4-8 Guests per Cottage | Historic Lakefront Retreats | Private Sandy Beaches | Derby, Vermont
For larger family reunions or group gatherings, please contact us about booking multiple cottages together.
Lake Salem Cottages features four family-owned lakefront retreats, each with its own private sandy beach and at least 100 feet of shoreline on beautiful Lake Salem in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Each cottage has been lovingly maintained by the same family for over 125 years, offering a perfect blend of rustic charm and comfortable amenities.
The cottages are situated along a unique peninsula separating Big Salem Lake from Little Salem Lake, providing guests with access to both waterways. Each cottage is renowned for excellent fishing with abundant bass, walleye, and salmon, and includes its own dock and 12' aluminum boat for exploring these peaceful waters. Many families have been returning for generations, creating lifelong memories on these cherished shores.
The shallow shoreline extends about 50 feet into the lake, making it exceptionally safe for children to play. The private beaches are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, sandcastle building, and evening stargazing—including spectacular Northern Lights sightings on clear nights. A special sandbar and the connecting Clyde River create unique natural features perfect for wildlife watching and play.
Silver Acre Cottage - One of the original cottages on Lake Salem with 200 feet of lakefront, its own sandbar, and the Clyde River running alongside. Features 2 bedrooms, a children's sleeping loft with two single beds, and screened front and back porches. Accommodates up to 8 with two queen beds and four single beds.
Lothrop Cottage - Offers the best lake views with a full sandy beach and added privacy from an adjacent family-owned empty lot. Features 3 bedrooms with one queen, one double, and two single beds. Includes a central living room with a Vermont Castings stove and a newly remodeled kitchen (2020).
Ainsboro Cottage - Features 2 bedrooms plus a sleeping loft and single bed on the screened porch. The living room is warmed by a Franklin stove, and a screen porch runs the length of the cottage for sunset dinners. Unique views of both Big and Little Salem Lakes.
Newell Cottage - The largest cottage with knotty pine interior, wood floors, rough-hewn beams, and skylights. Features a large living room with a fieldstone fireplace, spacious front porch, 3 full bedrooms, and 2 sleeping lofts. Accommodates larger families with a queen bed, four single beds, and two double beds in the lofts.
Guests enjoy complete access to their private cottage, designated sandy beach, dock, and aluminum boat. For those traveling with extended family or friends who might want to book adjacent cottages, the sequential layout of the properties makes it easy to gather together for beach activities while still maintaining private accommodations.
Firewood is provided for indoor fireplaces and wood stoves. The Northeast Kingdom offers countless recreational opportunities within a short drive: championship golf courses, tennis courts, hiking trails along the Northern Appalachian Trail, beautiful mountains including Jay Peak, Burke, and Owls Head (which become ski areas in winter), and numerous lakes beyond Salem including Mephramagog, Seymour, Willoughby, Caspian, and Echo. Montreal is less than two hours away for an international day trip.
Lake Salem Cottages has been a family tradition for generations, with many guests returning year after year to experience the simple pleasures of lakeside living: swimming in clean waters, fishing from private docks, reading on screened porches, watching spectacular sunsets, and reconnecting with nature and loved ones in Vermont's beautiful Northeast Kingdom.
For larger groups and family reunions: If you're interested in booking multiple cottages or all four cottages together as one lakefront compound, please contact us for availability and special arrangements. The cottages' proximity to each other makes them ideal for multi-generational gatherings where privacy and togetherness can both be accommodated.
