Is Big Squam Waterfront---Sleeps 12 pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet.

Where is Big Squam Waterfront---Sleeps 12 located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is steps from Squam Lake, and within 3 mi (5 km) of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and Little Squam Lake. Holderness Historical Society is 2.5 mi (4 km) away.

Big Squam Waterfront---Sleeps 12 Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bryan L.

Aug 11, 2022

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic and Family Friendly

We throughly enjoyed our stay. We an issue arose, Tom (handyman) responded when in minutes. I would stay again, my wife won't because. Spiders and cobwebs everywhere in and out. Spiders on covered porch where quite large. My thoughts were that was why there were so few mosquitoes. No shower in main house even an outdoor shower would have been nice. For me I

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ryan G.

Sep 7, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place to simplify life and recharge

Timeless camp like a place out of time. We stayed with 3 children and an infant, were joined by cousins and grandparents, and everyone had a splendid time. The house and schoolhouse gave us plenty of space. We loved evening fires in the fireplaces. Kids loved jumping off the dock and swimming to the raft. It was a wonderful way to clear our heads and enjoy the lake.

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Barbara and Hugh M., Rochester ny

Jul 16, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorable week on Squam

Our family had a wonderful week at Camp Penowee! The very best thing was to be right on pristine Squam Lake. Having access to a raft, kayaks and a canoe added to the fun. We also very much appreciated the huge porch where we ate all our meals. There are no houses nearby and having two buildings available gives a sense of space and privacy. (We certainly made use of the pool table and games in the school house.) I had been concerned before we arrived that the kitchen might be pretty small for cooking for so many. But the kitchen is bigger than it looks in the picture online. And it is stocked with everything you need. I was really happy to see that there was a second refrigerator in the school house. The property manager was extremely helpful answering emails right away. I felt very free to ask all kinds of questions beforehand. Keep in mind that this is a rustic old style camp. If you require up to date, spa-resort type facilities, this is not for you. But if you like history, privacy, natural beauty and proximity to one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere consider this camp in Holderness.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gil B.

Jul 11, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Grand Old Camp Right On The Shore

Rustic camp right on the water with lots of great spaces inside, a fantastic main room, with a fireplace that we used several times (was one of the coldest, wettest weeks in July that NH had seen in a long time). Owner was great about getting back to me whenever I had questions, and dispatching help as needed. I am hopeful to return next year and that the grill will be working a bit better (handyman did a major effort trying to revive) or I will resort to charcoal. Loved the canoe as well, a vintage Gruman in fantastic shape. The paddles were all in pretty poor shape, but did not have a chance to mention that to the owner since we only got good canoe weather the last day. Sunfish was broken so that was too bad, especially since it might not be possible to get parts before even next year (rest of the boat looked in great shape). Owner was great about arranging linens and house towels for us. We fly in from across the country, so bringing linens/towls/etc would be pretty awkward. Definitely helped to have those sitting there waiting for us when we arrived.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Jul 21, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome

The property was lovely - house and lakefront. The history within the house added to the experience. Squam Lake is truly special. The owner couldn't have been easier to ask questions of and responded with answers very quickly. Our family made many new memories. There was no need to leave the property all week.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

6/10 Okay

Foster W., West Lebanon

Jul 15, 2020

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memory maker family stay on Big Squam

Classic large Squam camp which can easily accommodate large family. Private with much room for children and family dog. Great exposure with sun on the dock most of the day. Good fishing in Shadbush cove and frequent bird sightings, eagles, egrets, duck families and herons. Family had a wonderful time.

10/10 Excellent

Pat H.

Nov 8, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Step back in time

My family had a wonderful time in big Squam lake and especially in Camp Penowee. The harkens back to a simpler time. Every inch a piece of history! We had plenty of room to spread out and relax. Evenings were perfect sitting out on the deck, listening for the loons. Great camp, beautiful spot!

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Steve W.

