“The largest development of this period, and one of the largest in the state, was Gunstock Acres, where a Massachusetts development group laid out 776 house lots on 800 acres of steep pasture in the mid 1960s.  The development absorbed Camp Samoset just southeast of Lake Shore Park.  Marketed as a year round vacation community with its own beach, tennis courts and swimming pool, by 1974, the area had only 202 houses, primarily chalets…The Gunstock Acres Association later formed to address water and road concerns.”

Mulligan, Adair D. The Gunstock Parish. A History of Gilford, NH. West Kennebunk, ME. Phoenix Publishing. 1995.

 

The land that Gunstock Acres Beach is developed on was at one time a boys camp, Camp Samoset.  There is still evidence of the camp on our site, such as the remains of a fireplace and our gatehouse, once a bath house and now used for storage.

Did you know that Gunstock Acres at one time had use of what was formerly the Gunstock Inn’s pool as one of its amenities.

There are many members of our association who have lived in the Acres for many years or whose family members have been a part of the association since the beginning.  Have a conversation with your neighbor and you may learn some interesting facts about the area.

More resources:

The Lake Winnipesaukee Society

Thompson Ames Historical Society