The annual Home and Garden tour is a highlight of the summer season in the Boothbay Harbor area and a great way to gain an insider’s view of the natural beauty that surrounds us. This year’s tour takes place on Friday, July 18 and will be a walking tour in the Ocean Point area of East Boothbay and will include six charming cottages and the Wilson Chapel.   

Originally spelled Hywata, this home was built by Ira and Grace Cressey in approximately 1945-46. It was a small log cabin with a sleeping loft above the kitchen and the current owners were told it was a fishing camp for many years. Several additions were added by subsequentowners and the current owners purchased the property in 1989.  They decided to renovate in 1999 and it was move-in ready by March of 2000.  Two weeks later, the home burned to the ground and the cause was never determined.  The owners were heartbroken as they loved that quirky log house! 

In August 2000, they started to rebuild and after many setbacks, it was completed in July 2001. As a nod to the history of the house, they kept the name but changed the “y” to an “i.” HiWata stood through many storms and high water but the big storm in the winter of 2023/24 caused major damage.  The owners have worked hard to restore everything but it’s still a work in progress.  There will still be much to enjoy though when you tour this unique property that’s a monument to perseverance!  

There will be arts and crafts and music on the tour! If you are interested in displaying and selling your crafts, tables can be purchased for $40.  Contact Julie Krug at jewele56@aol.com.  The Casino will be open all day and will include a concession for snacks and drinks.  Cash or checks only!  The nearby Ocean Point Inn restaurant will also be open for lunch.  Reservations at www.opentable.com.  

In order to enhance everyone’s experience, there will be a morning tour from 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m. and an afternoon tour from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please attend the tour time for which you are ticketed.The main parking lot for the event is at the Ocean Point casino with overflow parking at the Grimes Cove parking lot.We encourage guests to carpool, as parking in the Ocean Point area is limited.  

Guests will need to check in at the Ocean Point Casino with their tickets to receive their wristbands and a brochure with the addresses of the cottages on the tour. Please note: This is a walking tour. There is no parking at any of the cottages on the tour.  

The mission of the club is to promote interest in the art and practice of gardening, education, and beautification of the Boothbay Region. We provide public buildings with window boxes, wreaths and plants and maintain many public gardens in the area. Scholarships are provided for YMCA camperships and college students who want to further their education in environmental studies. This Home and Garden Tour helps support and fund our communityobjectives.  

Due to the limited parking in the Ocean Point area and to optimizethe tour for each ticket holder, we have significantly reduced the number of tickets available for this year’s tour vs. prior years.  So, get your tickets now before we sell out!  Tickets can only be purchased online at https://www.tickets207.com/events/home-and-garden-tour-2025 and are $40 each.  

For additional information, visit https://www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org/home-and-garden-tour or call Home and Garden Tour Co-ChairJulie Krug at 704-564-9403.