Oct 25, 2016

Authentic Squam Lake Camp Lodge and Schoolhouse

Penowee is one of the original, authentic Squam Lake camps built around the turn of the century. Since it was constructed as a summer camp for a private school, the main lodge is located directly on Big Squam waterfront, literally ten feet from the lake. In addition to the main lodge, which has three bedrooms, a large living room, a kitchen, bathroom and a beautiful front porch, the property also includes a schoolhouse with many bedrooms upstairs (including a full bathroom with shower) and a large game room downstairs, which is perfect for guests and for teenage kids who enjoy having their own space, etc. Given its age, Penowee is in very good condition, and while rustic, it is very comfortable and includes all of the basic amenities for a summer stay on the lake. The owners are very helpful and there is a caretaker for the property who is readily available in case of any issues. The setting is pretty private, on a very nice cove for swimming, fishing, and other water sports. The location is close enough to town to be convenient, and far enough away to be a bit out in the woods, with full sun during most of the day. The property is set back enough to be shady on a warm summer day and we spent a great deal of time on the amazing porch for meals and family time together. The main house and schoolhouse can accommodate a large group or family easily and is perfect for a family reunion or family vacation with the kids and grandparents. This property is also dog friendly, and we were able to bring our dogs, which was a great plus and a rare thing on Squam, where many properties are not pet friendly. The kitchen includes all of the basic amenities, wide variety of cooking gear, and the largest frying pan you will ever see. There are two bathrooms in the property, including one in the main house and one in the schoolhouse that includes a shower--hot water was plentiful and there is also a washer/dryer. The dock out front is great and very convenient for swimming, sunning, or just reading or chilling by the water. There is a float with at diving ladder as well, and we docked our rental motorboat there with no issues. Fishing on the cove is very good and kids can catch fish from the dock. The owners were a pleasure to deal with. Good place to go for a real On Golden Pond experience where you can disconnect from the real world and really take advantage of what Squam Lake has to offer. We enjoyed our week long stay and hope to return.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Tracey S., New Hampshire

Sep 8, 2015

Great location but house needs attention

This house has so much potential. Squam lake is beautiful and quiet and this house is in a great spot. The water is crystal clear. Our family had 5 adults & 4 kids stay here. We enjoyed sitting on the dock and the kids had a great time swimming. We also liked the big porch on back overlooking the lake. We brought kayaks and enjoyed going out and seeing loon families. Our biggest concern with this house is that the school house where we planned to have the kids sleep only has one smoke alarm at top of stairs on second floor and those stairs are only way to get out if there's a fire unless you jump out a window. There are old mattresses, rugs and furniture stored there as well and because it's an old building, seemed very unsafe. Several mattresses in school house were also replaced upon our request because they had critters living in them. We also hammered in a bunch of nails that were sticking out on swim dock which could use some TLC. An earlier review stated the house needs a good cleaning and we agree. The cleaning person who has a few hours to clean between check out and check in of next guests did a great job of main areas like bathrooms. However blankets and pillows were old and did not seem clean. We had sleeping bags and did not use. There is a lot of dust and dirt under and behind furniture with clothes and other items that were clearly dropped by other guests and never found. It appears that the house just isn't ever given a really good cleaning each year and it's much more than one cleaning person could do in a few hours. I believe there was only one smoke alarm in main house as well but 2 doors and windows on ground floor to climb out if necessary.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Susanne F.

Aug 14, 2015

Squam Lake Family Vacation

Camp Penowee is very large with a separate 'schoolhouse' where three grandsons (16, 14 and 12) stayed. They enjoyed the independence and the pool table, darts and other games. The large covered porch is ideal for family dining and the rockers and hammocks for relaxing and enjoying the view of the lake. The cove is very quiet and we were thrilled to have several bald eagle sightings and many photo ops with loons and their baby chicks. The boys made good use of the swim/dive platform as well as the kayak. We had family movie night almost every night, along with chess matches and cribbage games. All three generations had a wonderful family vacation with plenty of room to spare at this traditional lake camp.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kevin B.

Jan 6, 2015

The quintessential lake house!!!

There is so much to say about Penowee!! What an amazing location, setting and, cabin! We had 5 adults and 7 kids staying here. Then we had family come up from Cape Cod and, lots of old friends from the area. Not once did anyone say, "it's too crowded". Sun!. All. Day. Long. Having grown up on the lake but, moved away 20+ years ago, I really fell in love with the location. It's a quick boat trip to town and, an equally quick trip by car. We had the time of our lives and, have already booked our week for summer 2015!!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kevin B.

Dec 28, 2014

The quintessential lake house!!!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Pat H.

Aug 14, 2014

Beautiful Classic Lakeside Retreat

My family of 12, including teens and a grandmom, recently spent a fantastic week at this classic Squam Lake camp. This was our first trip back to the lake in 16 years and the house and lake did not disappoint! The house came fully equipped with plenty of bedding, utensils, cookware and storage - including the largest frying pan I have ever seen! We had plenty of room to sprawl between the two buildings - a real plus when traveling with teenagers. The main room of the house is cozy yet feels very large due to the soaring wood ceilings. Our family had tons of fun on the lake and just as much fun in the evenings playing board games on the deck and looking through all the historic photos and mementos on display in the lodge. The dock and swim platform areas are in full sun all day, unlike other homes we looked into, allowing for plenty of swim time. We did rent a large pontoon boat in Little Squam and spend countless hours navigating the coves of the lake and we especially loved revisiting "jumping rock" in Rattlesnake Cove which included a visit by the ice cream boat! The last night of our trip was spent enjoying the camp's DVD of "On Golden Pond", which was something really special. All in all, a fantastic family trip. I highly recommend this property if you are looking for a classic Squam Lake experience.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Kathleen E.

