Cottage Place On Squam Lake

We have been fortunate enough to spend our summers at Cottage Place on Squam Lake for nearly a decade now, and I am endlessly grateful for the day I typed “dog-friendly lake views” into my search bar and discovered this gem. From the moment we step onto the property each year, it’s as if the weight of the world lifts off our shoulders, replaced by pure tranquility. The ability to walk out of your cozy cottage and be greeted by the sparkling expanse of Squam Lake is nothing short of magical. The views alone would be reason enough to visit, but Cottage Place offers so much more—the cottages themselves are charming, comfortable, and imbued with a sense of home that makes every stay feel like you’ve returned to somewhere deeply familiar and welcoming. We come to be at the lake, and the property makes that easy—whether we’re relaxing on the beautiful sandy beachfront, enjoying the peaceful privacy afforded by the thoughtful layout, or gathering at the grand fire pit on the front lawn to share stories and laughter with fellow guests. Over the years, those shared moments have blossomed into lasting friendships, and our “Cottage Place family” grows each summer. This place holds such a special place in our hearts that my husband and I chose to elope here last year and celebrate our wedding day surrounded by the beauty and joy that Cottage Place inspires. I’m thrilled to share that starting in 2026, they’ll be offering wedding planning and packages—an incredible opportunity for couples who want their special day infused with the same warmth and magic we experienced. Cottage Place truly is my second home. It’s where I feel most at ease, most myself, and most reminded that life is about collecting memories, not things. If you’re looking for breathtaking views, genuine hospitality, and a place where relaxation comes naturally, I cannot recommend Cottage Place more highly. I look forward to welcoming you to the family!

Spent four late summer nights here and had a great time. Room was a simple studio cabin - nothing fancy but has everything you need. Location is perfect - right on the lake and close to lots of scenic hiking. Made ample use of the fire pit. Service was prompt and professional. Would definitely return for the fall!

The cabin we stayed in was less than rustic. Everything in it was old. The floors were extremely old beat up wood floors that had layers of upon layer of paint. When we opened the front door we were greeted by an overwhelming scent of carpet deodorant that caused me to sneeze the entire weekend. We were told it was past the time to cancel our reservation and there was nothing else available.

If you’re looking for quiet and beauty, a cottage with a screen door that slams shut (in the nostalgic kind of way), a beautiful lake view, access to paddle boards, boats, floats, lawn games, and low key fun - this is the place. The cottages are not new or state of the art, but that’s their charm. The self serve store has great coffee and cashews, too!

we haved stayed here twice and its been a great time . we chose to stay in the cottages , they have alot of charm. they have every thing in them you need for your stay. Nice beach on the lake. They have plenty of kayaks to use and lawn games. Nice restaurants near by, and a short drive to attractions in the lakes area and the white mountains. we plan on returning here.

We have been staying at Cottage Place for about 15 years. It is a lovely, peaceful place any time of year. The new owners have done an amazing job refreshing the property while keeping the old-fashioned spirit.

