TravelWorld International Magazine, Winter 2021 - The Magic of the Holidays

eople who wish
to experience
snowmobiling
have a choice
of 150 miles
of well-groomed
trails, which interconnect
with other systems that
lead throughout Maine and into
Canada. The snow-covered trees
and quiet surroundings of forests
welcome folks who snowshoe or
would like to learn how, and offer
opportunities to spot moose which
make the woods their home.
Those who prefer a warmer
ambiance may seek out roaring
fireplaces in restaurants which
range from pizza to posh, or curl up
with a book before log blazes that
burn in the lobby of the Rangeley
Inn and elsewhere.
Snowmobiling is one of a number of
outdoor winter activities in and around Rangeley.
he Inn is but one inviting
place among many which
relate interesting chapters of
the town’s history. Before the first
Europeans arrived, Abenaki
Indians set up hunting and
fishing camps along shorelines of
the area’s lakes and ponds. The names of some
bodies of water – Cupsuptic, Umbagog and
tongue-twisting Mooselookmeguntic – attest to
the Native American influence.
In 1796, an Englishman named James Rangeley
showed up and purchased land on which a
town soon evolved. In the mid-19th century,
the village, which bore his name, gained a
reputation as a fishing Mecca because of its
abundance of brook trout and, later, landlocked
salmon. Well-to-do fishermen from Boston,
New York and further away made the trek to
the still primitive destination, and over decades
grand hotels like the Rangeley Inn sprang up to
offer them comfortable accommodations.
Winter sunset over Rangeley Lake
Today the Inn shares space along Main Street,
a several-block-long stretch of road without
a stop sign or traffic light, with single-story
frame buildings that house the Lakeside
Theater, the Alpine Shop, aptly named Moose
Alley bowling and a smattering of small stores
and restaurants. Much of the vehicle traffic
consists of logging trucks creaking beneath
their heavy load.
Frozen Waterfall
Along with the eclectic list of things to see
and do in and around Rangeley, it’s the serene
atmosphere and reminders of a way of life from
the past that attract many people to visit and,
once they’ve done so, to return year after year.
Maine Street, Rangeley would fit
well in a Norman Rockwell painting.
It doesn’t take long for those who drop by
to understand that this area of Maine is as
much a lifestyle as a destination, one that fits
comfortably into the time-honored tradition
of small-town friendliness. That’s among
the reasons why generation after generation
of families come back repeatedly, including
during the Holiday season.
Winter sunset over Rangeley Lake
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