Foggy Pearl in Hancock

In Hancock, Maine, where spruce forest gives way to saltwater, sits The Foggy Pearl, a 40-acre coastal property with a storied past. Once a working lobster pound known as Garbo Lobster, the site has been restored and reimagined by owner John Maginel as a waterfront venue that honors its history while offering a refined space for celebrations.

“I hadn’t even been to Maine before finding this place,” John says. “But when I saw the property and what it could become, I knew it was worth the effort.” The purchase took more than a year and a half to finalize, and the restoration that followed was equally ambitious. The old bait barn is now an oyster bar, the lawns have been reshaped for receptions, and the original homes have been carefully updated to welcome guests.

The property features two houses: the historic Poundkeeper’s House, known as the Blue House, and a larger residence that sleeps up to eight guests. Each was designed to balance comfort with authenticity. “We wanted to preserve the working character of the place,” John says. “It needed to feel like coastal Maine, but with modern ease.”

The bar and pavilion, built from stone found on the property and reclaimed wood from John’s family farm in Illinois, carry forward that same sense of meaning. Beyond hosting weddings, John envisions The Foggy Pearl as a gathering space for community events and fundraisers.

“We’re a wedding venue,” he says, “but we hope to become something more, a place that connects people to this landscape and to each other.”

FAMOUS FOR:
Known for its sweeping views of Acadia, thoughtful restoration, and deep sense of place. Guests stay in beautifully renovated homes overlooking a two-acre island connected by a narrow walkway, surrounded by eagles, seals, and the sound of the sea.

ADDRESS:
126 Pound Rd in Hancock, ME

WEBSITE:
thefoggypearl.com

photos by Peter Logue