About Us

History

This grand Italianate house was built in the early 1850's by Captain James B. Perkins during what was coined "The Halcyon Days of Bath." Captain James B. Perkins was a master mariner and held substantial investments in the Eastern Steamboat Company, of which Perkins was the initial director in 1869. The house was then sold in 1865 to Sea Captain Samuel B. Reed, who was later lost at sea in 1869. One hundred and fifty-five years later the house was purchased by Ken and Rachel where they meticulously restored it to its former beauty. For the past ten years, they have been offering this bed and breakfast as your home away from home.

Location

Located perfectly along Maine’s Mid-coast Route 1 corridor, Bath, Maine is the ideal location to explore all the Mid-coast region has to offer. Experience Freeport shopping, Rockland museums and Camden sailing via short trips through New England towns and sea side villages. Visit our coastal neighboring towns of Phippsburg and Georgetown to take in the pristine beaches or to hike to beautiful lighthouses and historic forts along the Kennebec River. Enjoy a short walk along un-crowded sidewalks to Bath’s many fine shops, galleries and restaurants that have helped define this shipbuilding town as Maine’s “Cool Little City”. Or, simply remain at the former home of one of Bath’s historic Master Mariners, and surrender to the Inn’s park-like grounds for a fresh seafood picnic over a good book or a poolside cocktail. 

Whether taking short trips, staying local, or never leaving the Inn at all, the Kennebec Inn Bed and Breakfast would love to help you enjoy your next trip to Bath, Maine.  Check out the wonderful video below by Tom Richardson at New England Boating. The video features many highlights of our wonderful city.

The Grounds

With on of the largest centrally located and privately owned plots of land in the Bath city-area, the Kennebec Inn Bed and Breakfast provides guests with convenience to town while still preserving privacy to enjoy the grounds. The Bed and Breakfast rests on a unique, park-like plot of land—dotted with lilac and thistle plants—where grass rolls out to the back woodline of weeping willow trees. Enjoying the grounds comes easy and is highly recommended as there are picnic areas to savor a meal or snack, an in-ground pool to take in the sun or swim, and an outdoor fire pit to cook your own New England lobster bake or simply relax with an evening cocktail by the fire.

The Breakfast

Awake to an early cup of fresh coffee enjoyed on the porch during the warmer months or by the wood burning fireplace during the winter months. Meanwhile, Rachel will be preparing one of her popular morning breakfast  dishes, such as a potato quiche, praline french toast, stuffed crepes or sweet potato frittata, just to name a few.

Mornings at the Bed and Breakfast are renowned for the sweet aromas of blueberry scones, pear ginger tarts and cinnamon rolls, as well as the savory aromas of bacon and sausage that often complement the three-course breakfast served on beautiful Blue Willow China. For the more health conscious, you will be delighted by the fresh fruit the Inn serves aligned with in-season varieties—strawberry and rhubarb in June, famous Maine blueberries in August, or fresh apples handpicked from Rachel’s favorite orchards in October.

Have special dietary requirements? No problem. Rachel spent 23 years in the culinary profession; she’ll ensure exacting dietary compliance. Just let her know before you arrive, and who knows, she may even prepare special treats for you to enjoy throughout the day.

Fresh brewed coffee is ready by 7:00 a.m., and breakfast is served in one seating at 8:00 am. If you will need to eat earlier or later or have a special request, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Your Hosts

Rachel, the primary Innkeeper, was born in the great state of Maine where she sent most of her life. Through their love of horses, Rachel and Ken met in the summer of 1967 and married two years later. As their relationship and family grew, they discovered a great interest in home building and restoration, which they aggressively pursued while raising their two boys. Altogether they built one camp, four houses, and conducted three house restorations. Most of which included gatherings around card tables illuminated by pony tail light fixtures while sitting on mud buckets for chairs at dinner time.

During the early years of house building, Rachel attended Southern Maine Technical College to study Nutrition and Food Management. Upon graduation, Rachel and the family moved to Connecticut where she served as Food Service Supervisor and Consultant for Health Care Associates of Connecticut. While there, she managed a fantastic team that was able to creatively provide her clients outstanding food quality while adhering to strict guidelines for therapeutic diets. After working with this great company for eight years, Rachel and her family moved back to Maine.

Upon returning to Maine, Rachel held a position for the next seven years as the Director of Food and Dining Services at the Highlands Retirement Community in Topsham, Maine. As Director, Rachel led the operations of two large kitchens, three dining rooms and a staff of thirty five. Leveraging years of experience, a great executive chef, several other chefs and a dedicated staff, Rachel and her team prepared and served over two hundred meals daily, as well as all food and dining related marketing events for upward of three hundred guests at times.

After the kids left the nest, Rachel retired from the culinary profession and her and Ken decided to venture out in a new direction. They wanted to combine their love for Maine, architecture, hospitality and fine food by opening a Bed and Breakfast. Ken and Rachel sold their residential home in pursuit of an old house with history and restoration needs.

After much work, their Bed and Breakfast—the former home of one of Bath’s most prominent shipbuilders—opened its doors to their first guest in 1997. Welcome to the W.T. Donnell House! Rachel and Ken’s hard work paid off as they were awarded the Sagadahoc Preservation Certificate of Excellence for making a significant contribution to historic preservation to the City of Bath. After several years of helping guests enjoy the beautiful state of Maine, Ken and Rachel sold the Bed and Breakfast to one of their former guest and friend who purchased it as his private residence.

Again, hungry to tackle a new project, Ken and Rachel ventured out in pursuit of another old house in Bath destined to become their Bed and Breakfast. They landed just a mile up the street to what is now known as the Kennebec Inn. They purchased the old Captain Perkin’s home and started massive restoration in January 2005. By October, after investing heavily into restoration efforts, they opened their doors to their first guest. Since then, they have continued their restoration of the carriage house with the latest completion of two lovely guest rooms. Still going strong, Ken and Rachel enjoy every day they get to open their doors to greet a new guest, or say hello to old friends, and share with them a love for Maine while they relax…you're at the Kennebec Inn.