The Ark

The Ark Known as Pilgrim's Inn from 1977–2026. We are historic inn featuring waterfront dining and overnight stays in Deer Isle, Maine.

Overlooking picturesque Northwest Harbor and our tranquil mill pond, Pilgrim’s Inn on Deer Isle, is the perfect place to experience Downeast Maine at its best. Built in 1793, our historic post and beam Maine inn welcomes you with an ambiance and warmth of a bygone era. Lovingly restored and meticulously maintained, the inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of In

ns Along the Coast of Maine. Twelve rooms and three cottages offer you a range of lodging options to best meet your needs from mid - May through mid - October. Our location on beautiful Deer Isle Maine in Penobscot Bay will offer you unlimited activities to fill your day. From kayaking our rocky shoreline, to eating fresh lobster, exploring our many art galleries or just relaxing in a comfortable Adirondack chair, you’ll find out why Deer Isle has enticed visitors to this area for generations.

We are excited to announce our Chef in Residence series begins on June 19th. Over the course of the season, we’ll have f...
06/07/2026

We are excited to announce our Chef in Residence series begins on June 19th. Over the course of the season, we’ll have four residencies with five chefs who will bring diverse perspectives and vibrant flavors to this slice of Maine’s incredible bounty.

Kicking off our series is Lucy Gibson, a Brooklyn based chef who stayed with us as guest last fall. We are thrilled to welcome her back to The Ark as a member of our team. A graduate of Brown University and the Culinary Institute of America, Lucy was the Executive Chef at Rockefeller Center’s Jupiter, and the Sous Chef at King, considered one of New York’s best restaurants by The New York Times.

Chef Lucy’s menu will run through July 16th, combining a love of relaxed, European home-cooking with nods to her family’s Southern heritage. Snag a reservation so you don’t miss a joyful menu that will celebrate all the deliciousness this time of year has to offer.

In the meantime, join us in the Dining Room or Tavern for local favorites and new additions to our team’s menu.

Illustration by

Two good reasons to enjoy our new landscaping this Thursday—and every Thursday: pizza and oysters. Our Thursday pop-ups ...
06/01/2026

Two good reasons to enjoy our new landscaping this Thursday—and every Thursday: pizza and oysters.

Our Thursday pop-ups start this week, featuring wood-fired pizzas from Deer Isle’s own as well as a rotating oyster raw bar brought to you by a selection of Maine oyster farms. On the first Thursday of each month, will be serving delicious, local oysters. And we’ll be running a full bar program.

Join us on Thursday from 5–8:30pm for a bite and beverage. No reservations required.

We are thrilled to welcome our team, guests, and community back to The Ark. While we've restored a name rooted in histor...
06/01/2026

We are thrilled to welcome our team, guests, and community back to The Ark. While we've restored a name rooted in history, many hands have been at work refreshing this special slice of Deer Isle.

New walkways make for more accessible approaches to the inn and restaurant, and the reintroduction of native species like birch and blueberry anchor us in this place. Our landscape architects from We Are STIMSON and contractors at Northwoods Granite and Landscapes made sure every new addition to our grounds felt as natural and meant to be as possible.

Long before Deer Isle was famous for lobster, the island was known for its granite. Thanks to a generous donation by Mark Cormier, The Ark's new landscaping incorporates stone from here.

It takes a village to create a place as special as this, and we are lucky to have partners who share our vision for a more accessible and sustainable Ark.

We’re working on making The Ark more accessible and are on the hunt for Deer Isle granite.Seems like there’s plenty of g...
04/15/2026

We’re working on making The Ark more accessible and are on the hunt for Deer Isle granite.

Seems like there’s plenty of granite on Deer Isle until you actually want some.

We’re looking for large offcuts, leftovers, or forgotten blocks that might be waiting for a new purpose. It feels right to build with what’s already here.

If you have extra granite blocks you’d be open to parting with, we’d love to give them a new life here at The Ark.

Delighted to be featured in the Stylish Getaways issue—especially as we’re refreshing the inn’s interiors and landscapi...
04/08/2026

Delighted to be featured in the Stylish Getaways issue—especially as we’re refreshing the inn’s interiors and landscaping for the season ahead.

The piece focuses on our Chef in Residence series and the chefs who shape each moment here. We have one residency spot still open for this season—if it speaks to you, we’d love to connect. DM us or email [email protected].

