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Snow, It's Make-or-Break Time in Southern Maine

February 13, 2010 - WINDHAM - The ground around Seacoast Fun Park in Windham is bare, with the grass showing hints of green. Still, snow tubes are flying down the hill.

Mother Nature has been stingy with snow in Maine this winter, and that has shut down some winter recreation areas. But the lack of snow hasn't meant a lack of creativity at many Maine winter businesses.

Seacoast Fun Park's sliding hill, with its manmade snow, has had one of its busiest years, said its manager, Jenny Davis.

The tubing park has proven to be such a popular source of snow fun that it expanded this year from nine lanes to 12.

"We have plenty of snow," said Davis, who sees unseasonably nice winter weather as a benefit for the business.

"The warmer it is, the longer guests stay outside," she said. "We're up probably 5 to 10 percent (this season), and last year was our best."

Many cross country ski centers have shut down in the past three weeks, since torrential rain on Jan. 25 melted much of the snow that had fallen a week earlier. For those businesses, the prayers are for snow. There's faith that it will come.

Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook, where Nordic ski trails line the pastures, is hoping the snow will return.

"When we had snow, we were mobbed," said Amanda Perkins in the farm's office. "Now the fields are bare. There's grass. A lot of people are calling to ask."

At Harris Farm in Dayton, Dixie Harris said this winter, so far, is average compared with the past 21 ski seasons at her family's farm. The snow drought of the past three weeks, which closed the trails, is no surprise to Harris.

"I'm still very hopeful. Next week is when all the people from out of state come. Then it's New Hampshire (school) vacation week. And the first week of March can be wonderful," Harris said.

Many of southern Maine's snow-related businesses have improvised this winter.

At Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, the Nordic trails are closed to the public but the ski staff shoveled and moved snow to cover the course for high school and regional Nordic races.

Matt Sabasteanski, Pineland's outdoor recreation director, said more than 6 miles of trails are groomed for races, and the staff is working to keep them in shape.

"It's a terrible winter," Sabasteanski said. "We often hit these January thaws. This is not unfamiliar. But we're not used to such a long dry spell."

The snowmobile rental business in Fryeburg had to pack up and move because of the lack of snow. Fryeburg Snowmobile Rental is now running out of Dubee Our Guest Bed and Breakfast in Milan, N.H., 50 miles to the north, where there is snow.

"We're off 30 percent. Luckily, we're mobile," said Terry MacGillivray, owner of the business. "We moved 50 machines up here. There's plenty of snow. It's snowing right now."

MacGillivray will return to Fryeburg when the snow does.

The past two winters were the best he's had in 10 years in business. He said there was a surprising surplus of snow on the trails then.

"I'm not worried," he said. "I don't owe anyone anything."

At the Oxford Tubing Park on Route 26 in Oxford, manager Bill Acritelli said the fact that the ground around the hill is bare is no cause for concern.

There's snow on the hill -- and likely more is on the way in March. After all, this is Maine.

"I remember years like this, and I remember years it wouldn't stop snowing," Acritelli said. "It's nice to have it around and not so dirty. But next week we'll have a 15-minute wait in line and at least 200 tubes per hour on the hill."

Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald, February 13, 2010

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Regions: Sebago


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