Originally a village within the town of Wells, Ogunquit struck out on its own and incorporated as a town in 1980. The two towns still share schools via the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District. Ogunquit retained the name bestowed on it by the original native inhabitants, a word meaning “beautiful place by the sea”.
This tiny town has a year-round population of just over 1,500 people, with many, many more arriving for the summer months. Its area is approximately 4 square miles, making it one of the smallest communities in the region, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in just about everything else!
The 3.5 mile stretch of sandy beach and the unique interplay of natural light and color found here attracted artists beginning in the 1800s: in 1898 the Ogunquit Art Colony was established. Fishermen and lobstermen worked their trade alongside artists in the man-made tidewater basin of Perkins Cove, and the small village began catering to artists and tourists with hotels and inns.
Ogunquit was recently named one o.jpg)
f the 17 Best Beach Towns in America by Travel&Leisure. Despite its success as a resort destination, art is still an important part of its identity and the town boasts many art galleries and the Ogunquit Museum of American Art.
The town is also proud to be known as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly places in Maine, with many businesses in town gay-owned and operated. Alongside the thriving art galleries, Ogunquit has a large number of antique stores, boutiques, nightlife, jewelry stores, candy stores and much more.
Culture in Ogunquit isn’t limited to paintings and art galleries, however. Other venues include the Ogunquit Heritage Museum and the Ogunquit Playhouse. “America’s Foremost Summer Theatre”, the Playhouse opened in its current location in 1937 and from the beginning its productions rivaled those in contemporary New York City theaters. The Playhouse puts on new and classic musicals and plays with Broadway talent from spring until fall. The Leavitt Theater in the center of Ogunquit opened its doors in 1924, and is still pulling in audiences with live music and shows, and classic films on the big screen.
Ogunquit Beach - where the Ogunquit River flows out of the Rachel Carson Preserve and meets t
he Atlantic - is over three miles of pristine sandy beach, serviced by trolley.
This idyllic shoreline can be viewed via scenic boat tours as well as by a long walk on shore. If you don’t want to be on the water or get your feet sandy, the picturesque, paved Marginal Way cliff walk displays Ogunquit’s fine waterfront homes as well as endless ocean vistas.
You can't come to a seaside resort town in Maine and not try the food. Ogunquit packs more diverse restaurants into a small town than most, from delicious breakfast cafes to upscale sushi bars (and seafood restaurants galore, of course!) The Lobster Shack in Perkins Cove began in 1900 in a literal lobsterman’s shack, the Front Porch Piano Bar & Restaurant provides great dining and live music, and Angelina’s Ristorante is vegetarian-friendly, and has a wine bar. And don't forget the outdoor dining at the Ogunquit Lobster Pound!
In the winter, Ogunquit takes a bit of a rest, like most of coastal Maine. Long after all the trees have been trimmed and the halls have been decked for December's Christmas-by-the-Sea Festival, Ogunquit takes a deep breath and settles into the peaceful, quiet beauty of winter in New England. But if you need a getaway to somewhere more temperate, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is just 60 miles away, and trains and buses run daily from nearby towns to Boston, MA or Portland, ME.
Maine's youngest town is a fine place to live and play, especially for those interested in living a small-town life with big-time culture. Browse current homes for sale in Ogunquit, then give us a call at 1-207-351-8188 -- we'd love to introduce you to the year-round or seasonal home of your dreams.
Williams Realty Partners of Keller Williams Coastal and Lakes & Mountains is the #1 Keller Williams team in Maine. We strive to provide an exceptional experience to all our clients, whether they are buying, selling, or investing in New Hampshire or Maine real estate.