Rome offers lakefront living and hiking areas in central Maine
Loon calls and motorized boats are common sounds in Rome, a small community in Maine’s Belgrade Lakes region that offers miles of waterfront homes with private docks and scenic views. “Great Pond is one of the larger lakes, and it’s just beautiful. It has a marina and you can drive your boat to restaurants on the water,” says Debra Cooke, an associate broker with Lakehome Group Real Estate who grew up in the area. “The Kennebec Highlands go through there, so there are lots of beautiful, well-maintained hiking trails.” Belgrade Lakes Village, which sits between the Great Pond and Long Pond, is the commercial and social hub for the region, and Augusta and Waterville are within 20 miles.
Water recreation, hiking trails and winter-time fun
Great Pond and Long Pond provide ample opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming. Waterfront residents can enjoy the ponds from private docks and beaches, and there are also public places to access the water, like Rome Town Beach on Great Pond and Long Pond Beach in Belgrade Lakes Village. Great Pond Marina offers rentable boat slips and has a fuel dock. “You can drive your boat up and get gas instead of hauling it yourself,” Cooke says. The Kennebec Highlands is a protected area of hilly terrain and forest with popular hiking trails like Round Top and Sander’s Hill. Nearby, the public Belgrade Lakes Golf Club offers an 18-hole course with elevated views of the surrounding ponds. Though winter here can be cold and snowy, residents still enjoy the ponds and trails by ice skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The popular ski areas of Sugarloaf Mountain and Saddleback Mountain are both roughly 53 miles away.
Waterfront homes and properties hidden in the woods
Many of the ranch-style houses, Cape Cods and cabins here are on the water, with private docks or ones shared with neighbors. Homes with waterfront views typically cost between $750,000 and $1.7 million, with custom luxury homes costing more. “The lakefront is competitive,” Cooke says. “It has not come down at all since the pandemic because there are limited properties on the lake. It’s a desirable community, but there are a lot of affordable homes in Rome that are still accessible.” Homes farther from the water typically include more acreage, allowing room for detached garages and storage sheds. These are often surrounded by trees and are close to the area’s hiking trails. Prices here can range from around $220,000 to $610,000. Cooke says that while many of Rome’s properties are used as vacation homes, remote work has caused more people to live here full-time. “Although it’s a rural area, the internet service is still very good,” she says. Some properties are at risk of flooding; homeowners should check flood maps to assess their risk and determine if they’ll need to buy flood insurance.
Regional School Unit 18 serves the area
Kids attend schools in Regional School Unit 18, which earns an overall rating of B from Niche. They can start at Belgrade Central, which earns an A-minus and is ranked as the best elementary school in Kennebec County. Messalonskee Middle earns a B, and Messalonskee High earns a B-minus. High schoolers can join over 25 clubs, including the photography club, the robotics team and the jazz band.
Belgrade Lakes Village offers restaurants and boat parking
Belgrade Lakes Village, the closest commercial area, is on a narrow strip of land with Long Pond on one side and Great Pond on the other. Both ponds have areas where residents can park their boats and then walk to the village's restaurants; street parking is also available. The Village Inn and Tavern has served the area since 1921 and is known for its 12-hour roasted duck. Day’s Store has been run by the same family for four generations; it offers groceries, a meat and seafood counter, and a café serving sandwiches and pizza. From June to September, the weekly Belgrade Lakes Market brings in vendors selling locally sourced produce and crafts. Grocery stores like Hannaford and national retailers like Walmart are in Waterville and Augusta.
Summer events include a concert series and a boat parade
The Belgrade Village Green hosts regular events, including the Thursday-night Village Green Concert Series from late June through August. “We have a very strong Fourth of July in the Belgrade Lakes area. It starts in the morning with an antique boat parade,” Cooke says. “It’s a whole day, and people come from all over.” The event includes live music, another parade on the road through Belgrade Lakes Village and fireworks over Long Pond.
A car-reliant community about 30 minutes from Augusta and Waterville
State Route 27 is the main road through Rome, leading about 20 miles to Augusta. State Route 225 leads roughly 17 miles to Waterville. Both drives take around 30 minutes, and both cities are home to MaineGeneral Medical Center campuses. Houses of worship here include Rome Baptist Church, and more options are in Belgrade Lakes Village. Bangor International Airport is roughly 72 miles away, and Portland International Jetport is a 77-mile trip.
Written By
Annie Franklin
