Acton, ME

Mousam Lake, nestled between the quaint communities of Acton and Shapleigh, is one of southern Maine's most popular lakes. Located only 85 miles from Boston, Mousam (pronounced Mouse-am) Lake is also only minutes from Kittery, York and Kennebunkport, yet if you own lakefront property here, you're familiar with the quiet rural lifestyle.

The lake is the perfect setting for family vacations, swimming, boating and fishing. At 863 acres, Mousam Lake is one of the largest lakes in the area. It's lengthy shoreline provides a picture perfect retreat. Camps, cottages and year-round homes are hidden among the trees. Brian Hardy, a seasonal resident says, "Nothing soothes the soul like a Mousam sunset."

Search for properties on Mousam Lake

Mousam is one part of a chain of ponds and waterways. Square and Goose Ponds feed into Mousam Lake, which in turn serves as the headwaters for Mousam River. The town of Sanford maintains water levels through the Emory Mills Dam, a.k.a. the Mousam Lake Dam. The lake is divided into two basins by Emory Mills Road where you'll find a public boat ramp. Upper Mousam is wide and deep with a maximum depth of 82 feet. Lower Mousam is much calmer, perfect for canoeing and fishing.

The Mousam Lake Region Association (MLRA) is led by President Glenn Baxter and is 422 members strong. The MLRA is focused on preserving the quality of the natural habitat and actively provides a sense of community through activities such as Light Up the Lake, a Boat Parade, Fishing Derby, Annual Meeting, Golf Tournament and Kayaking Plant Patrol Gathering.

You may have heard that in 1998, Mousam Lake was placed on the state's list of impaired waters. It was removed from the list in 2006 thanks to the combined efforts of the MLRA, local communities and state. According to Dan Bustard's article posted on Keep Me Current, a lake assessment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration reads: "In York County, Maine, the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Mousam Lake Regional Association together with residents, townships, state agencies and others embarked on the Mousam Lake Water Quality Improvement Project. With widespread collaboration and a little funding, they were able to clean up an impaired lake." Today, the water quality is listed as good.

If you are a lakefront property owner or are considering becoming one, keep in mind that members of the Acton Shapleigh Youth Conservation Corps (ASYCC) provide free labor to property owners wanting to implement conservation projects.

Mousam is known as an excellent cold and warm water fishery. Twenty-one fish varieties including black crappie, brook trout, brown bullhead, lake trout, landlocked salmon, largemouth bass and yellow perch can be caught here. In fact, on January 7, 2010, Pat Coan of Waterboro caught a 9 pound, 2 ounce brook trout, the largest in the state, setting a new record. At the southern end of the lake, along Route 109, is Lakeside Marina and Beatle's Bait and Tackle, which sell live bait and fishing supplies. Anglers come from all around for the fishing derbies and bass tournaments held on the lake throughout the year.

Just 96 miles from Boston, straddling the border between Maine and New Hampshire, lie the clean, clear waters of Great East Lake. Tucked away in the southwest corner of Maine in the town of Acton, Great East has been a magnet for vacationers, campers, and fishermen for over 100 years.

Great East Lake covers 1768 acres in surface area, has a maximum depth of 102 feet and a mean depth of 35 feet, and it water quality and clarity are rated above average. These clean, cool waters host a variety of fish species including brook trout, brown trout, and lake trout, pickerel, bass, perch, and sucker.

There's a very active lake association here called The Great East Lake Improvement Association. You can visit their website by clicking here: http://www.greateastlake.org/. Among the upcoming activities they have scheduled are the Great East Lake Watershed Survey Breakfast on May 30th, the Watershed Survey itself on June 13th, and an Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop on July 14th. Their annual meeting is being held on July 11th this year. For more information on any or these activities just visit their website.

