History of Our Inn

Originally called Prospect House, Harbour Cottage was built near what was the steamboat landing on Clark’s Point in 1870 by Deacon Henry H. Clark. It was built as an expansion of The Island House, built in 1859 and the first summer hotel on Mt. Desert Island. Clark began his hotel business by taking in the first occasional tourists who came to the island for a short stay. He gradually enlarged his boarding house until he fully remodeled it in 1885. After Clark’s death, the Island House was torn down, but the Island House Cottage, as it was then called, remained.

Located adjacent to the original inn this stylish mansard-roof building gave the welcoming appearance of a fashionable home of the period. In his 1878 handbook of Mt. Desert, B.F. De Costa described the cottage as having “ twenty-two rooms, all well lighted and ventilated, furnished with spring beds. The halls and piazzas are wide and airy.”

Years later, the Island Cottage became a private residence serving as home to two prominent Southwest Harbor families for several decades before being completely remodeled in 2001 as a bed and breakfast. It was renamed The Harbour Cottage Inn, and almost a century after it first opened its doors to guests, they did so once more. The original “Island Cottage” sign still hangs in our second-floor hallway, tying together the generations of hospitality our inn has welcomed.

Owners & Innkeeper

In the fall of 2019, the dreams of owners Susan and Andrew Allen were realized when dear friends decided to sell their coveted Southwest Harbor inn. Having spent their early years together working as crew on a private yacht, hosting and meeting travelers was something they knew they’d want to return to one day, perhaps on land. Now with the help of their two daughters, they oversee the operations that the innkeeper, Lelah Cochran, lovingly manages for Harbour Cottage guests.

Lelah brings a thoughtful and welcoming presence to Harbour Cottage, shaped by her journey from working as a housekeeper to cooking in the kitchen to now leading the day-to-day operations of the inn. Her hands-on experience in every corner of the inn allows her to thoughtfully curate each stay—anticipating needs, maintaining a high standard of comfort, and creating an inviting atmosphere. Whether preparing breakfast each morning or sharing recommendations on her favorite island trails, Lelah’s genuine approach to hospitality make every visit feel personal and memorable.