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By: Robert Janis
Maine Resort Provides
Access to 1,300 Miles of Trails
Imagine a lodge that caters to ATV
recreationists like a ski lodge caters to
skiers. That can explain the Forks Resort Center
in Maine. It is located on Route 201, Old Canada
Road National Scenic Byway known locally as
“Moose Alley.” It goes all the way up into
Canada. Adjacent to the Kennebec River, it is a
2-1/2 hour drive north of Portland, Maine and
about 1-1/2 hours from Augusta, the state
capital. Also, it has access to the State of
Maine’s more than 13,000 miles of trails used by
snowmobilers in the winter and 6,000 miles of
trails used by ATV’ers in the spring, summer,
and fall.
History of Forks Resort
Northern Outdoors
(www.northernoutdoors.com) constructed
and owns the Forks Resort. “Northern Outdoors
started as a whitewater rafting company,”
explained Russell Walters, president of the
company. “We recognized that although we had
fabulous rivers, people weren’t going to come
just to whitewater raft and then go home. We
needed to provide lodging, entertainment, food,
and more. So we built the Forks Resort.”
Opened in 1983, the Forks Resort caters to
whitewater rafters in the summer and
snowmobilers in the winter. The region is
steeped in logging history. For example, the
Kennebec River was one of the last rivers in the
U.S. to be used for log drives. The area has
also attracted people for hunting, fishing, and
hiking. Much of the land is owned by large paper
companies and other private landowners who make
the land available for recreation under an “Open
Lands” Policy.
Initially, it was snowmobilers who took
advantage of the 13,000 miles of trails known as
the Maine “Interconnecting Trail System” (ITS).
Walters explained that Northern Outdoors
constructed a spur that connects the Fork Resort
to the ITS in the mid-1980s. “We’ve been
catering to snowmobilers for more than 20
years,” he said.
Recently, the resort has been working with local
landowners to make the snowmobile trail spur
accessible to ATV’ers during ATV season. Over
the last 18 months Northern Outdoors has been
“testing the waters” offering the lodge as a
base for ATV’ers who want to use access to more
than 6,000 miles of Maine’s developing ATV trail
system during the spring, summer, and fall.
According to Walters, the region is very rural
with a number of very small towns that include
Greenville, Rockwood, and Jackman. “The lodge is
typically used by riders who ride one-day loops
and also as a start and end point for three- or
four-day ATV group rides that connect the local
towns of Greenville, Rockwood, Jackman, and The
Forks,” said Walters.
The company promotes the lodge to the ATV
community in a number of ways. First, it gets a
clientele of snowmobilers who also ride ATVs.
“There is a significant crossover of
snowmobilers and ATV’ers,” said Walters. “In
many cases, people who have stayed at the Forks
ride snowmobiles on the trails in the winter.
Now they are coming to ride their ATVs on the
trails in the summer. They help spread the news
through word of mouth.” Second, the lodge
promotes its ATV business all year round with
posts on its website and e-newsletters. Walters
has also been in contact with ATV Maine, the
state’s ATV association. In fact, the group held
an annual meeting there in October of this year.
Currently, the resort does not rent ATVs. “It is
something we are looking at, and we expect to
offer it in the not-too-distant future,” said
Walters. Northern Outdoors rents snowmobiles.
It also offers a guide service which is being
used by ATV’ers. “The majority of our staff are
whitewater guides and recreational guides,”
Walters said. “In addition, a number of our
snowmobile guides are local residents who
explore the area on their own. So our guides can
take ATV’ers on day trips into the back woods.”
Accommodations
The Forks Resort has a full time staff of 30
people which increases to 130 to 150 people
during the peak months of summer. It offers
campsites within a short walk from the lodge for
$10 all the way to deluxe family cabins that
include televisions, Jacuzzis, and
fully-furnished kitchens and outdoor barbecues
so guests can cook their own meals. “Lodging is
available at a number of different prices for a
number of different experiences,” said Walters.
There is also a swimming pool, restaurant,
brewery and pub. In addition, there is
entertainment on the weekends. “The
entertainment includes solo guitarists and local
bands,” said Walters. “The weekends are more for
adults and party groups and during the weekdays
we cater to a family crowd,” said Walters.
According to Walters, the resort offers group
discounts, which has attracted a large number of
snowmobile clubs in the winter. “We believe that
the group discounts will attract ATV clubs,” he
said. The rate includes one free lodging for
every 15 people who book. Walters suggests that
you check the resort’s website to learn more
about special pricing.
“We get a lot of people who want to do more than
one activity,” concluded Walters. “For example,
you can tie your ATV’ing to whitewater rafting
or a hike on the Appalachian Trail.”
For more information visit the website at:
www.northernoutdoors.com.
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