GREENVILLE, Maine — On Saturday, Destination Moosehead Lake held an open house for people to come and see three of Greenville's historic inns all decked out for Christmas.
The Blair Hill Inn, the Lodge at Moosehead Lake, and the Greenville Inn all were private homes before welcoming guests.
Ruth McLaughlin is the owner of the Blair Hill Inn, which was built in 1891 by Lyman Blair.
When he and his wife died, it was passed down to other members of their family, then sold as a private home a few times before McLaughlin and her husband bought it in 1997. The couple had no ties to Maine.
"My husband had never been here ... literally found this little listing in the back of a magazine," she said recalling the first time they saw the inn.
The McLaughlins completely restored the home inside and out, raised their children at Blair Hill, and still live in the inn themselves. They said it's extra special being at the inn at Christmas time.
"It's magical. We sit down at the end of the day and just feel like it's magical. It's lovely," Ruth McLaughlin said.
Saturday's event was full of that Christmas magic, but also an opportunity for the area's chamber of commerce to raise money.
"This money will help us be able to better support our members and better support the marketing for this area," Allison Arbo, executive director of Destination Moosehead Lake, said.
McLaughlin said it takes weeks for her to decorate the inn for Christmas, but it doesn't feel like work at all.
"I love decorating that's my favorite if I could only do that and none of the other jobs I'd be a happy, happy person."
The halls are decked at Moosehead Lake's three historic inns, ready for Mainers to enjoy the magic.