Walker’s Point: The Bush family compound and summer vacation home
Location: Kennebunkport, Maine
When to visit: Daylight hours
Cost: Free to view from a distance
Time needed: 5-10 minutes
Website: NH Tour Guide description (unofficial)
When it comes to sightseeing, I don’t discriminate based on political views. When I was in Little Rock, I visited the Clinton Presidential Library, so it only made sense that while in southern Maine, I would swing by the Bush family vacation compound.
It’s not as though Kennebunkport is a major tourist area with lots of other attractions, after all!
This is the oceanside home that George H.W. Bush (#41) inherited from his parents. He often brought his family here, including George W. Bush (#43), who spent many summers here as a kid.
And there’s even more history here, because Bush #41 met with world leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev on this property.
In recent years, other world leaders have made visits, including Vladimir Putin, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Colin Powell. Bush 41 visited this place nearly every summer of his life. NPR did a nice recap of his history with the property.
It’s pretty overwhelming to think about all the historic figures who have made the visit out to Walker’s Point. That makes it an important piece of history.
I wonder if 100 years from now, this property will be turned into a museum or National Historic Monument? Perhaps someday you’ll be able to get a national parks stamp at a visitor center here!
While you can’t get that close to the Bush estate, you can see it from a distance. Here’s how to catch a glimpse of the famous Bush property in Maine.
How to See the George Bush Compound in Kennebunkport
The Bush compound is located on a strip of land called Walker’s Point. I don’t believe the address of the Bush compound is publicly listed.
Just use the address of Blowing Cave Park, which sits just across the water: 208 Ocean Ave, Kennebunkport, ME 04046.
It’s located about 30 miles north of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and about 30 miles south of Portland, Maine. It’s 200 miles from Acadia National Park, so anyone driving to the park will pass right by Kennebunkport.
While you can’t visit the house itself unless you want to encounter Secret Service agents, you can see it from a distance while driving along the coast.
To get there, get off Route 9 and find your way onto Ocean Avenue. Just past Henry Parsons Park, near Blowing Cave Park, you’ll notice the estate and the large gray-ish home. Pull to the side of the road, take a couple of pics, and move on.
George H.W. Bush’s grandfather purchased the property in the 1870s, renaming it Walker’s Point from its previous moniker of Point Vesuvius. It was previously a city park before the Bush family made it their own.
It’s a beautiful location. You can see why the Bushes would want to vacation here. Lots of shoreline views for miles and miles.
This map shows the location of Walker’s Point and the Bush compound in Kennebunkport. Surrounded by water on three sides!
The main house is three stories, and there are additional properties on the premises. A few years back, it was reported that Jeb Bush was building a cottage on the grounds, so it looks like the family will continue to utilize this land for years to come.
If you’re not sure whether you’re looking at the right house, just look for the dead giveaway – the Texas flag out front. You can get close enough to see people on the grounds.
But remember, Secret Service still patrol this private property, so don’t trespass or try to get too close. I saw someone riding a bicycle around the driveway – maybe G.W. going for a joyride?
Further reading: Kennebunkport is one of the main stops on a road trip from Acadia National Park to Boston, Massachusetts.
There are lots of fun towns to see along the way, including the giant chair in Kittery! And Acadia is known for the natural rock formation called Thunder Hole, which makes loud thunder noises and splashes when the waves crash against the rocks.
Would you consider visiting Walker’s Point, the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine?
