I visited America's most sophisticated McDonald's built inside a 150-year-old mansion. Here's what it's like.

Sophie-Claire HoellerSep 25, 2020, 03:28 IST

The mansion was built in the 1850s.Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

There's a McDonald's built inside a colonial mansion from the 1850s in Freeport, Maine.
McDonald's had to adhere to strict design rules and fit in with the surrounding buildings in order to be allowed to open.
The signage is so subtle I almost missed it when I stopped while on a recent RV trip from New York City to Maine.
The fast-food restaurant is cute on the outside, while the inside looks like any other McDonald's location.

The McDonald's in the small town of Freeport, Maine, is housed inside a 150-year-old colonial mansion. I checked it out while on a recent road trip in an RV from New York City to Maine.

It is still the only McDonald's in Freeport, Maine. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The McDonald's in the small town of Freeport, Maine, is housed inside a 150-year-old colonial mansion. I checked it out while on a recent road trip in an RV from New York City to Maine.

It's only a few blocks from L.L. Bean's flagship store.

The L.L. flagship store is 200,000 square feet. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The signage is so subtle I almost walked by it.

The mansion was built in the 1850s. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

In fact, this is the only pair of golden arches I saw.

There's little by way of the red-and-yellow color scheme we associate with the brand. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The building was converted into a McDonald's in 1984, and to this day is the only McDonald's in town.

The shutters are a nice touch. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Source: The New York Times

The mansion, formerly known as the Gore House, was built by a prominent local merchant by the name of William Gore in 1850, according to The Freeport Historical Society.

William Gore ran a successful general store in Freeport. Business Insider/YouTube

Source: Freeport Historical Society

The mansion, formerly known as the Gore House, was built by a prominent local merchant by the name of William Gore in 1850, according to The Freeport Historical Society.

Source: Freeport Historical Society

McDonald's wanted to build a location in a residential area but faced Freeport's strict building design codes, as well as locals who were against the opening of a McDonald's in their town, according to The New York Times.

Freeport today is known for its many outlet stores. Shutterstock

Source: The New York Times

McDonald's wanted to build a location in a residential area but faced Freeport's strict building design codes, as well as locals who were against the opening of a McDonald's in their town, according to The New York Times.

Source: The New York Times

To appease those locals as well as adhere to the design codes, they decided to transform a home in order to fit in with the town's aesthetic. The Freeport Historical Society describes the mansion as having "a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture."

The New York Times describes the building as classic Victorian. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Source: Freeport Historical Society

To appease those locals as well as adhere to the design codes, they decided to transform a home in order to fit in with the town's aesthetic. The Freeport Historical Society describes the mansion as having "a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture."

Source: Freeport Historical Society

"What we are doing there is something we probably have never done before in terms of design and the amount of time and effort involved," said Stephen Leroy, manager of McDonald's media relations, in 1984, according to The New York Times.

There was a lush garden with seating near the restaurant's entrance. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Source: The New York Times

"What we are doing there is something we probably have never done before in terms of design and the amount of time and effort involved," said Stephen Leroy, manager of McDonald's media relations, in 1984, according to The New York Times.

Source: The New York Times

There's a welcoming garden with McDonald's-branded benches outside.

The garden was roped off due to the coronavirus pandemic at the time of my visit. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

There's also a drive-thru that was quite busy when I visited, probably because indoor dining was prohibited at the time of my visit due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The drive-thru also looks the part, and is a subtle addition at the back of the restaurant. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

I'd heard that this location serves lobster rolls some summers, but, unfortunately, these weren't on the menu at the time of my visit.

A sign for a McDonald's lobster roll. James R. Martin/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

The inside is surprisingly modern thanks to touchscreens, which juxtapose the old-fashioned exterior.

The touchscreens were not in use due to the coronavirus at the time of my visit. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

It felt like a regular McDonald's.

This could be any McDonald's anywhere in the world. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The décor includes old images of Freeport.

Due to the pandemic, indoor dining was prohibited at the time of my visit. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Most of the interior was nothing to write home about ...

The front dining room could be anywhere, but the back room felt homier than a regular McDonald's. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

... But, through a closed door, I did see a room with sconces and cozy fireplaces that looked more like a pub than any McDonald's I've been to. I imagine eating a Big Mac in this environment would make it feel less like fast food and more like fine dining.

This dining room looked more like a regular restaurant or pub. Sophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

... But, through a closed door, I did see a room with sconces and cozy fireplaces that looked more like a pub than any McDonald's I've been to. I imagine eating a Big Mac in this environment would make it feel less like fast food and more like fine dining.

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I visited America's most sophisticated McDonald's built inside a 150-year-old mansion. Here's what it's like.

The McDonald's in the small town of Freeport, Maine, is housed inside a 150-year-old colonial mansion. I checked it out while on a recent road trip in an RV from New York City to Maine.

It's only a few blocks from L.L. Bean's flagship store.

The signage is so subtle I almost walked by it.

In fact, this is the only pair of golden arches I saw.

The building was converted into a McDonald's in 1984, and to this day is the only McDonald's in town.

The mansion, formerly known as the Gore House, was built by a prominent local merchant by the name of William Gore in 1850, according to The Freeport Historical Society.

McDonald's wanted to build a location in a residential area but faced Freeport's strict building design codes, as well as locals who were against the opening of a McDonald's in their town, according to The New York Times.

To appease those locals as well as adhere to the design codes, they decided to transform a home in order to fit in with the town's aesthetic. The Freeport Historical Society describes the mansion as having "a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture."

"What we are doing there is something we probably have never done before in terms of design and the amount of time and effort involved," said Stephen Leroy, manager of McDonald's media relations, in 1984, according to The New York Times.

There's a welcoming garden with McDonald's-branded benches outside.

There's also a drive-thru that was quite busy when I visited, probably because indoor dining was prohibited at the time of my visit due to the coronavirus pandemic.

I'd heard that this location serves lobster rolls some summers, but, unfortunately, these weren't on the menu at the time of my visit.

The inside is surprisingly modern thanks to touchscreens, which juxtapose the old-fashioned exterior.

It felt like a regular McDonald's.

The décor includes old images of Freeport.

Most of the interior was nothing to write home about ...

... But, through a closed door, I did see a room with sconces and cozy fireplaces that looked more like a pub than any McDonald's I've been to. I imagine eating a Big Mac in this environment would make it feel less like fast food and more like fine dining.