From 1774 to Today

In the 1730's, Captain James McCobb sailed from Ireland to New England, eventually settling in Maine. In 1774, he built this Georgian-style mansion—now on the National Register of Historic Places—as a gift for his wife. The house was passed down through a few families until it was transformed into an inn in 2008. Today, the 1774 Inn is known for its New England charm, breathtaking views and deep roots in this hidden corner of Midcoast Maine. 

The Inn is a small family-owned, women-run business that welcomes people together to celebrate some of life’s most cherished moments. This is our home, our dream and our passion. We feel like we’ve discovered something special; a place that is authentic, beautiful and just enough out of the way. And we would love to share it with you.

We aim for understated elegance and quiet luxury. We want you and your guests to feel like you are being treated to a very special occasion, but also like you are being hosted in a dear friend’s home.

Your Hosts

SARAH DUNAGAN, Owner

After toiling away as an environmental scientist, Sarah set aside the computer, grabbed her chef's knife, and farmed and cooked her way through France and Spain. While abroad, she cooked at the Michelin starred restaurants La Petite Maison de Cucuron and DiverXO, the farm/restaurant/inns Le Potager du Nebbio, and Els Casals (which inspired her future vision for the Inn). Black in the states, she cooked in the kitchens of Blue Hill and Gramercy Tavern, and edited recipes for the Food Network before moving to Maine.

Currently, Sarah serves on the local Phippsburg Conservation Commission and the board of directors of Silent Spring Institute, a nonprofit organization that researches links between the environment and womens health. She also launched a barn supper series at the Inn to support local efforts to address food insecurity in Maine.

Sarah lives next door to the Inn with her two free-range children and lively GSP (and Inn mascot), Comet. When not at the Inn, she can be found gardening, cooking, foraging, hunting, and exploring the woods and waters of Maine with her two children in tow. It is her great pleasure to be able to share this magical corner of the world.

MARIANNE VOLD, Events Coordinator

Growing up in Oslo, Norway, Marianne was harbored by family and community who embraced the art of gathering, and steeped in the tradition and the warmth of 'hygge.' Arctic lessons emphasized the lasting value of life partners aligning hearts and efforts to pursue and discover all of life's adventures. With a passport in hand since the age of 2 (and skis under her feet before she could walk), she has enjoyed spending much of her adult life swapping tales with people residing on all 7 continents.

Marianne has an extensive background in hospitality, including wedding planning and officiating. After studying languages and hospitality management in England, Marianne moved to Maine where she spent a decade as the wedding coordinator at Sebasco Harbor resort here in Phippsburg.

Marianne brings a passion, warmth and expertise to all she does. At the Inn, she is our resident expert in all things wedding and event related. Here you may find her greeting guests with a beaming smile, offering inspired tours to prospective clients, sharing her intimate knowledge of our community, and confidently supporting couples and their planners throughout the booking and planning process.

Marianne also enjoys offering customized officiating and wedding planning services to select 1774 Inn couples--only a few each season to make sure each has the time and attention they deserve. Marianne connects deeply with couples, and has a seemingly magical ability to discover their beautiful, unique and ever evolving love stories.

Marianne lives down the road in West Bath with her husband Joey, a retired fisherman and firefighter, and their exuberant and playful lab, Jax. When not at the Inn, she can be found roaming the trails of nearby preserves, frying waffles on an open fire, paddling a quiet pond, tailgating in a remote location, or reconnecting with her roots on the other side of the Atlantic.

Lauren ViVenzio, Events Assistant

After growing up in Connecticut and spending almost six years in Boston, Lauren recently moved to Portland, and into a new chapter in the wedding world. Before joining the team at the inn, she worked as an elementary school teacher, house manager, and professional organizer, with graduate studies in psychology along the way. She has always been the person who loves making plans, noticing the little details, and keeping things on track, especially if there is a good checklist involved.

Planning her own wedding on Nantucket was a turning point, turning a long-held interest in events into something she wanted to be a part of firsthand. At the inn, Lauren helps keep vendor logistics running smoothly and supports the behind-the-scenes magic that makes wedding days feel effortless.

When she’s off the clock, Lauren is probably rearranging furniture for fun, finding a new restaurant to try, working out, or exploring a new corner of Portland with her husband.