What’s in a Name?

A story about Skillful Home Recreation, Southern Maine Spas, and helping people find their way to relaxation.

If you’ve ever stepped into our showroom on Forest Avenue, you’ve probably noticed a few things: the beautifully crafted pool tables to one side, the variety of game tables, the dart counter—and right there in the front taking up almost half of our floor space, our lineup of Bullfrog Spas, including a full-size swim spa that’s hard to miss.

But recently, we had a longtime customer come in to order another game table. He glanced toward the spas—ones he had clearly walked past several times—and said:

“Wait—you sell hot tubs?”

It made us smile. Because yes… we absolutely do.

And we have for over a decade.

A Little Background

Skillful Home Recreation was founded in 1978 right here in Portland, Maine. For over 40 years, we’ve helped families create space for fun, connection, and restoration—whether through legendary pool tables, classic table games, or outdoor play.

We became the proud owners in 2009, and in 2014, we moved to our current Forest Avenue location and added something we deeply believe in: Bullfrog Spas.

Why? Because they reflect the same values we’ve always stood for: quality, comfort, and thoughtful design. So much so that we built a private, in-store spa room so people could truly try before they buy.

Still, as our recent customer reminded us, our name—Skillful Home Recreation—doesn’t always say “hot tubs.”

Enter: Southern Maine Spas

After helping hundreds of families discover the comfort and joy of a home spa, we realized it was time to give this part of our business its own front door.

So we created Southern Maine Spas — our dedicated spa division, built on the same foundation of trust, expertise, and care that Skillful Home has always been known for.

It’s not a rebrand. It’s not a new business.
It’s us, simply showing up more clearly for the people searching for a better way to soak, move, and unwind.

You’ll still find us under Skillful Home Recreation—and you’ll still find the best in pool tables, game room classics, and backyard play. But if you’re looking for Bullfrog Spas or Hydropool Swim Spas, you can also now find us at Southern Maine Spas.

A Word About the Logo

Our spiral-and-ball logo has always meant something special to us.
The spiral suggests unwinding. The ball in the air reminds us to have fun.
Together, they capture what we’re about: balance, movement, fun and reconnection.

Whether it’s around the game table or in the spa, that’s still at the heart of everything we do.

Thanks for Stopping By

If you’re a longtime customer, thank you. You’ve helped us grow while staying true to our roots.
And if you’re just discovering us—whether you searched for spas in Southern Maine or stumbled in for a game of foosball—welcome.