The Oak Lodge Newsletter
Spring 2004

Although the temperatures in the Moosehead Lake area are cold right now, we are awaiting summer with great anticipation! This newsletter brings some exciting news! 

Cottage Row has been selected by the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District!

We will have our plaque up this summer.  The seven cottages that make up our "street" were deemed historically significant by the State of Maine, which nominated us to the National Register.  We just found out that our nomination was approved.  The Oak Lodge was cited for being one of the few Mission style homes from the Arts and Crafts era in Maine.  If you've been to our island, you have noticed that our lodge looks very different from the other cottages.  As we update and change our decor, we have tried to stay true to this period.

Speaking of updating- last summer brought lots of painting, deck building and gardening.  We have a second hand painted mural in our game room of Mt. Kineo to complement the one painted in 2002. This summer we have plans to remove all the storm windows and give the old windows a much needed professional cleaning.  Several floors will be refinished, and several bathrooms redecorated.  We get many comments about the black wallpaper in the Duck bedroom with white ibis and palm trees-done back in the 1950's.   The Oak Lodge owners obviously wished they wintered in Florida!

The new mural of Mt. Kineo painted by Betsy Dasse, an artist that visits us each summer.

Cooking School On Kineo!!

 We will be starting a cooking school at the Oak Lodge.  I have decided to put my culinary training to more use than cooking breakfast!  While the Moosehead Lake region has so much to offer the outdoors-lover, it hasn't traditionally had much for the spouse or friend who might not love golfing, mountain climbing, etc, or just for the "foodie" that loves to cook.  I will be offering classes once a week this summer in the afternoon from 2 to 5pm.  We will explore a variety of international cuisines, and some favorite new twists on "What's for dinner".  We will eat a sumptuous meal as part of the class.  Class size will be limited to six and classes will cost approximately $35 - $40.  We will have an option to add spouses or a guest on to the meal part of the class for an additional charge.  This way,  one person can golf in the afternoon on Kineo or hike the mountain, the other will be having a blast cooking and they can get together and dine before leaving our beautiful island!  If you would like to get on the list to receive a schedule once I finalize it, email me. 

Recipe Contest Winner

Out of the blue, last week I received notification that a recipe I submitted in August 2002 won for best entrée in the Arrington Bed and Breakfast Journal 2003 Recipe Contest!  They publish a bimonthly magazine and are more well known for their annual book / magazine they publish that lists Bed and Breakfasts by many “best” categories, like best for romance, or best for nature lovers, etc.  I’ve scanned the categories, and I can’t imagine a better spot for “best star watching” than late at night on Kineo with no light pollution and the reward of the occasional northern lights.  I’ll have to get some ballots!  Anyhow, my recipe, Pork Tenderloin with a Raisin Reduction Sauce, will be featured in one of their magazines! 

That's all for this newsletter.  If you have received this newsletter and wish to be off our email list, please email me back and let me know. The lodge is beginning to fill up for the summer.  Please call or email soon if you wish to book a week.  We have some weeks available each in June, July and August.  September, which I think is the most beautiful month in Maine, is wide open.  We are offering a 25% discount to groups booking a week anytime in September and October to encourage more late season tourism.  The weekend after Labor Day is traditionally Fly-In in the Greenville area, which is one of the largest gatherings of Float Planes in the country.  It's a fun time in the area.  October is beautiful for leaf peeping, although it's difficult to pinpoint the "peak" week, it's a beautiful month and quiet on the lake.

Take care and we hope to see you in the Northwoods this summer!!

Karen Musser

"In the shadow of Mt. Kineo, on beautiful Moosehead Lake"

Revised:  January 18, 2008