Maple Crest Hotel [formerly]

The property at 424 Maplecrest Rd, Parsonsfield, ME 04047, USA, known historically as the Maple Crest Hotel , holds a multi-faceted and complex past that is more significant than its present status as a functioning hospitality establishment. While it is no longer operating as a hotel, its history and potential for future development make it a noteworthy location within the context of "Hotels Near Of Me" for those interested in historical properties or unique redevelopment opportunities in rural Maine.

Environment and Setting: Rural Maine's Enduring Landscape

The property is situated in Parsonsfield, a town in York County, Maine, characterized by its rural charm and natural beauty. Located about two miles southwest of East Parsonsfield Village, the building stands at a sharp bend in Maple Crest Road. The surrounding environment is typical of rural Maine, with abundant forests and a serene, secluded atmosphere. This setting has historically lent itself to various uses, from a peaceful summer retreat to a place of rehabilitation. The property itself is set on approximately 3 to 3.05 acres, surrounded by forest, offering a sense of privacy and a connection to nature. While there are no phone numbers associated with a current hotel operation, the former "Maple Crest Hotel" would have once leveraged this tranquil environment to attract guests seeking a quiet escape. Today, the enduring landscape still offers opportunities for outdoor activities typical of Maine, such as hiking and appreciating the seasonal changes, particularly the vibrant fall foliage. The property's rural location means it is part of a quiet community, offering a different kind of experience than a bustling urban center, appealing to those who appreciate peace and solitude.

Services and Features: A History of Transformation

The building at 424 Maplecrest Road has a long and varied history, originally built as a summer hotel in 1887. It could accommodate around 35 people and operated under names like "The Maple Crest" and later "Forest Lake House." During this period, it would have provided standard hotel services for summer visitors, leveraging its peaceful setting.

However, its function dramatically transformed over the decades:

• Sanitarium: After World War I, the property became "The Rest Land Sanitarium," a facility for treating veterans with lung diseases. It operated with a house doctor and graduate nurses, offering amenities like spacious covered sleeping porches for patients to sleep outdoors while protected from the weather. This period highlights its use as a healthcare facility, requiring specific services and infrastructure.
• Sportsmen's Lodge/Restaurant: In the late 1950s, after the sanitarium closed, it briefly served as a sportsmen's lodge, "Randall Mountain Lodge," and then as a restaurant around 1974-1975. This indicates its adaptability for various commercial ventures.
• Elan School Campus: Most notably, in 1975, the property was purchased by "Elan One Corp." and became a campus of the highly controversial Elan School. This school was a residential program for teenagers with behavioral problems, operating until mid-1981. This period of its history is particularly infamous, with allegations of severe abuse and controversial "confrontational therapy" practices. The building housed 60-80 teenagers and a staff of 26 during this time. The façade of the building was reportedly drastically changed, and a box-like structure was added to the front. The reviews provided ("Used to be one of the campuses of the disgustingly abusive Elan School") directly reflect this dark chapter in its history.

Currently, based on recent public records and comments, the property is not operating as a hotel or a school. There are mentions of it being used as a "marijuana grow house," which is a speculative comment in one review, and real estate listings indicate it was most recently sold as a "Single Family Residence" in 2021, emphasizing its "landmark property ready for your dreams and ideas" and suitability for "creating a business or housing opportunity." It features 24 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and over 10,000 square feet of space across 32 rooms, built in 1885. It has a stone/granite foundation, wood siding, and shingle roof. Interior features include a fireplace, tile and heavy-duty flooring, and an elevator (freight). The roof and windows have been replaced, suggesting some level of upkeep even during its vacant periods.

Current Status and Promotional Information: A Property with Potential

The "Maple Crest Hotel " is no longer a functioning hotel. Its primary "service" now is as a historical landmark and a property with significant potential for redevelopment. It is listed as "Closed" in real estate databases, having been sold in July 2021 for $140,000. Real estate descriptions highlight its vast space and potential for various uses, suggesting it could be transformed into:

• A large private residence.
• A multi-family housing unit.
• A business opportunity, such as a retreat center, an event venue, or even a return to hospitality in a new form, given its past as a hotel.
• A community center.

The mention of "roof and windows have been replaced" indicates that some foundational improvements have been made, making it potentially more appealing for future development. While the phone numbers provided ((401) 413-2037 and +1 401-413-2037) are associated with the "Rock House Mountain Reserve" in a prior context, they do not seem to be actively linked to the Parsonsfield property for general inquiries or bookings for a hotel. As such, direct booking or service inquiries for a "Maple Crest Hotel" would be futile, as it does not exist in that capacity. The property's appeal for local users within the "Hotels Near Of Me" category would primarily be for those interested in its historical significance, its substantial size for a large-scale project, or as a unique piece of real estate in a tranquil setting.

The property's past as the Elan School campus is a critical aspect of its identity, and any future development or public engagement would likely need to acknowledge and address this history. While the immediate vicinity is rural and peaceful, it's approximately an hour's drive from the Portland seacoast and within a half-hour of North Conway and its outlets, offering access to broader New England attractions for potential residents or business patrons. The property represents a rare and substantial opportunity for someone with a vision to transform a site with a compelling, albeit challenging, narrative into a new chapter for Parsonsfield, Maine.