Little Lyford Pond camps

The Little Lyford Pond camps opened in 1874, bordering the West Branch of the Pleasant River in northern Maine in the United States. The camps are a short walk from Gulf Hagas and the Appalachian Trail's famed 100-Mile Wilderness. They are located approximately convert|20|mi|km east of Greenville and convert|30|mi|km northwest of Brownville.

In 1977 the Frantzman family leased convert|300|acre|km2 of land and around 14 wood dwellings from the paper company that owns the camps. There are two lakes and a river within a mile of the site. There is no electricity, and water is gravity fed from a spring.

The Frantzmans invested a great deal of time and work on renovations of the site, which they ran as the Little Lyford Pond Lodge. Outhouses were constructed and placed on skids so they could be moved and the manure put to use. A greenhouse was built that used photovoltaic cells (solar cells) to power a hot water heater for a shower. There is a sauna and a root cellar. The cabins were next leased by the Fackelman family in 1987 and was later leased to the Leroys in the 1990s. The camps still exist and are maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The AMC has a long history of operating recreational facilities in Maine.

The camps are a favorite spot for anglers, and fishing is a popular activity in late spring and summer. Fly-fishing instruction is available for guests.

The winter season runs from Dec. 15 to March 31. The camps close for early spring and reopen for the season from May 13, 2004 through Oct. 31, 2004.

"When we learned the LeRoys were looking for new owners for the camps, we saw it as a rare opportunity to continue the tradition of providing quiet recreational opportunities while protecting this special place for generations to come," said Director Walter Graff. "The camps are an ideal place to continue our commitment to outdoor recreation, education, and backcountry stewardship for the benefit of the public."

The AMC, a 127-year-old conservation and recreation organization, with an active chapter and 3300 members in Maine, purchased the wilderness camps in June from Bob and Arlene LeRoy, who have managed the Moosehead-region camps for six years. Bob LeRoy is staying on as manager of the camps.

The camps are one of the great historic treasures of Maine.

External links

* [http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/lyford/index.cfm Little Lyford Pond Camps - AMC website]