Step Back in Time at the Unique Maine Idyll Motor Court

There's a little out-of-the-way place to stay in the Freeport area only two miles north of Freeport's downtown, that looks like it hasn't changed since it opened in the 1930s. It's like a trip back in time to what Maine was like before Freeport became the downtown shopping mecca that it is today.

The Maine Idyll Motor Court has been a place for weary travelers for almost a century, and to this day, it is owned and operated by the Marstaller family.

I love how the place seems stuck in time, thanks to the neon sign, rustic cottages, and its location on an area of Route 1 that is not heavily developed.

Maine Idyll is an interesting name that many people might not know the meaning of. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, "idyll" refers to a very happy, peaceful, and simple situation or period of time. That seems to describe it perfectly.  Maine Idyll Motor Court says on its website that they have made updates:

All the cottages have been extensively updated while retaining much of the ambiance of an era that was simpler and more leisurely paced.

They have 20 cottages on-site, with varying amenities depending on the price. This one sleeps two comfortably.

This one has three bedrooms, a living room, a fireplace, a kitchenette with a microwave, a full bath, and sleeps six comfortably.

They allow pets, have grills and picnic tables, a play area for kids, and something they didn't have in the 1930s: free Wi-Fi.

Another interesting thing about the Maine Idyll Motor Lodge is that they have a billboard on the highway, even though billboards have been banned in Maine since 1978. Theirs remains, if you know where to look on I-295.  Do you see it?

Here's a better look.

There it is, near a marsh off I-295 before the Brunswick exit. It sits on what I assume is their property, as the Motor Court is right through the trees behind the sign.

You can learn more about Maine Idyll Motor Court and book a stay on their website.