My family has been vacationing or just taking trips on Squam since before I was born, so in some ways a part of me grew up on this lake. We also have been coming to Cottage Place various times since back when it was even called Black Horse motor lodge so we have seen how this wonderful location has evolved related to the units and how they have kept up "just enough" to still retain the charm that those who know, MUST come back. I think we may have stayed in almost every cottage or suite, including the Lodge many many times due to the size of my direct family. Each unit has a little bit of something different, whether the size and amount of beds or even a cool retro look fridge in Suite2 and the owners are slowly but surely making just enough style updates to keep up with their styles while retaining the cottage-y feel. They have updated most to have AC, which is mostly useful in July, but I strongly recommend limiting that use as the water can cool you off and the lake is amazing. The current management team is friendly and has done a great job keeping the property looking the way it should. The beach was groomed, the flowers watered and blooming, having the fire wood allocated for use replenished, even so much as keeping the rocks under the swings back where they belong. They prep for turnover and check-ins with what shows as well established cleaning and prep processes from experience. I'm glad w/in reason our family may have been able to give them a little break as all we really needed was the 3 T's of trash, towels, and TP. I do call this one of my 2 "Happy Places"(this is an extension of my oct 2023 review on TripAdvisor named "My Happy Place"), as the tranquility of the location and the view should be able to ease any stresses away(and I haven't taken advantage yet, but they do have a contact for massages that would help even more) of the world. What is great is it is in a cove on Little Squam which allows access to the big lake but only when you want to boat over to there. In the morning make sure to wake up early with a coffee/other on the dock to just enjoy the loon family who you may be able to see swimming under the boats. Make sure to know your camera/phone's astrophotography/night settings for pictures of the night sky including stars and the moon. If you have freshwater fishing equipment, bring some as you can catch many varieties just off the dock or even a short paddle out but within the cove. If you forgot your rod, they do have a couple you can borrow too. One of the nice things we additionally love is to see the familiar vehicles of the other folks that we have gotten to know who rent the same week as us, and especially a couple of the familiar boats of those same folks. It truly then feels like an extended family that i think another reviewer affectionately called our Cottage Place Family(including sharing some 'calm' beverages so to speak ;-) ). While my family did not need the non motorized water sports items like the kayaks, inflatable SUPs, and paddle boat - we bring our own boat/kayaks/SUPs/etc - it is great knowing they are available for others. I'd strongly recommend when cooking to think out of the box and cook what you can on the on site grills. there is something to be said about grilled blueberry muffins or English muffins as part of a big eggs breakfast, or grilled pizza rolls to eat at the campfire. We did bring our own portable camp griddle for as much outside cooking as possible and I think a couple of other vacationers were hoping the griddle was one of the public grills(crossing fingers for next year), especially for cooking bacon. I'm sure at a later date we will one way or other celebrate a vow renewal at this location either starting with the renewal on Church Island and then back to Cottage Place for after, or do everything onsite. Looking forward to our next of our usual trips, including can't wait for my yearly Seafood Paella from Walter's Basin, plus the French onion soup and sticky ribs!

My wife and I have been to Cottage Place 3 times. Our previous trips were in the winter, very cozy, very relaxing. This year, we booked the weekend before “busy season” and brought our toddler and his grandparents. We enjoyed kayaking on the lake and s’mores at the primary fire pit. All activities are included in the price and easily accessible. We ordered pizza the first night and used their grills for the next 2 nights. My son loved the play ground. Carrie and Don were very accommodating; their service felt genuine. They have a great property, perfect for a long weekend to decompress. It’s small but comfortable. We are already looking for to our next visit. Thank you Carrie and Don!

"On Golden Pond" indeed, minus whiny Jane Fonda and with more modern amenities! Stayed here for 2 nights over Labor Day weekend, perfect place for a summer trip. Cabins are very cozy and have everything you need. Beach right across the road, can walk over in your bathing suit it's so close. Beach has chairs, floaty devices, canoes/kayaks for rental ($20 or $10, respectively), row boat, and a floating dock. Can easily row yourself over to see the covered bridge nearby. Very close to cute little towns like Holderness, Ashland, and Laconia/Weirs Beach. Awesome little gift shop with free coffee - this isn't a supply store, though that'd be great. They light the fire pit every evening, it's lovely. Overall, you get the best parts of camping (remote, rustic, campfires) without the worst parts/with basic modern amenities (decent enough bed, electricity, plumbing, cooking supplies, wifi, driving access to towns). If you don't like even the best parts of camping and prefer hotels, then stay in a hotel! Only wish we weren't right on the road, which is fairly busy with cars and even trucks coming by. Everything else is perfect. Bet this would be a fun place in the winter too.

NOTHING LIKE PHOTOS! The smell hits you as soon as you walk in! Not just dated, but dirty as well. Holes in ceilings and floors of bathroom, Cob webs, broken screens, hair, dirt and deep stains in sinks and tubs. Musty stained furniture. old lumpy mattresses that don't even fit frames. Rented both large lodge house and cottage #3. Horrified! All this for more than $250/ night! Get a tent it will be cleaner!

