Town of Raymond, Maine

Raymond is a lakeside town in Cumberland County close to Portland and the Lewiston–Auburn area. This beautiful town is home to some 4,500 residents who enjoy all that the Sebago Lake Region has to offer: all-year recreation, great schools, shopping, and restaurants.

This area was first settled in 1770 with agriculture and lumber being their primary resources. Mills thrived here and many drew their power from Panther Pond. The town was established and officially recognized as Raymond in 1803, named for Captain William Raymond of Massachusetts and his troops.

Exploring Raymond Maine

The legendary 19th-century author of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, lived in Raymond from about the age of 9 or 10 years old. He lived here with his siblings and widowed mother from about 1812 until 1825 and would later go on to write about his adventures as a boy, hiking in the Maine woods and fishing in the nearby lake.

Hawthorne House was built by Nathaniel’s uncle in 1813. The house has been owned and lovingly cared for by The Hawthorne Community Association since 1922. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and used for social and cultural events throughout the year.

Summertime Recreation

Today Raymond, as well as many of its neighboring towns within the Lakes Region, is a popular summer destination for many local New Englanders and tourists from all over. And it’s also known as the “home of the landlocked salmon.”

There are many summer camps here to choose from if you’re looking for somewhere fun to send your kids this summer! The lakes and rivers within the town include Crescent Lake, Raymond Beach on Sebago Lake, Panther Pond, Raymond Pond, Thomas Pond, Notched and Nubble Pond, Jordan River, and Tenney River. You can rent a cabin or cottage on one of the bigger lakes and enjoy a relaxing vacation taking in the local sights or just spending time on the water.

Parks and Trails

There are many parks and trails in and around Raymond. Popular activities to explore here include hiking, birdwatching, boating, and swimming.

Tassel Top Park is one of the more popular spots for residents and visitors alike. This 35-acre park is on Sebago Lake and features a long clean sandy beach perfect for swimming and sunbathing.

The park provides a snack shack, changing rooms, and port-o-potties for your convenience. And there is also a nature trail to explore thoughtfully equipped with benches for when you want to rest and take in the peaceful scenery around you.

Morgan Meadow is more of a forest with year-round trails for hiking and snowshoeing. It’s part of the Morgan Meadow Wildlife Management Area.

Veterans Memorial Park is a small lakeside park on Rte 302. There is a public boat dock here in the small harbor as well as picnic tables and benches.

Local Amenities

If you’re looking for a bit of sightseeing, hop on The Explorer for a day trip to Portland through the lakes region and then onto Bridgton. You can pick up this bus at Sunset Variety located at 1337 Roosevelt Trail.

You’ll probably find almost everything that you are searching for on Roosevelt Trail: shops, restaurants, and lodging.

A popular place to stay that’s located here at 1262 Roosevelt Trail is White Pines Inn. This motel is open year-round and only a mile from the nearby public beach.

Also located on Roosevelt Trail in Raymond is Cafe Sebago Bar and Grill, a pub featuring live music and seasonal outdoor dining.

Fishermen’s Catch offers easonal lobster and seafood dishes, while the Mosquito Ice Cream Shop offers delicious ice cream.

Cricket’s Corner Shoppe, located on 1223 Roosevelt Trail, offers fine gifts and Maine products made onsite.

Looking for a great family friendly campground? Look no further than Kokatosi Campground at 635 Webb Mills Rd.

This lakeside campground is open from May 15th through Indigenous Peoples’ Day every year and has sites for RVs and tents. They also have boat rentals, a well-stocked convenience store, a game room, volleyball and basketball courts, and much more. Check out their site to see their special themed weekends for the upcoming season.

Visit Raymond once and you’ll want to come back year after year!

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