Maine Huts & Trails Needs $500,000 To Open This Winter

Since 2008 over 76,000 people from 48 states and 18 countries have made lasting memories staying with Maine Huts and Trails.

Located in Kingfield, Maine Huts and Trails provides overnight stays, skiing, mountain biking, paddling, pretty much an adventure for every season and for every type of adventurer. The system’s four lodges have capacity for 168 people  They maintain 80 miles of trails. Their mission since the beginning was to provide year round public access to a 180 mile multi use trail system in Maine’s scenic Western Mountains, running from Bethel, Maine to Moosehead Lake. 

Now however, they are in danger of not being able to open for the winter according to an article in the Sun Journal.

The website reports Maine Huts and Trails needs $500,000 in the next four to six weeks to pay staff and prepare the huts and trails for the season. There is still a lot of work to be done before they can open their doors.

The money needed will pay for salaries, getting the ski grooming equipment ready, energy systems repairs as well as some trails and bridges upkeep, according to the article, and they're hoping to raise the money through private donations.

The system’s leaders are calling the whole situation a “reboot” of the organization, however they're well aware that if they don’t raise the needed funds and open, it will result in a difficult setback with seven full time staff members and eight seasonal employees, who would lose their jobs if the hut system doesn’t open for winter, the newspaper reported.