AMC Gorman Chairback Lodge Project Features Work by Local Moosehead Area Contractors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec.1, 2010

GREENVILLE, Maine-More than 20 local workers, including a dozen local contractors, are employed in the construction of a new Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) lodge on Long Pond near Greenville.

Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins, one of three backcountry sporting camps operated for the public by the AMC, is set to open Jan. 27, 2011. Since 2008, AMC crews have been refurbishing the traditional log cabins at the historic sporting camp, and local Moosehead area contractors have recently been building a new lodge to accommodate visitors with a dining room, reading area, and wood-fired sauna, as part of a $2.3 million project.

The lodge is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-registered green building, with certification anticipated in 2011.

General contractor for the lodge construction project is Scott Appaneal Construction of Shirley. Site contractor is Theriault Construction of Greenville.

Building subcontractors are Joe LaBrecque and Shirley Bog Builders of Shirley and Joel Boone Construction of Greenville.

Other contractors employed in the project include A.E. Robinson of Greenville, HVAC and plumbing; John Cobb and East Road Electric of Greenville, electrical and solar; Tom St. Jean and St. Jean Masonry of Greenville; George Bakajza of Rockwood, septic design; Robert Mello of Rockwood, landscaping and road contractor; Scott Harding and Harding Construction of Greenville, barn contractor; and Steve Mason of Moosehead Water Wells, well drilling.

In addition, Hammond Lumber of Greenville is the main supplier of building materials for the lodge project, while Bailey Lumber in Milo has been the supplier for cabin renovation materials. Randy Coulton of Kamp Kamp in Greenville will be supplying authentic period furnishings, while Dominic Poiss of Maine House Furniture in Abbot will be handcrafting dining tables from trees cut from the lodge site. John Tatko and Monson Slate will be creating a slate hearth and mantel, as well as an engraved donor plaque.

“The opening of Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins is an exciting step in our Maine Woods Initiative, and we’re fortunate to have such talented local contractors and craftsmen helping us take that next step,” said Gary Dethlefsen, operations manager for AMC Maine Wilderness Lodges.

“The initiative seeks to support the ecological and economic needs of the region by creating new multi-day recreational experiences and attracting new nature-based tourism to the region while also supporting local forest products jobs,” Dethlefsen explained.

He noted that AMC’s property contains a network of more than 70 miles of recreational trails and ski routes open to use by the pubic, with more than 35 miles of new trail built since 2003. In addition, the club has created a new backpackers’ shelter on the property and has improved access trails to six backcountry ponds prized by anglers for their wild brook trout. “We really want our property to be a recreational resource for the community, and we welcome area residents and visitors to explore and enjoy this great landscape,” Dethlefsen said.

AMC’s Greenville office recently relocated to 15 Moosehead Lake Road, and Dethlefsen said people are welcome to stop in and learn more about the recreational opportunities offered by the organization.

AMC is in the process of hiring a full-time lodge manager, adding to its full-time and seasonal staff of 29 in Piscataquis County. AMC pays both real estate and timber tax on its property, and its sustainable forestry operation uses Maine crews and directs timber to Maine mills.

The Gorman Chairback project is designed to provide outdoors enthusiasts with new, comfortable, and environmentally sustainable accommodations. Gorman Chairback is the newest stop on the lodge-to-lodge cross-country ski network created and managed by AMC for use by the public. Other AMC lodging properties along the route are Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins in Kokadjo and Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins in T7 R9. AMC partners with the fourth-generation family-owned West Branch Pond Camps, operated by Eric Stirling and Mildred Kennedy, to provide another lodging stop along the trail.

Gorman Chairback Lodge is off the grid and powered by a photovoltaic system that harnesses solar power to serve electrical needs. Furnishings are provided courtesy of a generous donation from L.L. Bean. Home-cooked meals will be served in the lodge.

Gorman Chairback is named for longtime AMC supporters and outdoor enthusiasts, Leon and Lisa Gorman.

The lodge and cabins are located on the shore of Long Pond, which offers fishing for wild brook trout and landlocked salmon. The newly refurbished cabins include wood stoves and gas lights.

The property is part of the 37,000-acre Katahdin Iron Works tract purchased from International Paper in 2003. AMC also purchased the 29,500-acre Roach Ponds tract, which abuts the Katahdin Iron Works parcel to the north, from Plum Creek in fall 2009.

Conservation easements on both properties guarantee public access for recreation in perpetuity.

Reservations are currently being taken for lodging at Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins at (603) 466-2727, or online at www.outdoors.org. Staff at AMC’s Greenville office ((207) 695-3085) can also provide additional information.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region.

Media Contacts
Rob Burbank
Director of Media and Public Affairs
[email protected]
(603) 466-8155