The Early Days

The colonial home was built for Mr. Wood in 1810. Mr. Wood had an unusual request of his builder: he wanted many closets, despite the fact they were taxed as rooms. Several closets can still be found throughout the inn, including in the common rooms which house games and books for guests.

The property later became known as the Hunt-Locke House, named after Simon Hunt, who came to Camden in 1806 as a manufacturer of harnesses and saddles. He purchased the home around 1818, and it stayed in his family for almost 100 years.

Simon's only daughter, Hannah Rogers Hunt Locke, lived in the house from the time she was born in 1833 until the time she died in 1929.

The Swift Family Moves In

Captain Frank Swift and his wife, Mary then purchased the home and owned it for 20 years. They kept it much as it was, with the original molding, pumpkin pine flooring and beehive oven still in place. While living in the home, Captain Swift started Maine Windjammer Cruises, repurposing old cargo schooners and using them for passenger travel. He is credited with being the founder of Maine's Windjammer tourism industry. His company is still in business today and two of his ships still sail out of Camden.

To learn more about Captain Frank Swift, please click the link below.

Ownership Under Captain Frank Swift

This is a view of the back of the house then owned by the Swift Family. The back rooms opened to a patio and garden. This is where the inn’s outdoor dining deck is today.

The house was willed to Mary in 1978, after Captain Frank passed away, and she lived there for another 11 years until she died in August 1989.

New Owners

In 1989 the estate went to Captain Swift's children by a previous marriage. They sold it in 1993 to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Filips.

The Captain Swift Inn

The Filips decided to settle in Camden with the hopes of owning a bed and breakfast. They purchased the Hunt-Locke House and, after their renovations, opened it as a bed and breakfast, naming it The Captain Swift Inn in honor of Frank Swift. They sold the inn in 2004.

The Inn As It Was

Between 2004-2017, the inn underwent a major expansion, which included renovating the existing two-room owner's suite into two guest rooms, and creating two loft luxury suites, a large two-story owner’s quarters and an employee room in the rear of the property.