A New Chapter for Fish River Lodge

As we look back at 2010 it is with fond memories of families vacationing together, friendships renewed or forged, and some amazing adventures in the woods and on the waters of this beautiful place we call Fish River Lodge located on Eagle Lake, in “The Valley”. We also look back at a lot of hard, endless hours of work and the difficult times we’ve struggled through. We, like many of you, have had to make many sacrifices as our economy falters. It hasn’t been kind to the tourism industry and especially the sporting camp businesses in Maine. Wayne and I have cut every conceivable expense we could manage to remain competitive. Even then we haven’t been able to keep our business profitable. Finally, we came to the realization we might have to sell Fish River Lodge. We put it on the market last November and started to share this tough decision with our clients. We got through 2010, by the skin of our teeth. We kept our faith, we worked harder, hoped, and prayed when we had nothing else. “Gambaru” (a Japanese word for “never, ever, ever, ever quit”) was our morning mantra. Our loyal clients helped us keep the faith and we enjoyed one of our busiest years since we took over Fish River Lodge in May 2005. It was an omen to us that things would get better.

Finally, in December our prayers were answered. John and Mary Medina (Arundel, Maine) had been looking for a property on Eagle Lake. They found Fish River Lodge and fell in love; they decided to buy the property. We met with Mary and John on December 30. They offered us an opportunity that would keep our dream alive and keep Fish River Lodge open to the public, at least for a while longer. We will remain here through the winter, staying in cabin 7 until spring. Beginning in May we will lease the property from the Medina’s and continue running our business. They are the optimistic new owners of the property comprising Fish River Lodge and the authors of its next chapter. Wayne and I bought the property when no one else would give it a chance. We wrote our own chapter. Now John and Mary have become the next in line to nurture the property and write another chapter. We are so blessed and thankful for their generosity and we know many of you are too. We hope you will have a chance to meet them and thank them for keeping it open for another year. Wayne and I will run the business and retain the name “Fish River Lodge.”

We closed on the property January 14, Mary Medina’s birthday. They gave us a woodstove for cabin 7 and we will begin moving next week.

2010 ended on a bittersweet note. We were relieved the end of our chapter had been written, the stress and financial challenges were behind us; while we no longer “own” the property we have been graciously given the opportunity to remain its hosts. Now we can look forward to 2011 with renewed energy and enthusiasm to greet each of you again, to allow you to make new memories here, and for us to continue growing the friendships whose seeds were first sown here.

Wayne and I are happy that it all worked out the way it did. While we love running Fish River Lodge, we had become weary of the stress and financial difficulties we faced every day. We welcome John and Mary with sincere congratulations on their purchase of the property, we promise to make them proud when they see how much this place means to so many of you, and we are reminded that everything happens for a reason and that John and Mary rescued Fish River Lodge so another chapter can be written. Thank you all for 2010 – we wish you faith, hope, health, and happiness in 2011…