The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery
33 Birch Ave, Ellsworth, ME 04605-1806
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About
#1 of 3 B&Bs / Inns in Ellsworth
Location
3.8
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.2
Value
3.8
The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery, opened for business in August 2016, is a recently renovated inn / bed & breakfast / boutique hotel. Most rooms provide a fridge, microwave, Cable TV, free WiFi, writing desk, one bed, a private bathroom, and a free breakfast. We are located in downtown Ellsworth, Maine, about a half hour from Acadia National Park. Room sizes, bed sizes, and availability vary.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Microwave
Refrigerator
Complimentary toiletries
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
Full view
59Somewhat walkable
Grade: 59 out of 100
23Restaurantswithin 0.75 miles
13Attractionswithin 0.75 miles
Contact
33 Birch Ave, Ellsworth, ME 04605-1806
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We were so grateful to find somewhere to stay in Ellsworth in late July at the last minute. The accommodation was clean, comfortable and well equipped and the breakfast was generous. The central location perfect. We were late arriving by a day due to a flight cancelation and Barb kindly waived the fees for our first night - an incredibly kind gesture that was much appreciated at the time. The Sanctuary was a Godsend to us and very good value for all it provides. A big thank you to Barb!
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Date of stay: August 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
The Sanctuary BnB is such a friendly place that we've stayed here 3 times this year when visiting Acadia. We enjoy the short drive down to Bar Habour and Barb has the best rates anywhere! BEST RATES in all of Ellsworth and Bar Harbour! The Sanctuary really is like a small intimate hotel with a private bathroom in every room. If you're expecting " high end" and fancy; it's not but what The Sanctuary is tho- it's clean, affordable, hospitable and although they are not able to serve a "hot breakfast", they have a lovely assortment of breads, hard boiled eggs, muffins, cereals, juices, always a cake. Plus tea, coffee, etc. We most certainly will be back and consider this lovely Owner/Manager/Innkeeper our new friend. Thank you for your lovely hospitality Barb!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
This was a highlight on our trip. The place was awesome! Barb the owner was so nice and accomidated us in every way! Large rooms, great location, The Artwork was amazing!!! Good location for traveling to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Yes, it's clearly a renovated nursing home. Who cares? What matted to us was the extraordinary friendly staff, spotless room, free breakfast, and comfortable bed. We cannot wait to come back. Shout out the The Sanctuary Inn staff for hosting us.
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Date of stay: August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This was formerly a nursing home - yes, a nursing home - only minimally improved since it was decommissioned and sold. It has little in the way of furnishings in the room. At least it was clean. The overhead fluorescent light was unpleasant. The window air conditioner prevented our opening the window for fresh air, since the unit would fall out and we would be charged $400, as stated on the window. Check-in and front desk attendance are limited. If you want an ADA-compliant facility, this is it. But that's about the best one can say for it. Perhaps at half the rate it might be minimally acceptable. But I might still need an antidepressant pill after. And the art ? It is all over...and frightening.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I had a pretty bad experience here. This place used to be a nursing home, and it shows. It still looks and feels very much like a nursing home and was actually kind of creepy. My room did not look like the pictures. It was tiny and hard to get around in (constantly had to step over suitcases, etc); the bed was very small, basic, thin and very uncomfortable, like a child's bed with zero frills; I could not get a decent shower because it was so small (and I'm a petite woman); the air conditioner was so loud I could not sleep (between this and the uncomfortable bed, I slept horribly the whole time); the air conditioner leaked water, so every time I stepped out of the bathroom (where the AC is located), I stepped in a puddle of water. The room is extremely basic with no good mirrors (making it very difficult to get ready) and with a large, awful, doctor's office-looking fluorescent light overhead. There was no night stand to set my phone or anything else on. There are no curtains on the windows and the sun apparently comes up at like 4:30 a.m in Maine, and it woke me up extremely early every morning. One day I walked in and the entire place smelled like a toilet. The TV didn't work and the owner was not helpful, saying she didn't know how to work it (so we had no TV the entire time). The outside is dirty and needs a good painting and pressure washing. We were there for 3 nights and there was no room service the whole time (cleaning room, taking out trash, bringing in new towels). Oddly, we came in one evening and there was a pad of paper and pencil sitting on the desk that neither me nor my husband owned; conclusively, someone else was in the room but hadn't done any type of cleaning. This was really, really disappointing and actually kind of ruined my whole trip, which was for my wedding anniversary. Definitely do not stay here if you are a couple looking for a nice getaway--this is not a place for couples to stay. This is apparently what one gets for being cheap and not wanting to spend $300 on a hotel room in the Acadia vicinity. It was also pretty far from Acadia -- about 30 min -- which I knew ahead of time and didn't really bother me, but on top of everything else, it didn't help matters. The only positive I can say is the breakfast options (assortment of cold items, such as cereal, donuts, cakes, packaged oatmeal, fruit) and wi-fi connection were fine.…
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
This is a decently affordable option on your way to/from Acadia, but if you’re not interested in sleeping in a converted rehab/medical facility, I would stay away. There has been a clear effort to spruce up the place with smart TVs and new showers. However, unpainted wood trim and ongoing work makes it clear that this place is very much a work in progress. Furthermore, the harsh lights, huge hallways, and medical sinks make it hard to shake the feeling that you’re sleeping in the same bed as old Aunt Sylvia. We appreciated that a basic breakfast was included, WiFi was good, and the room was clean. However, if you’re looking for a cute/homey B&B, we would not recommend staying here.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Kevin B, Owner at The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery
