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V O L . X X I N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5 32 We have people who come here and say, 'We slept here like no place else.'" Scott, a registered guide since 1989 who grew up on the shores of the lake, and Alison, who grew up in Dover- Foxcroft, can't imagine living any- where else. "When the fog is coming off the lake and river and the fall foliage is glowing in the sunshine — Wow! — it's like no other place on earth," he says. "A lot of the reason people come here is the serenity," says Mark Gilbert Jr., co-owner with his father of Moosehead Marina, located on the Moose River, which empties into the lake near Rockwood. His father is cel- ebrating his 36 th season at the marina, which has been operating on the west- ern shore of the lake for at least 50 years. " ey come because they feel they have their own piece of the world right here." ere are 650,000 people living within a 150-mile radius of the lake. In his April presentation, Brooks noted that if the region simply attracted 300 more visitors a week for 40 weeks a year, lodging establishments, res- taurants and other businesses would be full and the communities of Rockwood and Greenville would see new jobs being created. If you're lucky enough to join Gilbert for a boat ride across the lake to the Kineo peninsula (as I was), that goal seems eminently doable. Zipping alongside Hardscrabble Point at the northern end of the Kineo peninsula, Gilbert points to the loom- ing 800-foot cliff of the eastern side of the mountain. Long before the steam- boats of the 19 th century and the 20 th century powerboats, Native Americans in birchbark canoes paddled across the lake to mine Kineo's rhyolite fl int, which they used to make arrowheads and hatchets as well as to trade with tribes in southern New England. " at's Kineo in your face," he says, as the boat zooms beneath the cliff . "Isn't that sweet? ere's nothing better." Gilbert's boat tour winds up on the southern tip of the peninsula, home of the Mount Kineo Golf Club, the second oldest golf course built in New England, and the historic Oak Lodge, which off ers weekly rentals and B&B accommodations. Under new owner- ship, the golf club has seen improve- ments to several fairways and the clubhouse. A water shuttle takes golf- ers to and from Rockwood, located about a mile directly across the lake. at's an important part of history to remember: It wasn't too long ago, when rail travel was the primary way to get there, that the Moosehead Lake region was a destination highly sought after, a gateway for urban-dwellers seeking recreation experiences in Maine's North Woods, among them Teddy Roosevelt. "We already have the ingredients we need to be 'America's Crown Jewel,'" Gilbert says. " e branding initiative is all about delivering on that promise." Ja m e S M C Ca rt H Y , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r writer, can be reached at JmCC artHY @ mainebiz.biz and @ Jame SMainebiz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E e x pe r i e nc e t he a rt s Home to the largest art museum in the state, an independent cinema recognized by the Sundance Art House project, a performing arts venue on the National Register of Historic Places, a renovated Carnegie library, and other vibrant arts venues, Waterville offers arts experiences for all ages. I N WAT E R V I L L E , M A I N E watervillecreates.org Built in 1902 and recently renovated and technically enhanced, the historic and beautiful Waterville Opera House offers 800 seats to comfortably accommodate your next large meeting or conference. Four additional rooms are available to host from 60 to 100 participants for breakout, refreshment, and display area presentations. Located in the heart of downtown Waterville, the Opera House is within walking distance of numerous restaurants and shops to further enhance your guests' experience--ample free parking in the downtown concourse and multiple lodging options add to the amenities that make Waterville a convenient location for your gathering. Afternoon and evening entertainment can also be found at the world class Colby Museum of Art, Waterville Public Library, Maine Film Cen ter and Common Street Art Gallery. For more information contact (207) 873 - 7000 or operainfo@operahouse.org Waterville Opera House Make a day of it in Waterville! (207) 616 - 0292 F O C U S P H O T O / JA M E S M C C A R T H Y Scott Snell, co-owner with his wife, Alison, of Wilsons on Moosehead Lake, takes a client out into the headwaters of the Kennebec River to fl y-fi sh for trout.

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