History of The Asticou
In 1604, French explorer Samuel de Champlain was brought by Wabanaki guides to the island he called ‘Isle des Mounts Deserts.’ The Wabanaki, who called the island Pemetic, meaning ‘range of mountains,’ were led by a local Sakom (Chief) known as Asticou.
Asticou is first mentioned in writing in a 1608 English document as head of an Indigenous village on the River of Mount Desert — later segmented and renamed Union River, Union Bay River and Blue Hill Bay. Five years later, Asticou appears in French records as the Sakom who welcomed the French to his summer village on the southeastern shore of Somes Sound.
In 1798, the Savage family settled on land at the head of Northeast Harbor. The family was industrious and multi-talented, working as seamen, fishermen, hunters, farmers, housekeepers, and lumbermen. They founded a homestead that would begin an enduring legacy in the region.
Three generations later, in 1854, Augustus Chase (A.C.) Savage and Emily Manchester Savage built their home atop a hill overlooking the harbor. In 1870, the Savages began housing boarders there, and so began our heritage of hospitality. The Savages’ original cottage is now known as Cranberry Lodge and is the oldest of the Asticou buildings in use today.
A.C. Savage foresaw that the rusticator boom, which was gaining momentum in Bar Harbor, would soon spill over to neighboring Northeast Harbor. The main Asticou Inn was constructed and began welcoming its first guests in 1884. The original building burned down in 1900, but it was rebuilt, grander than ever, and opened in the summer of 1901. Over the years, it has hosted some of America’s greatest social and political leaders. These high-profile guests would stay not just for days or weeks, but often for an entire summer. In Boston, Philadelphia, and New York, they would speak fondly of looking forward to “the season” on Mount Desert Island.
In 1941, when the United States was thrust into World War II, normal operations at the Asticou were suspended so that all could join the war effort. The Asticou was not reopened until 1946. In October of 1947, Mount Desert Island was ravaged by a terrible wildfire. Nearly 17,000 acres on the eastern half of the island were consumed in the blaze. Many of Bar Harbor’s great “cottages” were destroyed, as well as many of the grand hotels and restaurants. The towns of Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor were the only areas spared from this disaster.
During this period of the Asticou’s history, it was run by Charles and Katharine Savage, the third of their lineage to manage the Inn. In addition to being a dedicated Innkeeper, Charles Savage was a man of many skills and interests. He was an accomplished wood carver, and some of his carvings, the “Five Canterbury Pilgrims” can be seen on the mantel over the fireplace at the Northeast Harbor Library. He was also the chief landscape architect of the Azalea Gardens and Thuya Gardens, which can be visited across the street from the Asticou.
In the early 1960’s, both the Asticou and Kimball House, also in Northeast Harbor, were sold to the Asti-Kim Corporation. This group was composed of local business people and summer residents who wished to see the tradition of these grand hotels preserved for the future. As larger hotels fell out of favor with the advent of the roadside motel, it seemed only one of the two hotels could survive, so The Kimball House was torn down, leaving only the Asticou. It continued the Savages’ legacy of gracious hospitality on Northeast Harbor until it was recently closed for renovations and a magnificent transformation.
In 2025, this iconic destination reopens as The Asticou Hotel, sister property to The Claremont in Southwest Harbor. The Asticou is richly reimagined with decadent interiors, serene garden level suites overlooking the lush lawn and pool deck, spacious but cozy cottages, and thoughtfully landscaped grounds that weave the property into the natural beauty of the Maine coast and Northeast Harbor’s historic gardens.
In every aspect of The Asticou, legacy, luxury, and the breathtaking scenery of Maine come together to create a truly spectacular experience, and bring Northeast Harbor’s heritage of hospitality to new generations.