Lark Hotels has opened the AWOL Kennebunkport. This second AWOL location (the first debuted in Provincetown in 2018) features the historic Captain Walker house with six suites, 11 new cabin suites, and grounds featuring centuries-old pine, elm, balsam fir, and birch trees, along with wild Maine blueberry bushes, ferns and other native flora.
Formerly the Maine Stay Inn, the hotel is a departure from the expected and traditional Kennebunkport accommodation. The rustic cabin exteriors, juxtaposed with the modern interiors, featuring all natural materials, helps accentuate the natural beauty of the wooded setting. Massachusetts-based design firm Elder & Ash outfitted the hotel with modern, understated comfort that accents the Maine woods’ natural beauty. Rooms and cabin suites are sultry and relaxed in a natural, no frills way with a color palette of sandy neutrals, grassy earth tones, and white and gray accents. Custom white oak beds and built-in sectionals, gas fireplaces with cement surrounds, and art by Brooklyn painter Alex Soffer are the centerpieces of each suite.
Photo: Read McKendree