[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMENDING LUCERNE INN

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, summer is finally upon us, and as 
people travel to Maine to discover and explore the pristine beauty of 
our State's outdoors, I rise to recognize a historic Maine lodging 
establishment that has hosted these travelers and adventurers for 
nearly two centuries. Located conveniently between Bangor and Bar 
Harbor in the small town of Dedham, the Lucerne Inn boasts fine dining 
and accommodations and a picturesque golf course complemented by a 
stunning view of beautiful Phillips Lake.
  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since June of 
1982, the inn is a legendary business with an impressive history. 
Indeed, Dedham's first family, the Phillips, built a family home called 
the Lake House in the early 1800s. John Phillips had been granted the 
land for his service in the American Revolution. Soon thereafter, in 
1814, the building became a halfway house, operating as a stagecoach 
stop between Bangor and Ellsworth, with guests partaking in food, 
spirits, and lodging. Indeed, today's Lucerne Inn is still housed in 
the original building built by the Phillips family. Later, during the 
1920s, the inn and the 5,000 acres around it were designed to be one of 
America's first planned communities. As such, the Maine Legislature 
created the village of Lucerne in 1927 to bring people to this 
beautiful region, but the economic troubles of the 1930s forced the 
idea to be scrapped.
  Given its prime location--less than an hour from the beautiful waters 
of Bar Harbor and the hiking trails of Acadia National Park--the 
Lucerne Inn offers visitors a true Maine get-away. A recipient of the 
2009 Bride's Choice Award, the inn offers professional service for a 
variety of occasions from weddings to business meetings and banquets, 
and provides a variety of travel packages to accommodate all budgets.
  Owners Steve and Rhonda Jones purchased the inn in August 2005. Steve 
had operated a convenience store and catering business in the 
Farmington area for 23 years, while Rhonda worked at the University of 
Maine at Farmington. Depending on the season, the inn employs between 
40 and 65 people. The inn has 26 rooms, plus an additional 5 guest 
rooms in a newer building. The banquet and conference center, built in 
1999, has become tremendously popular, hosting approximately 100 
weddings each year.
  The Lucerne Inn also makes dining out an event with a four-course 
meal in an elegant room with a scenic view from every window. Chef 
Douglas Winslow serves quality cuisine that encompasses brunch, a full 
dinner menu, and a seafood buffet, as well as a traditional broiled 
Maine lobster dinner, adding to the authentic Maine experience. The inn 
also hosts special wine dinners each month to showcase a diverse array 
of the world's greatest wines. In fact, just last Thursday evening, the 
inn hosted an Argentine-themed wine dinner, with a full five-course 
meal complemented by special wine from Argentina.
  The inn maintains a historical ambiance by furnishing every room with 
antiques. Most accommodations at the inn boast a view of the lake and a 
gas burning fireplace. That said, fine dining and accommodations are 
only a fraction of the Lucerne Inn experience. The inn also boasts a 9-
hole golf course conceived by famed course designer Donald Ross, as 
well as a large outdoor swimming pool and picturesque outdoor patios.
  At the Lucerne Inn, visitors and Mainers alike are afforded the 
chance to escape their daily routines and relax by enjoying the 
serenity of Maine's natural beauty. Whether for pleasure or business, 
the Lucerne Inn offers an authentic taste of Maine, something that is 
truly irreplaceable. I congratulate Steve and Rhonda Jones and all of 
the employees at the Lucerne Inn for exquisitely maintaining this gem 
of our State, and I offer my best wishes for their continued 
success.

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