Sep 8, 2013

Beautiful setting, but house needs cleaning

First, on the plus side, the house is in a nice quiet, private location (there were a lot of motorboats, jet skis, and water skiers, since the house is fairly close to Holderness, but they were across the lake). It was great to be so close to the water. There is a nice big covered porch overlooking the lake, where we spent a lot of time and had all our meals. The dock, diving float, and shoreline provided really nice access for swimming, and the water was beautifully clear and clean. Unfortunately, I don't think the house has had a deep cleaning in a really long time. We found trash under the bed, a broken lamp and broken headboard in our room, and mouse droppings in the kitchen (including silverware and plate areas). The house is quite dark, which is to be expected in an old house with dark wood panelling, but also generally dirty, dusty, and full of cobwebs. We were disappointed, too, that the sunfish sailboat had broken rudder fittings, which couldn't be repaired while we were there. The owner was very nice, and helpful in providing information on area activities, when we called and spoke to him on the phone, but there was not a lot of this information in the house. Our family had a nice week, and enjoyed being on Squam Lake and spending time together, but for us, anyway, the lack of cleanliness was a real drawback.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Feb 15, 2013

Renting Again

We rented last year with another family and had a fantastic time (9 people), so we are renting again this year. Everything was as listed. We waterskiied right in front of the camp. The sun was on the dock from 8:00 to 7:00, so we were able to get tan! We hiked and mountainbiked Mt. Livermore (the entrance was across the street from the driveway).The kitchen was stocked with loads of spices and more pots and pans than we could ever use. Both buildings were clean and roomy. After dinner, the teenagers went to the huge schoolhouse first floor and blasted music, played pool and darts, watched videos, etc, while we stayed in the mainhouse and played cards and board games while having a few cocktails. It rained two days during our stay and there was so much room, we never went stir crazy. We used the kayak, canoe and paddleboard around the cove and also paddled to Walter's Basin for lunch. We caught plenty of fish off the dock and even had a diving contest off the dive tower. John was very helpful. He was always available to answer my questions. We rented other houses at Squam in the past, but this had the most room and a fantastic location, we plan on continuing to rent Camp Penowee in the future

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Joe R., Boston, MA

Jun 25, 2011

fantastic spot for large groups - secluded and pleasantly rustic

myself and 10 others rented from John and were very, very pleased. plenty of beds for everyone, a real kitchen that is well stocked, big dock, etc. no view of the neighbors. we rented a motor boat nearby, and were pleased that this house is just about a 15 minute ride from the rental place. wrap around porch was a favorite spot and easily fit all of us, and the two fireplaces were a nice feature as well. nothing fancy place, but clean, comfortable and a perfect place to relax and enjoy Squam from. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Michael G., New York, New York

Jun 6, 2011

Delightfully vintage and rough around the edges

I recently rented this place for a long weekend to host my best friend's bachelor party. The pictures don't do this place justice. I wouldn't call this place luxurious, but it is definitely comfortable. Everything about the house has a very antique-y, semi-rustic feel without feeling worn out or dirty. The land and lakefront are amazing. There is room for a ton of people to hang out comfortably on the dock, the porch, or inside either of the two buildings. There are grills and rowboats and kayaks aplenty, and access to the lake is as simple as walking down off the deck. The central fireplace in the main house is large and amazing (and completely necessary, since it was still in the 50s overnight during our stay). The property itself is quite private and nicely wooded without a lot of undergrowth. I loved waking up in the morning and seeing the chipmunks cavorting everywhere. The decor is a combination of typical vacation-lake-house fare (maps, books on local history, toys for the kids) and authentic real-life memorabilia such as the early 1900's trophy that a previous owner (perhaps a family member) won in a motorboat competition on the lake. There was so much of the latter that my friends and I had a running joke that we were trapped in some sort of Scooby-Doo-type mystery, with ghosts in the school house and a set of elaborate clues for us to uncover and unravel. We never solved the entire puzzle, but we left a few clues of our own for future renters to find. The only potential downside to the property is the single-shower situation. This wasn't a problem for our group of 10 people, though.

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