Taking the Big Moose Road off Rte 28 for about 10 miles to Big Moose seems like the middle of nowhere when you get there and there is a little colony of about 30 homes, an old Depot that now is a restaurant until you pass the Depot and leave the pavement. There is a sign there that says Stillwater 10 but there is nothing else indicating you are on the right road other than it is the only road! So we traveled the 10 miles to Big Moose and the 10 miles on a dirt road to Stillwater which is a restaurant, boat launch and little store with some pit toilets! Here is where you park your car and board a pontoon boat for your 1 hour ride to the dock for Norridgwock III. Stillwater is the reservoir that was created when they dammed up the Beaver River. It is huge and has very few people that go this far to enjoy it. There is camping on the lake but only accessible by boat which most people use canoes! This is definitely roughing it!
Ethan and David preparing for our boat ride
Beaver River is a small colony of about 100 summer cottages and a family owned business. One family has run the Norridgewock for generations and currently 2 brothers and their families run the hotel, restaurant, gift shop. The only way to get here is by the 1 hour boat ride or if you wait for winter you can get there easily by snow mobile! This place is definitely remote but they have everything a resort needs; beach, playground, canoes, boats, fishing, lawn games, restaurant and a Big BAR!
We had lunch which was pretty good considering they were the only choice! The boat ride and lunch cost the fiveof us about $100! Not bad for us but there was only one other group of 3 on the boat and the boat only brings visitors once a day. They definitely do better with the snowmobiler’s which I am told travel from Bar to Bar to see how many they can make in a weekend before heading back to reality!
Ppsing on the Bridge at Beaver River
After lunch we wandered for a short distance ( you only get to be on the island for 2 hours) just to see a little scenery and then it was back on the boat for the return trip to Stillwater.
The Water Taxi
And then down the dirt road and back to civilization!
Today we are serving wine again and then another free meal with friends. We are loving Old Forge!