Rangeley’s land and heritage preserved and celebrated

OQUOSSOC – A ground breaking and two grand openings were celebrated by state and local officials, organizers and the public today.

A ground breaking ceremony for a $2.9 million road construction project of a corridor and overlook at Height of Land comes after years of work by the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust to acquire and preserve the sweeping view off Route 17.

With federal transportation funding appropriated for the Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway and Maine Department of Transportation project, a one-mile stretch of Route 17 will be rebuilt. A section of the road will be moved over 10 to 15 feet into the hillside to make room for a turnout for parking for viewers and Appalachian Trail hikers, a pedestrian path, and four interpretive panels.

Route 17 will be raised for improved drainage and a view over the top of vehicles parked at the turnout, which will be dropped 10 below the road and accessed by two entrances. Flat-top boulders and plantings of native plants will grace the overlook. The construction is expected to start in two to four weeks by the project’s contractor, Pike Industries.

The heritage trust has been working since 2000 to preserve the Height of Land view in Township D, said Rebecca Kurtz, the trust’s programs director. The nonprofit has raised $1 million to purchase the 500 acres, which includes Route 17 frontage, down to the shore of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and surrounding forests, wetlands and Bemis Stream. It also owns a small parcel east of Route 17. Another $250,000 still needs to raised to complete the purchase.

The turnout will also provide a trailhead for the Appalachian Trail and parking for hikers. The AT abuts the trust’s parcel, and the abandoned Rangeley Lakes Railroad bed, now The Bemis Track, will be a short hike away when the trail is completed from the turnout.

“We’ve been working a long time to get this,” said Ed Kfoury, president of the Heritage Trust. The trust was founded 20 years ago with its mission to conserve land for public use. Currently the organization has acquired 12,500 acres in the Rangeley area.

“What a great thing you’ve done,” said Gov. John Baldacci said to the heritage trust members. He also credited the federal support and the state’s Land for Maine’s Future, along with local support for the conservation efforts.

After the ceremonial digging, the celebration moved to the grand opening of the $1 million Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum at the intersection of Route 17 and 4. Don Palmer, president of the historical society, said the project has been 15 years in the making.

“It’s important to keep artifacts and memories of our sporting heritage,” he told a big crowd assembled for the opening. “It’s part of who we are.” The log-style museum is filled with Rangeley’s sporting memorabilia. Big, 10-pound trout and salmon were caught here and mounted; lots of great old photos, a rich history of the area’s well known outdoor experts, The Rangeley Boat, a cabin’s interior, and more are on exhibit. The collection comes from the historical society and private donations.

“We’ve been dreaming of this for 15 years,” Palmer said, “And now the dream’s become a reality.”  The museum is open through to Columbus day weekend, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Across the street from the museum at the town park, a public restroom was also celebrated with a grand opening. Money from the Scenic Byways and a 20 percent town match provided for the second public restroom to be built in this area.