Town of Arundel, Maine
Source: Ouellet Construction
Arundel Town Hall
History
Driving north along Route 1, once you’ve passed through the charm of Kennebunk’s Main Street and its business district, you may not even realize you’ve passed into the bucolic town of Arundel. Having gone through several identity changes over the last few centuries (the town was once part of Kennebunkport, and before that, Cape Porpoise), Arundel only came into its own in 1957—although the school system is still consolidated with that of Kennebunkport and Kennebunk. While not far from the ocean, Arundel does not have a coast of its own anymore, and the primary sources of industry and income back then were farming and lumber.
Exploring Arundel Maine
Today, Arundel still flaunts her heritage—or a portion of it, anyway—as evidenced by some of the various creative iterations of farmland usage. Take a drive through the countryside and you’d be hard-pressed not to set your eyes on a horse paddock or barn tucked in among the rolling hills and fields. If you are a budding equestrian, be sure to book a block of time at Specially Designed Stables. This beautiful, sprawling property offers riding lessons, camp sessions, and full-service horse boarding…but you can also book parties and events—they even offer a one-of-a-kind Air BnB rental unit!
Shop Local
If you prefer the flora rather than fauna aspects of farm life, swing by Frinkelpod Farm, because, well, it’s fun to say. But Frinkelpod is much more than a giggly mouthful—this vibrant haven of natural goodness has a year-round farm store, chock full of whatever produce is in season, as well as flowers, unique grocery items, locally-made edibles, and gifts; a veritable harvest! They also offer an abundant CSA program, as well as classes and nature walks for all ages. Stop by this MOFGA-certified-organic gem and fill your market basket with healthy road snacks; it’s just a few minutes east off Route 1 on Log Cabin Road.
Once you’ve gathered your wholesome goods at Frinkelpod, head back to Route 1 for some serious antiquing. At the intersection of Log Cabin Road and Route 1, you’ll be in prime position for hours of browsing through the delights and detritus of myriad garages, attics, estate sales, and basements, in all their dusty glory. On your right is the Arundel Flea Market, a mostly-seasonal outdoor yard sale extraordinaire (and if there is no snow on the ground, there will be a few hardy holdouts bundled up behind their table of wares, no matter the temperature). The flea market also features the Tradewinds Café, a seasonal outdoor-seating-only snack shack, perfect for when your appetite makes itself known during your shopping quest. The Arundel Antique Village is in the building that shares the same parking lot as the flea market, so you can park and walk to both. The Village features two floors of all manner of wares, sold consignment-style in open booths or locked cabinets. Across Log Cabin Road is Antiques USA, a warehouse-sized structure filled with both locked cabinets of goods, as well as booths of furniture, linens, contraptions, toys, dishes…you get the idea. And just in case you still haven’t found that retro set of highball glasses or the perfectly distressed cola sign you’ve been searching high and low for, Our Way Antiques is right across Route 1 from Antiques USA.
Source: Raptor Falls Mini Golf and Ice Cream
Raptor Falls Mini Golf and Ice Cream
Culture and Entertainment
If you’re on the hunt for entertainment that doesn’t involve shopping, head north on Route 1 to Raptor Falls Mini Golf & Ice Cream. With huge dinosaur animatronics dotting the state-of-the-art course, what’s not to love about this place? Besides, they also offer ice cream from Shaker Farm, another local business. And, just a few minutes inland from Raptor Falls is the real deal: the Dutch Elm Golf Club is open to the public, and features 18 holes of championship golf—with beautiful scenery, to boot. Or, for a taste of the performing arts without traveling to Portland, check out the schedule at Vinegar Hill. This quaint venue was once a farm—another nod to Arundel’s past—and has featured a wide variety of performers over the years, including acts like Ronan Tynan, John Waite, The Drifters, Suzanne Vega, and Roomful of Blues, among many others.
Classic car fans, rejoice—because Arundel is also home to the new Maine Classic Car Museum, housed at the Motorland classic car dealership showroom on Route 1. Loaded with hard-to-find “automobilia” and rare car curios, the museum also features a well-stocked store—the perfect one-stop-shopping spot for that motorhead in your life.
Speaking of motors…you can’t drive through Arundel on Route 1 without noticing Bentley’s Saloon, just before you get to the antique shops if you’re heading north. Bentley’s is primarily known as a biker bar—but all are welcome here at this friendly hub of leather-and-denim camaraderie and boisterous bonhomie, regardless of how many wheels you roll in on. The food is fantastic, fairly priced, and goes beyond typical pub fare with offerings like fresh Maine lobster and full-on pig roasts. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating—and, if you find that you’ve tossed back a few too many pints at the end of the night, Bentley’s also features 6 motel rooms and an expansive, on-site campground. The Hemlock Grove Campground, just south of Bentley’s on Route 1, is another camping option in Arundel. This family-owned establishment offers both wooded sites for tents and campers, as well as cabins, complete with heat/AC, 3 TVs, full bath/kitchen; it’s like camping, without the camping. For those of you non-camping types, take a peek at nearby Kennebunkport for other lodging options.
Restaurants
When you’re ready to sit down and tuck in, you can’t go wrong with Bandaloop, less than a mile south of Bentley’s on Route 1. Offering an ever-changing, seasonal menu concocted of locally-sourced ingredients, Bandaloop has delicious, creative options for all manner of dietary needs, and their craft cocktail offerings are truly inspired. For a more fundamental (but no less tasty) menu, head a few hundred yards south to Mike’s American Diner and try their Famous Pastrami Reuben or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (be sure to wear your stretchy pants, though—because you’re going to want to finish every bite).
So, as you can see, Arundel has a unique charm all of its own (lack of coastal real estate, notwithstanding); you just need to know where to look!