*Reviewing for all that might base their decision to NOT stay here because of the vintage cottage look* We stumbled upon this place while looking for somewhere to crash for a night. Turned out to be a gem!! Natalie at the front desk let us check out the cottage before we committed to booking. I was super impressed by how clean it was in there!! No musty cottage smell like you might assume lol. The mattress wasn't ideal but it wasn't a deal breaker for us. We were too excited about the location(which was right on the lake with a private beach) and the access to using their kayaks and paddle boards! They also offer a fire pit stocked with bundles of fire wood. Like others said in their reviews, the biggest downfall is that it's on the main road so it can be loud. Otherwise pretty awesome find :) thank you for the hospitality!

Be VERY careful when making your reservation because there are no refunds. We were forced to cancel due to the pandemic state of emergency and could not get any of our substantial deposit back.

Unfortunately, this place is not up to the price for admission! We were hoping to stay in a detached cottage, but they were full due to a loud family reunion. We ended up staying in the attached unit 4. It was a 2 bed unit. The first bed was notably in a bedroom. The second bed was the living room. Yes, there was no couch, there was a bed. The TV was circa 1970 and had two channels....we weren't there to watch tv, but relaxing on the couch/bed before bedtime would have been nice. Be careful if you sit on the toilet, you are at great risk of falling off the can. It tilts to the left, so lean right and you'll be fine. The place felt dirty and had a lot of wood rot on the outside of the units, the ceiling in the room was not level and some of the stained ceiling tiles could fall off if you snore. The staff at the front desk were awesome and the gift shop was adorable. The view of squam lake was killer, but the view to the right of our unit...you know, the trailer home that would scare scarface, was less than appealing. We left after our excursion on the second day, foregoing a refund of $250.00 to go to a place that was more comfortable. Save your money. :(

Cozy little cottage facing Squam Lake with giant fireplace and big kitchen. The people who run this place are very nice. This was my family's second time to stay here. We've stayed in cottages 2 and 3. I look forward to returning soon.

If you love the feel of mattress springs in old fashioned beds, leftover decor from the 1940's and the sound of screen doors slamming then congrats, you found your dream accommodation. Admittedly wife and I are visiting relatives for a reunion and are used to nicer hotels in cities, but this place is beyond rustic to the point of decrepit. Sure, the people are friendly but the standard of accommodation is abysmal. Small beds, old linens (no worry about duvets here - bedspreads are the rule!) and cabins so small there is no where to put luggage. It's like you stepped into a museum of 1940's camp life where nothing has changed, and you will need to adjust your expectations to accept that. I can see where people who like a rustic throwback to a much simpler time would appreciate this place, but frankly it doesn't meet modern standards, and for the price it is somewhat outrageous.

These are rustic, individual cabins/cottages. We are here in November, which is cold in NH. The cottage is warm. There is a beautiful stone fireplace. You have wifi and cable TV. There is a kitchen with a full size fridge, microwave, four burner stove/oven. We are in cottage 2 and we have two bedrooms and a large open area which is the living room, dining area and kitchen. It is clean. The staff are super friendly. There is a great gift shop and they have a huge fire in the evening with lots of comfy Adirondack chairs to relax. AND - they are pet friendly. We are here with out two newfoundlands! We will be back when we can enjoy the beach and water access into Squam Lake.

Stayed here for my best friend's bachelorette party it was so picturesque and beautiful. It was perfect for girls just looking to relax and have a little bit of fun. The private beach was gorgeous and so refreshing. The cabin was sweet rustic and had all the amenities we needed for a night. The owner was very nice we even sat around with her and other guests of the fire pit and felt very welcomed. Will definitely be going back with my boyfriend and Friends

You have to take this place for what it is. It sure isn't perfect, but so what? I loved staying here. Met a staff member, a woman who I unfortunately didn't get the name of, who was extremely friendly and could not be nicer. The office also has a very cute gift shop, with a lot of choices. I stayed on cottage 1, which is really small, but was very cozy. Would definitely recommend and would also come here again!

This hotel truly became our home away from home. My husband, myself and our 1 and 2 year old stayed here for two weeks while we waited on our new home to close. The staff was incredibly accomodating and became like family. The rooms are comfortable, spacious and clean. Outside, there is a firepit and real shuffleboard area. Also, the playground was nice for the kiddos. The hotel also has a nice beach access that is large. The giftshop, which is a hiddem gem, has items that are made in new hampshire, along with other creative and unique items. Stay here if you are visiting the lakes region. Close to plymouth, ashland and meredith.

