Bridgton, ME

Residents of Highland Lake in Bridgton know a good thing when they see it - and when it comes to golf they only need to look the short distance up to "the Highlands". Need to slow down and enjoy some great golfing in northern New England? Bridgton Highlands Country Club in western Maine is tops.

Bridgton Highlands is well-groomed, interesting and challenging. And the view from the first hole is spectacular: Shawnee Peak Ski Area at Pleasant Mountain, Mt. Kearsarge North, Mount Washington and the much of the Presidential Range.

Designed by A. W. Tillinghast in 1925, Bridgton Highlands was a nine-hole par 37 course. Today, due to an expansion in the 1990s, it boasts an 18-hole par 74 layout with 4 sets of tees, making it playable for golfers of all abilities. Ponds on some of the holes bring shot making strategy into the mix. With tree-lined fairways, the course takes advantage of the natural lay of the land.

Open early May through October, you can enjoy your own game or take part in one of the many group golfing opportunities including Sweeps, Scotch 4-somes, Scrambles, Men's Group, Ladies Day, Twilight League and Daily Wolf Pack. Throughout the season, Bridgton Highlands is host to several tournaments including the 19th annual Bridgton Hospital Benefit Golf Tournament on September 9, 2009.

The clubhouse is the perfect place to start and finish your golf experience. Tennis, cart rentals, a driving range for members only, and a pro shop are part of the amenities at Bridgton Highlands Country Club. Call the pro shop at 207.647.3491 to reserve your tee time.

If you're in the market for buying a lakefront property on Highland Lake, look no further than the box below. Just a click of the mouse transports you to all the current listings.

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Before you begin your day on Sebago Lake, Panther Pond, Highland Lake or any one of the numerous lakes and ponds in the western Maine Mountains and Lakes Region you might want to visit one of the farmers' markets sprinkled throughout the area.

Farmers' markets in our neck of the woods are vibrant with color, lively chatter and friendly faces. They promote healthy living and give us a place to purchase locally produced foods and goods.

I'm always amazed at the variety of seasonal offerings including but not limited to the following: seedlings, organic produce, plants, herbs, fruit, flowers, eggs, honey, wool and fleece, handcrafted soaps, soy candles, breads and jellies, cider, goat cheese, lamb, pork, and goat meat.

When we buy locally, our dollars have a greater impact in our communities. If you purchase a lakefront property in this area, you'll be able to greet your neighbors, meet new friends and get to know your farmers and growers at these open-air markets.

I've listed the local farmers' markets below for your shopping convenience:

Greater Bridgton Lakes Region:

Lovell-Wednesdays, 9 a.m. -1 p.m., in front of Brandon Gregor Marine and the Wicked Good Store

Naples-Thursdays, 9 a.m. -1 p.m., Naples Village Green, Lambs Mill Road

Harrison-Fridays, 1:30-5:30 p.m., town parking lot between the town office and Harrison Village Library

Fryeburg-Fridays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Sharon's Seafood & ReMax Realty, Route 302

Bridgton-Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Depot Street behind Reny's Department Store

Oxford Hills:

Norway-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., corner of 419 Main and Deering Streets

Poland-Fridays, 2-6 p.m., Poland Crossing Plaza, Route 26

Bethel:

Bethel-Saturdays, 9 a.m. -noon, Bethel Health Care Center Parking Lot, Railroad Street

Sebago Lakes Region:

Windham-Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, Manchester School, 709 Roosevelt Trail

Greater Portland:

Falmouth-Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m., WalMart parking lot, Route 1

Yarmouth-Thursdays, 1-5 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 320 Main Street

Freeport-Fridays,1-5 p.m., Freeport Town Hall, Main Street

Cumberland-Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Greely High School, 303 Main Street

York-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, Stonewall Kitchen Factory, 1 Stonewall Lane

Lewiston/Auburn:

Lewiston-Tuesdays, 2-6 p.m., Kennedy Park, corner of Bates and Pine Streets

Lewiston-Wednesdays, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Mary's, Lafayette and Campus Avenues

Lewiston-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Central Maine Medical Center, High and Main Streets

Auburn-Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. -3 p.m., Turner Street, behind the Auburn Mall

Auburn-Fridays, 2-6 p.m., Great Falls Art Center, Main and Academy Streets

FMI: www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Maine.htm

Maine lakefront real estate buyers are finding out what area hikers have known for a long time - you can see a lot of great lakefront real estate (and other nice vistas) from the higher reaches of Pleasant Mountain.

At 2006 feet, Pleasant Mountain, the tallest mountain in western Maine, overlooks Moose Pond, Beaver Pond, Long Pond and more. Trails include Bald Peak in Bridgton, The Ledges and Southwest Ridge Trail in Denmark and the Fire Wardens Trail in Fryeburg.

Thanks to the work of Loon Echo Land Trust, the trails are well-marked. Trail maps are available at kiosks.

What many people don't realize when they get to the top of Pleasant Mountain and enjoy the views, is that in 1845 Caleb Warren constructed a crude shelter on Green Pinnacle, the peak where the defunct fire tower stands.

In 1850, Joseph Sargent purchased Warren's twenty acres and converted the building to a bowling alley. He also built a 2-story hotel, which opened on June 25, 1850. Visitors were met at Plummer's Landing on Long Lake where they'd arrived via steam boat. They were taken by carriage to the base of the mountain and could either climb or ride up.