Great East is home to a variety of lakefront properties. Here are those currently for sale on the Acton side of the lake:

75 Fulton Road - 1 bedroom, 100 feet of frontage, $279,900

264 Parsons Road - 2 bdrm, 800 feet of frontage on peninsula, $330,000

97 Stewart Drive - 2 bdrm, 136 feet of frontage, $350,000

102 Chipmunk Run - 4 bdrm, 100 feet of frontage, $389,900

166 Chipmunk Run - 3 bdrm, 1060 feet of frontage on peninsula, $390,000

168 Grandview Road - 2 bdrm, complete rebuild, 75 feet of frontage, $419,900

76 Cliftonndale Road - 3 bdrm, 1234 feet of frontage, $499,000

73 Sunset Boulevard - 4 bdrm, 522 feet of frontage, private, $549,900

496 Langley Shore Drive - 3 bdrm, 2 baths, 164 feet of frontage, $649,900

491 Abbott Road - 3 bdrm, 100 feet of frontage, boathouse w/apt., $799,000

Seasonal vacation homes in Maine are often owned by folks from out of state who travel on summer weekends to their summer camps in Maine. Many are from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island who travel three or four hours to get here and can't wait to dangle their bare feet in the water off the end of their dock while swatting mosquitoes and drinking a cold, refreshing brew.

If you live in southern New England you know how anxious you can become just travelling to get here. Accordingly, finding a good summer place to purchase is often determined by how long it takes to get here. The Sebago Lake area is about 2 1/2 hours from Boston, which is one reason this area is so popular. Today, however, I want to take a quick look at three bodies of water that are located in the very southern end of Maine, in York County, in the town of Acton - and all under 100 miles from Boston!

Mousam Lake is bounded by Acton and Shapleigh. It is 982 acres in size, is 98 feet deep at its deepest and has a mean depth of 17 feet. It is a beautiful lake with plenty of room to recreate - and it's only 97 miles from Boston.

Square Pond in Acton is 877 acres in size with a maximum depth of 44 feet and a mean depth of 20 feet. It has above average water quality, good size, and is a mere 97 miles from Boston.

Great East Lake in Acton is 1775 acres, 102 feet at its deepest with a mean depth of 35 feet. It, too, has above average water quality and is a gem of a lake in southern Maine. Oh yes, and only 96 miles from Boston.

If you're looking for the quickest lakefront place to get to in Maine you might want to take a look at these three lakes - and these are just the three largest. There are many more in this same area that are smaller. Here are some of the current lakefront listings for these three beautiful lakes:

Mousam Lake, Shapleigh - one bedroom with loft, simple cottage on 50 feet of sandy frontage - $199,900.

Square Pond, Acton - 3 bdrm. chalet, 60 feet of frontage, brick hearth w/woodstove, sunny and private - $230,000.

Square Pond, 1 Blaney Island, Shapleigh - 3 bdrm on an island, extensive remodeling, bring your boat! - $269,900.

Mousam Lake, 7 Acorn Way, Shapleigh - nice camp with 300 feet of frontage, private beach, views - $309,000.

Mousam Lake, Acton - chalet with 75 feet of frontage, knotty pine, well-maintained, screened porch - $319,900.

Great East Lake, 264 Parson's Point Rd., Acton - 815 feet of frontage! Rustic camp, 2 bdrms, great views - $350,000.

Mousam Lake, 90 Hubbard's Cove, Shapleigh - 250 feet of frontage, flat lot, private, fireplace - $359,900.

Great East Lake, 166 Chipmunk Run, Acton - updated year round on peninsula with 1000+ feet of frontage - $390,000.

Square Pond, 162 Cedar Drive, Shapleigh - 2 bdrm, 2 bath, year round home, 3 car garage, sunroom - $395,000.

Great East Lake, 168 Grandview Road, Acton - 2 bdrm, turnkey with 75 feet of frontage, needs nothing - $419,900.

Square Pond, 774 West Shore, Acton - 3 bdrms, sandy beach, 100 feet of frontage, 3 season porch - $429,000.

Square Pond, 730 West Shore Dr., Acton - year round, 3 bdrm, 150 feet of frontage, great views - $498,500.

Great East Lake, 73 Sunset Boulevard, Acton - 4 bdrms, 2 baths, 522 feet of frontage, sunsets - $549,900.

Square Pond, 762 West Shore Drive, Acton - 4 bdrms, 3.5 baths, 200 feet of frontage, great water views - $565,000.

Great East Lake, 496 Langley Shores Drive, Acton - 4 season home, 164 feet of frontage, 3 bdrms - $649,900.

Great East Lake, 491 Abbott Road, Acton - 3 bdrms, 3 baths, boathouse w/apartment, a great property - $825,000.

Square Pond, Shapleigh - former marina, possible family compound, 230 feet of frontage, sunsets - $968,000.