Now that summer has started, Lyman-Morse says that its new waterfront development in Camden, Maine, one of the most desirable cruising destinations on the East Coast, is in full swing.
Lyman-Morse, based in Thomaston, Maine, decided to expand to Camden and create a new waterfront development, including a marina, restaurants, and even some crew quarters, in 2015. It bought about 33,000 square feet of marine service and commercial space and started major renovations, but things went south after a fire in 2020.
But now everything is open and ready. On the boating side, you now can reserve a mooring or a slip and enjoy amenities including a lounge area, high-speed Wi-Fi, showers, restrooms, laundry facilities and a ship’s store. Marine operations include carpentry, electronics, mechanical and rigging, if needed. If you want to stay on shore, there’s a Crew Quarters for short- or long-term accommodations.
Two new restaurants are open, and they’re next to each other on the working waterfront. The Salt Wharf Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, pictured here, offers stunning views of the Camden harbor and Penobscot Bay. It specializes in seafood with a raw bar and a regular bar on the rooftop.
Next door is Barren’s Distillery & Restaurant, featuring local spirits and cuisine in both an outdoor courtyard and indoor tasting room with wraparound windows. Just down the boardwalk, the Whistling Whale Coffee Bar is new this year. It has casual indoor seating with a bird’s-eye view of the harbor. Per its name, the Whistling Whale offers immersion-brewed coffee and baked goods prepared fresh each morning.
Motifs, a boutique store offering coastal-inspired goods to outfit your boat, your home, or yourself, just relocated from Portland and is now open. And Paper Plane, a boardwalk cocktail lounge and wine bar with tapas-style food, will open later this summer. It has some seating, and offers wine and food to go. Read more:
