December 13, 2019 Stratton-Eustis

Today was a noticeably warmer day than yesterday, and the last rainstorm we had melted away almost all of the snow in most parts of the state. One of the exciting things about Maine, though, is that one area can be completely barren of snow while another area might have several feet!

Today, the Stratton-Eustis area will be the focus of our blog! Western Maine is an adventurer’s dream, with rolling mountains with breathtaking ledge formations. Hiking, skiing, and camping are just some of this area’s strengths.

Maine Huts and Trails offers a sprawling placement of lodges that one can hike to. Throughout the entire Maine Huts and Trails system, there are four lodges with surrounding cabins for hikers to stay in. Each main lodge offers a common area for trekkers to socialize, eat food, or access amenities like bathrooms and showers. The organization prides itself on using green technology such as solar panels, wood burners that have drastically-reduced waste output, and composting toilets!

For those who like food, there are several options! Some of these include the Coplin Dinner House, which makes home-cooked food for visitors who can eat in the dining room of an old house. In the main village, the Backstrap Cafe specializes in sandwiches. They have some of the best fries around!

In the history department, Flagstaff Lake is a point of interest. Originally a river, it was dammed off to create a man-made lake. That was back in the 1950s, and even today, one can still find remnants of what used to be the town of Flagstaff. The town used to sit where the lake currently is. Everyone who lived in town had to relocate, with a few structures being relocated to nearby Stratton. Today, many house foundations can still be found just under the water’s surface! Pieces of silverware and china, as well as stumps from old backyard trees, are also commonly found.