Our Historic Bed and Breakfast in Camden, Maine
Meet Your Hosts: The Gilman Family
We are the Gilmans - Jessica, Matt, George and Sella - and we can’t wait to welcome you to our special inn in the heart of Camden, ME. In August 2025, we followed our hearts and moved to Midcoast Maine to pursue a long-held dream to operate a boutique, historic inn in a beautiful destination.
From the moment we stepped into the Captain Swift Inn - once home to Captain Frank Swift, the founder of Maine Windjammer Cruises in Camden - we were drawn to the warmth and history of the inn and knew we were meant to be its next stewards. We can’t wait to share the magic of this elegant yet cozy gem in Midcoast Maine with you.
Hospitality in Our DNA
Our guest experience is led by Jessica. With a background as valedictorian of her class at the Cornell Hotel School and an MBA from Harvard, she is deeply passionate about hospitality and crafting unforgettable experiences. After many years of working in finance, strategy and hospitality at companies such as Morgan Stanley, The Walt Disney Company and Starwood Capital Group, Jessica embarked upon her first entrepreneurial hospitality venture in 2015 when she created, owned and operated a fast casual breakfast/brunch restaurant in NYC called BEC (bacon, egg, cheese). While she had ambitious plans to grow BEC, she was forced to close her beloved and celebrated Chelsea location in 2020 due to Covid. That closure allowed Jessica and her family to move closer to home - specifically Maine - where her husband, Matt, was born and raised. Now, with a deep-rooted background in professional hospitality, Jessica leads the guest experience at the Captain Swift Inn and ensures that every detail of your stay - from the first warm welcome to the heartfelt sendoff - is seamless, sophisticated and attentive.
Local Roots & Maine Knowledge
Jessica’s expertise is perfectly complemented by her husband, Matt. A Newport, ME native (more recently known as the home of the 2025 #1 NBA draft pick, Cooper Flagg), Matt’s local roots run deep. His extensive knowledge of Maine's geography and history makes him the ultimate guide for guests exploring the state. Matt also loves to cook and is Jessica’s partner in the kitchen. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and has a long-standing career in real estate finance.
A Family Legacy: The Gilman name has been a part of Maine’s industrious history since the early 1900s, when Matt’s great-grandfather co-founded Gilman Hardware in Newport, ME. In 1961, Matt’s father, Goodwin “Goody” Gilman, founded Gilman Electrical Supply, born out of Gilman Hardware. So if you spot a Gilman Electric truck on the road during your travels, know that you’re seeing a piece of our family history.
The Next Generation of Hosts
Life at the Captain Swift Inn is a family affair, and you will likely see our 7-year-old twins, George and Sella, helping us tend to our beautiful 1810 inn and grounds. Currently in 2nd grade at the Camden-Rockport Elementary school, they bring a special energy to the property. George is our resident soccer enthusiast and Lego master - ask him to see his latest creation! Sella is our resident songstress - she’ll surely make your day with her favorite Taylor Swift lyrics or a story about her hero, her twin brother George.
Our family is here to make you feel right at home at the Captain Swift Inn. We can’t wait to host you in beautiful Camden, ME.