This place is amazing! We came for a couple of nights on our vacation and it's wonderful! The place is a little older but it's absolutely perfect for a getaway from our norm in Las Vegas.

I'm copying my Tripadvisor review here, because it just rules so much. Loved it! I cannot say enough great things about the weekend we had here over the summer. We went up for a family member's wedding this past July, and even before we checked in, the staff (Sue particularly!) were so helpful and accommodating- they helped us rearrange rooms/cabins less than a week before we came. They were very helpful with helping our family organize the wedding weekend and events, and were generally lovely to deal with for even the smallest questions. This is by no means a luxury boutique hotel, but this place is absolutely adorable. It's a very campy, kitschy, old school, campground-style, lake house/cabin feeling place, so set your expectations accordingly. We stayed in cabin 7, which is an adorable 1 bedroom freestanding cottage (with a kitchen, full size fridge, and front porch with adirondack chairs). If you can survive without air conditioning, I highly suggest getting a cottage, but if you absolutely need AC go for the suites in the main building. It was a very hot weekend when we went, but the cottage had a couple box fans which was all I needed. Our family also rented out the big lodge building for the weekend, and it was such a great resource- adorable and cozy place to hang out, and it was great to have the extra space & the cute fire pit outside. We loved having the space outside our cabin to bring out our cornhole boards and bocce balls, and our giant cooler. The lake and the beach were amazing- it was great that they were right across the road, and they had a couple of picnic tables, chairs, & a swim up platform in the lake. They did not mind one bit that our entire crew overran the whole beach all day which I appreciate (I'm sure we got loud and obnoxious eventually)! Anyone looking for a casual low key cabin-style place to relax, I highly suggest Cottage Place. It definitely reminded me of our family's old school lake house, and I LOVED IT. I will definitely be back.

First, to be fair, let me point out that my friend and I met another couple who said they stay here year after year and love it. I am sorry to say that we did not have the same experience. Our room, a "cottage suite," and not a stand-alone cottage, seemed a bit seedy and, well, unclean. (I washed the tub and bathroom sink as soon as we got there.) The lake was across the busy highway, not outside the front door (as it appeared on the website). Those things being said, we felt it was too expensive ($200/nite) for the quality of experience. Maybe we just wanted more for our money -- and also more of a secluded, rustic, relaxing experience. But on the plus side, the people were nice, and we had a good time anyway. Oh -- this is a dog-friendly place, and though we don't have pets, we met many a friendly dog there!

ohhhh how I wish I could give this place 100 stars. I posted a review on Trip Advisor after one of our last stays, but I need to keep spreading the word. my boyfriend and I had been staying further north in the mountains, but felt we were spending too much for what little there was to do near our lodging. so in 2012 I did a google search and found Cottage Place. we loved what we saw on the website so we took a chance and booked a weekend. we knew after 2 hours that we had found our new vacation spot. we have stayed 5 times since then, and have stayed in cottages #3, #4, #7, and #5. each time the cottages were clean, the staff were warm and welcoming, and the relaxation just couldn't be beat. we've stayed later in the year when it's technically "off season" but were always allowed to take the rental kayaks out on the lake for a beautiful ride. any question or concern that arose (very few ever did), the staff was quick to help. We have not a single complaint. our latest stay, and the one that prompted me to write another review, was over the weekend of May 23-25. shortly after arriving, we decided we wanted to make dinner. We discovered the pilot light for the stove was out, so we asked at the office for assistance in lighting it. within 5 minutes it was taken care of, and we were popping dinner in the oven soon after. no one ever seems put out or annoyed when asked for help, everyone I've encountered at CP is always so cheerful and willing to help. The weekend went beautifully. we were told that no one was checking in to our cottage the day we were checking out, so our check out time was flexible and there was no need to rush. apparently that sent my brain into "lazy mode" and I didn't double check myself when I packed. soon after we came home I got an email from Sue letting me know they had found my beloved stuffed Bear in our cottage, and she wanted to verify my address so she could send him home. my boyfriend gave me Bear for our first Valentine's Day together 5 years ago, I was a wreck thinking I'd lost him. I thanked Sue and sent along my PayPal info, saying to please bill me for Bear's shipment home. a few days later Bear arrived in what can only be described as a care package! he was all wrapped up in a hand-towel-sized blanket, with a Kashi trail mix bar and a small package of Teddy Grahams... teddy bear... teddy grahams. there was a card from Sue tucked in there with him, saying how adorable he was. the card also said that she believed sending him home was good karma, and therefore refused to accept payment for his shipment home. when I took Bear out I realized a pair of my yoga pants were also in the package, apparently i had forgotten those too! I'm from the Boston area and people here aren't super friendly. Bostonians could learn a lot from people like Sue and the folks at Cottage Place. it was so unbelievably kind and thoughtful to package Bear up the way she did, she could tell he was well loved so she made sure he was delivered to me safely (and with snacks!) one last thing, my boyfriend and I always tip housecleaning when we stay somewhere. but again in our foggy-brained state on departure day we both assumed the other had left a cash tip for whoever would be cleaning the cottage. a few days after getting home it came up that neither of us had left anything! so I wrote a note to Sue and mailed it along with a check for her to forward to whoever took care of our cottage upon our departure. It hasn't gotten there yet I'm sure, but I made sure to send it. those people up at CP are the best, and I want to leave nothing out. bottom line: we will be coming back year after year. no question. this review doesn't even begin to do justice to the amazing times we've had there.