Sargent's hotel was destroyed by fire in 1860. Caleb Warren regained the land and in 1872 he sold it to Charles Gibbs, who built a hotel for 20 guests. The grand opening was on July 4, 1873. Carter's Band of Boston performed and over 300 guests attended.

In 1881 the hotel closed, but was reopened in 1901 as the Pleasant Mountain Hotel Company, Inc. The completely renovated hotel included a telephone. Due to high costs and vandalism, the hotel closed in 1904. John Pike of East Fryeburg purchased the buildings in 1908. After tearing them down, he used the lumber for construction on his farm.The 48-foot fire tower was erected by the Maine Forestry Commission in 1920 and was manned until 1992.

By the 1930s, adventurous locals had scouted out the skiable slopes, which were cow pastures at the time. Bridgton Academy students and town residents cut the first crude skiing trails in 1936. The following year, Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) cleared the Jack Spratt trail from top to bottom. The rest is local skiing history.

If you're interested in getting a closer look at Moose Pond lakefront real estate just click on the button below to see all the current listings:

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A road racing friend of mine writes:

The "4 on the 4th" Road Race in Bridgton is a traditional way for our family to celebrate Independence Day.

First thing in the morning we come together to run or cheer on the runners at the annual race. I don't normally like to run in crowds, but it's fun to see so many people involved - from runners to volunteers, who work the registration tables, sing the Star Spangled Banner, provide water stops, keep traffic at a standstill, collect chips at the finish line and offer massages.

And 90% of the proceeds benefit the Bridgton Public Library, while the other ten percent benefit other local charitable projects.

After the race, we all gather to put the finishing touches on our float, which often wins a prize. The crowds that line the streets of our small town for this parade are amazing - and eager for the candy we toss.

Of course, the parade, sponsored by the Bridgton Lions Club, is quintessential Maine. It features floats created by families, organizations and businesses, Kora Shriners of South Central Maine, Bridgton Community Band, horses, color guards, vintage cars, twirling ballerinas, jugglers, clowns, Scout troops, and fire trucks from throughout the Lakes Region.

The day ends with a family barbeque at our camp on Moose Pond - hot dogs and burgers, potato salad, and strawberry shortcake are always on the menu, but we'll get creative too. We'll swim, play a friendly game of wiffle ball, and sit around the campfire toasting marshmallows for s'mores. Finally, we'll retire to the screened-in porch overlooking the water and watch fireworks go off up and down the lake.

It doesn't get much more All-American than that. Fireworks, band concerts, parades, cookouts, road races, Independence Day - it's all happening in the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine. Come and enjoy Independence Day at a vacation home on any of the lakes or ponds in western Maine where our motto is "the way life should be."

The race, certified by the USATF, begins at Food City at 8 a.m., with registration at Bridgton Memorial School from 6 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Information about the race is available at www.fouronthefourth.com. You can register on line at www.comfortsignups.com.

If you're interested in seeing what lakefront properties are for sale on Moose Pond, click below:

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To celebrate the longest day of the year and the first day of summer, and to remember its founder, Bob Chase, the members of the Loon Echo Land Trust will be leading a hike up Bald Pate Mountain in South Bridgton, Maine on June 21st.

The hike will start at 5 pm and participants are asked to meet at the Bald Pate parking lot. The hike takes about 30 minutes and the views from the summit provide a bird's eye view of the surrounding lakes and hills including Foster Pond, Peabody Pond, and Hancock Pond.

The Loon Echo Land Trust was founded in 1987 by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to see some of the natural areas of the northern Sebago Lake Region preserved in their natural state, immune from development and exploitation. Since its founding, the Loon Echo Land Trust has put into permanent conservation 3,396 acres of land in the towns of Bridgton, Casco, Denmark, Naples, Harrison, Sebago, and Raymond, including 14 conservation easements and 6 preserves.

Their largest preserve is the Pleasant Mountain Preserve in Bridgton which is a destination for thousands of hikers every year. Their first two preserves are the Mayberry Hill Preserve in Casco and the Bald Pate Preserve mentioned above which are enjoyed by hikers in the summer and cross country skiers in the winter months.

Upcoming activities include Trail Maintenance on Pleasant Mountain, done in conjunction with the Appalachian Mountain Club on August 1st and the Loon Echo Hike and Bike Trek on September19th. All are welcome to these activities and the Trust is always eager to welcome new members and volunteers.

Visit the Loon Echo Land Trust's website to learn more.

If you are interested in conserving your own piece of paradise in Maine you should check out our Lakefront Locator where you can easily search for all the current lakefront listings in Maine.

Here are a few that you might see from the summit of Bald Pate:

Foster Pond, Bridgton - 1.2 acres with 85 feet of frontage, peace and quiet - $189,000.

Foster Pond, Bridgton - 2 bdrm camp with 211 feet of frontage - $189,900.

Hancock Pond, Denmark - 3 bdrm cottage with 100 feet of frontage - $219,000.

Hancock Pond, Denmark, cute 2 bdrm camp with 100′ of sandy frontage - $224,897.

Hancock Pond, Denmark - 3 bdrm, 2 baths, at the end of the road - $396,000.

Hancock Pond, Denmark - 3 bdrm, 2.5 baths, 200 feet of frontage - $539,900.

Hancock Pond, Denmark - 40 acre compound, main lodge and 3 cottages - $1,300,000.