Beginning in the mid-1800s and lasting for more than a century, Maine boasted a large number of lodges and sporting camps that catered to the pursuit of outdoor activities. While the primary interests of guests were fishing and hunting, many of the larger, more expensive resorts offered a variety of opportunities, including golf, horseback riding, tennis, boating, archery, and hiking, and some boasted gourmet dining and elegant parties. While some of these establishments survive, many have been demolished, existing only in memory and in photographs. Maine Lodges and Sporting Camps tells the story of the most prominent destinations, featuring nearly two hundred historic images that depict the life that existed when Maine was a sportsman's paradise, abounding in trophy game and fish.
Donald A. Wilson grew up in the Maine sporting life, becoming the fourth generation to operate a lodge. He has maintained an interest in the sporting and resort history of Maine. A land surveyor, guide, and historian, Wilson is widely published. His previous works include Maine's Hunting Past and Logging and Lumbering in Maine.