Hi Sue, Just wanted to say we had a great time. First time staying in a cabin and we loved it..Cabin #3 is beautiful....Shaded by a large tree, nice porch and grassy area...Beach was wonderful as always...All of us will be back next year...including one or two new couples...We will contact you as soon as we figure out everyones vacations for next year....The friends that shared our cabin had a wonderful time as well. It was their first vacation away in 32 years and they are so happy they chose Cottage Place...Missed seeing you,but know that you are busy....See you next year. Darlyne Wadhams 7-28 to 8-4-2012 darsstore@aol.com

We had the most wonderful couple of nights here! The cottage we stayed in was immaculate when we arrived and Mary and the staff were awesome! The view we had was beyond gorgeous and we enjoyed the fire pit both nights we were there! The fact that we could launch our boat right across the street was sooooooo convenient and we were able to dock the boat as well. Sue, the owner, showed us a few different cottages and a room in the main building and they have so much space! Dale and I are going back next week :) Check out their website, some of the cottages have fireplaces and they are open YEAR ROUND! I feel a November vaca in our future! LOVE this place!

If you are looking for a wonderful place to rest your feet.. while exploring the area.. Cottage Place is the spot for you! It was a last minute plan to visit the "Ice Castles" in Lincoln - about 25 minutes from Cottage Place.. and we were SO happy they had one last room available.. and what a room it was!!! .. Cottage #4.. absolutely adorable..!!! Clean.. Crisp..Cozy..Country Chic... for sure... from the fireplace to the great kitchen.. to the fabulous bedding.. it was a perfect place to be! Upon our arrival.. Devin introduced herself with a beautiful smile.. and was so informative on what we should do.. and see! The country store is fabulous.. what a selection of great items to purchase.. warm and cozy feel in the front office.. and a GREAT STORE.. WIN WIN!!! WE are sooo ready to book a few more days..and really feel like we are home away from home!!!

Bummer, bummer bummer! On the plus side the place is rustic and very accurate with the portrayal on the web site. Our cottage was very cute and exactly as pictured. The office/gift shop was lovely and accommodating. Staff was friendly. However, we did not get what we paid for, as many other reviewers have said. No where on the web site nor were we told when we checked in that this is not a housekeeping property. In other words, they give you two bath towels and do not make up the room the following day. If you're staying for more than one night, you need to ask for clean towels. Also, we had a plumbing problem. The toilet would not flush very well and if you ran the water in the sink, the toilet made a gurgling noise. Maybe it was because the septic had an issue? Who knows, I'm not a maintenance person. But I do know that if I pay top dollar to stay somewhere, I would hope that the plumbing would work satisfactorily. We asked at the office when we were leaving for the day to have someone check it out. They assured us that they would but never came in the 12 hours we were gone. Not very good service for a prime price paid. Don't think we'll be back.