From Our Guestbook ...

We're really proud of the reaction we've gotten from our guests in the years since we opened our new cabin, in Maine's '100-Mile Wilderness', to vacation renters. We knew we had a location that couldn't be matched in all of the Moosehead Lake region, but it was important to us, too, that the accommodations we offered were every bit as much of a pleasant surprise. Judging from the following comments (reproduced from our guestbook), we like to think we got it right!

Eric & Tricia Schult
Big Wilson Camp

Tenth-Year Anniversary

No one in my family could believe it's been 10 years since we rolled out the welcome mat on our new riverfront cabin. We're well into the third hard copy guest book, which I'm finally getting around to transcribing for our online blog. Almost everyone who visits contributes an anecdote or two, and I really get a kick out of reading all of them, and sharing them here.

We were Big Wilson Camp's last visitors in October, 2013 and its first visitors in May, 2014, and got a ton of work accomplished, readying the cabin for another full season of guests:

• The interior was freshly painted in October.
• The exterior was re-coated with sealant in May.
• We tore off the roof and re-installed new sub-roof & shingles in May.
• We bought a new propane grill and a new Webber charcoal grill.

• We added a new slate/gravel trail to the water's edge and an easy-access fire pit/picnic area fronting on Big Wilson Falls, about 150 feet upstream from the cabin. The site directly overlooks the swimming hole and is our new favorite place on the property.
• Downstream and around a bend in the river, we put in a new gravel drive and installed a foundation, well and septic system for a second cabin. This new cabin site is not visible from Big Wilson Camp, and won't interfere with our guests' privacy in any way during the vacation rental season. Work is idle till our next off-season construction window. Within a few years, we hope to have a second cabin available for vacation rentals. It'll have a full-on view of Big Wilson Falls from below the falls. We're not sure which will be more popular, cabin 1 or cabin 2. Both sites are awesome. We're still pinching ourselves that we were lucky enough to find this spot (20 years ago!!), and had the vision and wherewithal to do something with it.

We're very excited to read what our Summer, 2014 guests think of the new improvements! Welcome, and have the time of your life!

Eric & Tricia Schult
Owners of Big Wilson Camp
Fayetteville, NC
May 15-25

Columbus Day Weekend

Thanks for the lovely long weekend in God's beautiful creation - the leaves held on long enough for us to enjoy!

Firepit was great, but path to the water's edge could be 'cut-out' a bit more (defined).

Great home, centrally located. Kids wish it was summer so they could have swam. Maybe another time.

Bless you for sharing and good luck with retirement.

The Rendalls
NYC
Columbus Day, 2013

'Who Knew the Kids Would Take to the Outdoors Like This?

We loved it here in the North Woods! It is so beautiful and relaxing and cool (temperature-wise).

The Borestone Mountain hike was strenuous at times, but breathtaking views. Saw three moose, including a calf, on our moose safari-canoe trip on Lucky Pond.

Big Wilson Camp is so cosy and inviting. Loved using the fire pit for s'mores & singing. Would've loved to spend more time here (maybe we'll return ...)!

Borestone Mountain is a great hike. Black Frog is pretty good food. Swimming hole was very fun. And the Moosehead Lake Region has tons of cool stuff to do. And Greenville has fun shops and restaurants. I recommend Northeast Guide Service for canoeing and moose watching. We saw two cows and a calf during the canoe trip. Overall, I couldn't have dreamed up a comfier place to stay, and who knew the kids would take to the outdoors like this? We enjoyed all the hiking and swimming and waterfall-sitting and canoeing (looking for moose), as well as playing games in the cabin in the evenings. We all felt right at home. Highly recommend a ride on the Katahdin on Moosehead Lake if you like old boats (almost as old as the Titanic!) and scenic views, and the captain will even let you steer the ship if you ask him.

I'm sorry we didn't have at least a week here, but maybe we'll be back some day. I'm ready to move to Maine!

The Donahues/Larson
Washington, D.C.
August 17-22, 2013

Big Wilson Camp is definitely the place to stay. There is nothing better than hearing a waterfall right in your back yard all the time. We checked out the swimming hole and it was a blast for swimming or even just sitting in the waterfall. We found a spot where you could sit "inside" the waterfall. Give it a try! We hiked to Little Wilson Lower Falls and found it was a nice spot for sitting and taking in the scenery. There was also a swimming hole with a rope swing, but we did not try it. We Loved Toby Falls. If you are looking for a real hike, go to Borestone. The sleeping loft was great for all the kids and we loved sitting at the fire pit listening to the wildlife and the water. We found something to do everyday and still didn't run out of things to try. Thanks for sharing your home and would love to come back.

Christina Larson
Virginia
August 17-22, 2013

'If You Do Only One Hike ... This is the One!'

Great Place if you like to hike.

• Sunday - Improvised hike from the cabin up to the AT, then finishing on Borestone Mountain. 13.1 mi.
• Monday - Little Wilson Falls from the cabin - up the trail on the east side of the stream, returning on the west side. 5 mi.
• Tuesday - Big Moose Mountain Great views, strenuous climb. 6 mi.
• Wednesday - Borestone Mountain - if you do only one hike while you are here, this is the one. 5 mi.
• Thursday - Gulf Hagas - Nice hike but the drive there is on terrible logging roads. 8.7 mi.
• Friday - Rain and beers at the Stress-Free Moose Pub. 0.0 mi.

Anderson/Kolkus
August 10, 2013