Words by
Images by
Food by and chefs in residence and

Meet Jeremy Hansen, Head Chef at The Ark.Chef Jeremy brings a deep commitment to community to his work—grounded in servi...
04/03/2026

Meet Jeremy Hansen, Head Chef at The Ark.
Chef Jeremy brings a deep commitment to community to his work—grounded in service, care, and a belief that food can nourish whole communities. His approach is rooted in going deep: building real relationships with farmers, fishermen, and makers, and letting the seasons guide what’s on the plate.
He leads the kitchen at the inn and is shaping our Chef in Residence series—welcoming other chefs into The Ark and weaving their perspectives into the story of this place.
A dad, a mentor, and someone who believes a meal can do more than feed you—it can connect you to place and stay with you.
We’re really happy he’s here, and we can’t wait to share what makes this place so delicious again in our second season.
Dinner reservations will open in the weeks ahead—keep an eye here for more.

Starting today, Pilgrim’s Inn will once again be known as The Ark.The more time we’ve spent with the inn—and on Deer Isl...
03/04/2026

Starting today, Pilgrim’s Inn will once again be known as The Ark.

The more time we’ve spent with the inn—and on Deer Isle—the deeper our reverence has grown for the history and culture of this place.

“The Ark” began as the island’s nickname for this large home surrounded by water. In the 1800s, when Rebecca and Lizzie Haskell first welcomed guests here, it became the inn’s official name.

We’re restoring that original name because it beautifully reflects our vision: a place that holds many things—a wide range of guests, meaningful experiences, and creativity in all its forms.

That spirit guides how we hope to steward the inn: caring for a historic building, welcoming guests, and staying connected to the community around us.

Pilgrims are still very much welcome.

This is Phil.Last fall, while staying at the inn, he noticed architectural details that reminded him of his own restored...
03/02/2026

This is Phil.

Last fall, while staying at the inn, he noticed architectural details that reminded him of his own restored 1750 Haskell home.

Phil’s invitation to visit came as our own curiosity about the Haskell family was growing, leading us from the Deer Isle–Stonington Historical Society to an overnight stay in The William Haskell House in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Ignatius Haskell, William’s great-great-great grandson, built his home in Deer Isle in 1793. A prominent figure in the community, Ignatius reminds us—like many innkeepers who precede us—that caring for this place extends beyond its four walls.

History has a way of connecting people. Across centuries, and through shared stewardship of historic homes, we’re grateful to be part of something larger than ourselves.

We came to run an inn and found ourselves becoming students of its history.

We’ve been quiet on here, but we’re not hibernating this winter. Our energy has been poured into the inn—taking advantag...
02/15/2026

We’ve been quiet on here, but we’re not hibernating this winter. Our energy has been poured into the inn—taking advantage of the slower months to step back, gain perspective, and shape what comes next with intention.

A recent trip to Oaxaca reminded us that craft transcends cultures. The looms lining family workshops and open courtyards brought to mind just down the road from the inn—different landscapes, shared ways of working.

We didn’t just bring back textiles. Our travels sparked new conversations with artisans as well as chefs—we’re shaping this year’s Chef in Residency series.

We’re looking forward to the season ahead, to new textures, bright flavors, and fresh energy layered onto the foundation we began building last year.

That’s us, a week before opening the Inn last May, with rhubarb stalks from our garden. This hardy perennial is one of t...
12/17/2025

That’s us, a week before opening the Inn last May, with rhubarb stalks from our garden. This hardy perennial is one of the first things to come back after a long Maine winter. That’s us taking a leap, starting something new.

This season brought us talented people we could learn and grow alongside. Now we’re looking for leaders who will keep growing with us, and the Inn, for the long term.

We’re hiring a Head Chef, an Inn Manager, and a Front of House Manager. If you’re hardy, perennial, and interested in taking a leap, then consider joining our team.

Visit pilgrimsinn.com/joinus for details.

Address

20 Main Street
Deer Isle, ME
04627

Opening Hours

Monday 4pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday 4pm - 8:30pm
Thursday 4pm - 8:30pm
Friday 4pm - 8:30pm
Saturday 4pm - 8:30pm
Sunday 4pm - 8:30pm

Telephone

+12073486615

Website

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