Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 6 — in her case, after a long artistic career painting landscapes and working in art galleries in Portland and Washington, D.C. e scenic beauty of the Katahdin Region's mountains, woods and waters is an obvious reason, but she also was lured by Millinocket's "vibe." "It's like going back to the '50s, when everything was slower," she says. "It took me back to my childhood almost … Sometimes you feel like you land at the right place at the right time. at's how it feels to me." "We have visitors from all over the world," adds her husband and North Light Gallery co-owner, Wayne Curlew. "We've seen the local popula- tion declining … that's what spurred us to work so hard for this." "People don't understand how a patch of woods can be important to people," Donahue says. " is is an opportunity for people of all ages to get off their phones, get off the grid and connect with nature. It ends up telling people where they come from in a most profound way." A short walk away, at the Moose Prints Gallery owned by Anita Mueller and Mark Picard, there's ample evidence of the region's signature wildlife species, the moose. Both are wildlife photog- raphers who sell their stunning moose images at the gallery and through an online shop to collectors throughout the world. ey also off er four-day photog- raphy workshops that take advantage of the nearby scenic beauty of Baxter State Park, and now, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. "We promote our workshops as combining a relaxing Maine vacation with a creative learning experience," she says. "We're convinced the national monument will increase the amount of visitor spending per day. Do I hope the forest products industries have a resurgence in the area? Absolutely. We need a diversifi ed economy. But we're a forest-based business too. If you look at our imagery, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the beauty of Maine's woods and waters." e same could be said of Paul and Jaime Renaud, whose Appalachian Trail Lodge and AT Café cater to through- hikers on the Appalachian Trail. e lodge can accommodate 32 hikers and the café provides solid home-style fare for hungry visitors and hikers who are about to scale Katahdin as the fi nal challenge of their 2,180-mile hike from Georgia. ey purchased both proper- ties in 2007, after Jaime completed his AT hike the prior year. ey fell in love with the region and decided to move up from Georgia to create a full-service venue for hikers that includes a shuttle service to and from Baxter park. Both Renauds say the national monument is bound to bring new visitors to the region, helping both their lodge and café and local busi- nesses. But it will take time. "If we can get 10% to 15% of what Acadia gets within the next 15 years it will be great for this area," Paul Renaud says. 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 866.736.2804 mainebls.com EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT | REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ACQUISITION Lucas Morris Bangor and Northern Maine Dave McElwain Southern Maine Will Hatt Chief Operating Officer Al Moroney Midcoast Maine In Lending, People Make the Difference. Loans from $50,000 to $20,000,000 Streamlined processes get the deal done quickly Exceptional service and communication If you TRAVEL OUT OF STATE for a meeting, event, or sporting competition, contact the Convention + Visitors Bureau. LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, and we can help… BRING YOURS HOME! MEETINGS MEAN BUSINESS FOR MAINE + + MeetInMaine.com 94 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101 | 207.772.4994 | meetings@visitportland.com P H O T O / JA M E S M C C A R T H Y F O C U S Jaime and Paul Renaud take a break after the lunch- hour rush at their Appalachian Trail Cafe in downtown Millinocket. They've found a niche for themselves by catering to the needs of through-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, but welcome the national monument's potential to bring even more visitors to the region.

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