lakeside camps. Belgrade is home to seven lakes—known collectively as Belgrade Lakes—including Great Pond, Messalonskee Lake, Long Pond and Salmon Lake. Incorporated in 1796, Belgrade began as a mill town and later became a destination for fishermen and lake-goers after the railroad arrived in the 19th century. Notable seasonal visitors have included E.B. White, the author of Charlotte’s Web. “‘On Golden Pond’ was written about this area,” says Debra Cooke , a local Realtor with Lakehome Group Real Estate, referring to the play by Ernest Thompson. “The Belgrade Lakes region has a very nice character with such great community spirit. It explodes in the summer, but there’s still a big draw for people to live here year-round.” When not on the lake, many residents work in nearby Waterville, 15 miles away, or Augusta, 11 miles away.
Belgrade Lakes offer warm-weather recreation
Recreation in town centers around the lakes, which offer opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming. There are six public boat launches scattered across the region, some providing marina-style boat docking or sandy beach access into the water. Next to Great Pond Marina, the Belgrade Recreation Center provides activities for all ages. “They do sailboat lessons for kids, and its right on the lake so you can swim,” Cooke says. Several children’s summer camps are also located throughout the area, adding to the town’s seasonal energy. The Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, a public 18-hole golf course, provides another popular outlet for outdoor activity. “It’s set on a hill, and you can see both Great Pond and Long Pond. People will come from all over to play,” Cooke says of the course.
Housing styles range from cabins to private chalets
Housing in Belgrade reflects its lakeside charm and rural character, with a median sale price of around $630,000. Most homes are single-family, and about 86% of residents own their properties, contributing to a sense of residential longevity in the community. On the modest end, seasonal cottages as small as 300 square feet can be found for roughly $125,000. At the other extreme, lakefront chalets with over 4,000 square feet and private docks can exceed $2 million. In between, there’s a wide range of mountain-style log cabins, Cape Cods, raised ranch-styles and restored historic homes from the early 1900s, with varying price points. Because the southern Basin of Messalonskee Lake sits at a lower elevation, homes located in this area are at a higher flood risk.
The Village features eateries and summer events
Much of Belgrade’s retail and dining scene is located along State Route 27 on the northern peninsula between Great Pond and Long Pond. As the road travels north and turns into Main Street, a handful of boutiques and eateries cluster in an area coined The Village. HJ Blake’s for Goodness Sakes is a colorful shack serving lobster rolls, hot dogs and crab-cake sandwiches. Further north, Hello Good Pie offers breakfast pastries and coffee in a cozy cottage with patio seating. Sunset Grill provides a no-frills option for American-style meals throughout the day, and the lakefront Sadie’s Restaurant is open seasonally. For essentials and a mix of local goods, Day’s Store sells everything from grocery items and fishing bait to home goods and niche gifts. “It’s custom to get in your boat and drive up to Day’s Store to have your coffee and house-made sugar-dipped donut,” Cooke says.
A seasonal line-up of community events brings residents and visitors to The Village. Each Fourth of July, a boat parade travels between the lakes, and a landside parade winds down Main Street, followed by fireworks over the water. The Harvest Festival, held the weekend before Indigenous Peoples Day, features hayrides, pop-up tents from local establishments and live music. On Thursday evenings from July through September, the Village Green hosts a summer concert series. And on Sundays from June through September, the Belgrade Lakes Market sets up along Main Street to showcase locally made produce, sweets and crafts.
Nearby Messalonskee schools serve local students
Students can begin their education at Belgrade Central School, which holds an A-minus rating from Niche, which ranks it as the top public elementary school in Kennebec County. From there, students can move on to Messalonskee Middle School, rated a B, and then to Messalonskee High School, rated a B-minus. High schoolers can participate in a variety of clubs, including environmentally focused groups like the Greenhouse Club and Sustainability Club.
Route 27 connects Belgrade Lakes to Augusta
Belgrade is car-dependent, as no public buses or trains service the area. State Route 27 is the main artery running north-south through Belgrade, connecting the northern tip of town—known as Belgrade Lakes—to the southern end, which leads directly into Augusta.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