Responded Aug 25, 2019
We appreciate reading that you recognized that we were "a decently affordable option" and that you appreciated our breakfast, WiFi, and cleanliness. While we "could" narrow the wide hallways you complained about, we find that the hallways are more conducive to our art displays than a more standard hallway width. Thank you for the feedback.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Writing this review is a little difficult as there were things we really liked and things we really didn't about The Sanctuary. Pros: good location to visit Acadia National Park; very reasonable price; comfortable bed; great WiFi signal; very clean room with what appeared to be all new bathroom fixtures; plentiful breakfast offerings although none of the staff mentioned to us that there were hot items in crock pots on the coffee bar so we missed them. (We are not coffee drinkers so we never visited the bar to discover them for ourselves.) We also really appreciate the creative repurposing on an old building. Cons: no storage space for anything - no closet (hooks on wall with a handful of hangers were provided), no chest of drawers or armoire, no towel racks or shelves in bathroom; fluorescent overhead light made the room feel clinical; hair dryer not provided - I overlooked this fact when researching for our reservation so it was not promised but it's a hospitality offering that's become pretty standard. All in all our experience felt more like we were staying in a hostel than what we normally find at a B&B. We understand that the owners are still in the process of renovating so maybe the storage and lighting problems will improve.…
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Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Kevin B, Owner at The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery
Responded Jul 23, 2019
We are pleased that you really liked some things about our place, like our location, price, bed, cleanliness, etc. As to the lack of storage space, each room is different and some have more storage than others. Unfortunately, due to the repurposing of an old building, we had to sacrifice closet space in exchange for shower space (showers are all new). We may yet find a way to reincorporate more in-room storage, but "one thing at a time", as the saying goes. Hair dryers are also available in some rooms and available at the front desk for other rooms. If you don't find a hair dryer, but need one, please ask.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
(first comment - I was not happy to read about someone giving their daughter a difficult time. their daughter is pleasant, talk to the owners if you have issues.) The owners are offering the best that they can. Major renovations are being done. I won't mention renovations that I wish were done, for the major ones might still be being paid for. I picked this location because it cost less than other options that I saw online at the time of booking. I think other locations wanted twice as much due to the season. Next, my wife has opinions, and she never complained. I knew the background of the B&B, she did not. She never mentioned anything odd. Neither of us notice bad smells. We did not have an uncomfortable bed. Yes, it is obviously a medical building. The doors are large. Our room had a sink that you would see in a doctor office. Noise does travel. However, my wife slept well (I had a few minor renovation issues that I won't mention). Our TV had Netflix and Hulu, but it required an account. That is okay, there is satelite TV and you don't need Netflix and Hulu. We must have stayed "in season". There were eggs and sausage for breakfast. Other than that, there was a large selection of pastries, breads, cereals, fruit, yogurt, juices, creamers and milk. Excellent breakfast. The location is good. Use a GPS, as it will offer better routes to Acadia. On that note, it does take a while to make a left onto the major road to Acadia.…
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Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Kevin B, Owner at The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery
Responded Aug 25, 2019
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Yes, renovations to date are still being paid for and there are still things we want to get done. We are pleased to read that you found the bed comfortable. All of our room TVs are either smart TVs or have a streaming device attached. Our TV service is cable, rather than satellite. While many of the smart TV apps are subscription based, not all are. We are also pleased to read that you appreciated the wide variety at breakfast. Regarding traffic issues: please feel free to inquire as to best route to take. Both left and right turns at the intersection you refer to can take quite some time, especially in peak season, but there are other options we could have guided you to.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It was a terrible experence. Bed thin uncomfortable sheets did not fit the bed. Room not made up, during the day, no clean towels. When I asked for clean towels, I was accused of attacking their child...(woman in her 20's) Than the owner (wife) came out and attacked me, told me if I was not happy to leave. When I suggested that they tell the guests to put a sign out if they want clean towels they threatened to call the police .
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Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$162 - $162 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesMaineDownEast and Acadia MaineEllsworth
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery
Which popular attractions are close to The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery?
Nearby attractions include Atlantic Art Glass (0.4 miles), Rooster Brother Coffee Roasters (0.4 miles), and The Grand (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery?
Conveniently located restaurants include Riverside Cafe, Finn's Irish Pub, and Sylvia's Cafe.
Is The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the center of Ellsworth.
Are there any historical sites close to The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Woodlawn Museum (0.8 miles).
Is The Sanctuary Inn and Art Gallery accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.