Innkeepers
What Our Guests Say
“We came strangers and left friends.”
“Janis and Peter are the most welcoming innkeepers we have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and their way of making you feel right at home makes your stay a pleasure in every way.”
“As innkeepers, Janis and Peter deftly walk that line between being present to address any questions or needs while creating space and privacy for guests to enjoy the inn on their own.”
“The innkeepers, Peter and Janis, are some of the kindest, most welcoming people you could ever meet, and feel like old friends by the time you leave.”
Hello! We are Janis and Peter Kesser – the innkeepers at the Camden Maine Stay Inn, our award-winning, boutique bed-and-breakfast inn in the beautiful coastal village of Camden, Maine.
As native Mainers are prone to say, we are definitely from away. More to the point, we are Southerners who absolutely adore Maine and the rest of New England. Janis grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Peter was raised in Houston, Texas. Prior to moving to Camden, we lived for more than 25 years in Memphis, Tennessee. Before becoming innkeepers, both of us practiced law, Janis as a trial attorney for 16 years and Peter as a business attorney for 34 years. We have three grown daughters in their 20s who live in South Bend, Indiana, Chicago and Washington, DC, and who gradually are finding their ways in the world. We also have a friendly, well-fed tuxedo cat named Einstein.
Long before becoming your innkeepers, we were guests here at the Inn. For many years starting in the early 2000s, we stayed at the Inn on the front and back ends of our family’s summer vacations on Monhegan Island, a small, rugged, tranquil island located about 10 miles off the MidCoast of Maine. We so thoroughly enjoyed our repeated stays at the Inn that we purchased it in 2018 when the prior owners decided to retire and suggested that we buy it.
As innkeepers, our aim is simple: to offer our guests a refined yet welcoming boutique inn experience where elegance, comfort, and a spirit of curiosity come together. The Inn’s historic character and charm, modern updates and amenities, and delicious, thoughtfully prepared breakfasts and treats are just the beginning. What our guests value and remember most is the Inn’s atmosphere – engaging conversation, a well-chosen book, art that invites a long look, and a genuine sense of care.
We’re honored that our guests consistently rate the Camden Maine Stay Inn among the very best places to stay, whether they come to Camden for business or pleasure. The Inn is ranked #1 in Camden, #1 in Maine, #3 in the United States, and #16 in the world in TripAdvisor’s most recent rating of B&Bs and inns. We don’t take that recognition for granted; we know it must be earned every single day.
You should know that many of our guests return to the Inn year after year. They are drawn both by the natural beauty and quiet pleasures of Camden and the MidCoast of Maine and by the experience of staying at a distinctive, globally recognized B&B inn.
If you’re looking for a top-rated boutique inn for a relaxing, memorable stay on the Maine coast, we would be delighted to welcome you.
Come stay awhile.
Janis and Peter Kesser