Doodlebug Cabin

03/03/2018

Well folks, I have some exciting news. The original plan was to do a shingle roof with metal porches similar to the way it is now. After some discussion and working with our roofer we'll have a brilliant red standing seam metal roof installed this spring! It's going to look awesome and have that relaxing sound in the rain.

18/02/2018

Winterpaloozah weekend! Tons of fun filled activities 10 minutes away in downtown Rangeley...peaceful moments sipping coffee on the pond.

21/01/2018

While construction outside isn’t finishing up until spring were also making changes inside the cabin- namely the loft now has two brand new full memory foam mattresses on platform frames. A little more space because the platform drops the bed slightly, and a lot more comfortable.

28/12/2017

It may be cold (-40F with wind chill) but it’s beautiful.

02/12/2017

So what’s left this year? 4 windows, porch steps and then in the spring: railings, roofing, stain, topsoil/grass/landscaping. Then we’re done! Colors are staying the same but the new roof will be red!

01/12/2017

Power...water...heat... relaxing for the weekend? Yes please. A good friend was also nice enough to loan me her FLIR One thermal camera so I’m taking advantage of it to find places where more chinking (Oakum) is needed between the logs. See how much less blue there is in one photo instead of the other? That’s the result (ignore the temperature at the crosshairs).

30/11/2017

The old front porch lumber has been removed and the new is going in! Lights. Plumbing. Heat. It’s alive!!!

29/11/2017

All of the photos from the jacking, excavation and installation of a frost wall foundation and associated repairs!

14/11/2017

An update! The “basement” is sealed and insulated. Gas tanks and lines have been relocated to a safer location. Plumbing, gas work/new heater, and electrical are waiting on the power company to reconnect service (which they pushed back 3 weeks to next week). New windows and steps will be going in before we settle into winter. While there is more work to be done come spring doesn’t the cabin look happier already?

08/11/2017

The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is one reason why the region is still such a beautiful area to visit. Blending conservation and recreation they are bringing more people into nature and protecting it from damage.

RLHT's Year in Numbers. Spoiler Alert: it's been great!

06/11/2017

Grading is done. The foam will get cut down to ground level, the sills will be sealed and insulated, two new windows go in, and electrical/plumbing work completed soon with gas/heat to follow. There will be a surprise added on the entry porch. Next spring a new roof, rebuilt front porch deck, stain then topsoil and grass. This is one original Rangeley sporting cabin- saved.

03/11/2017

The cabin is down and insulation and backfill is going in. It has a foundation drain and insulation on the walls & wings- this is then backfilled with gravel for proper drainage. Not only does this help prevent water from building up and frost- it also increases energy efficiency as more geothermal heat is retained.

20/10/2017

Foundation is poured, forms are off, and it’s being sealed. Floor is being poured and then next week the cabin comes down!

13/10/2017

Footings, column reinforcement and foundation drains are in. Forms have arrived and the walls go up and get poured next week!

12/10/2017

One of the many beautiful views to be had in the area!

Foliage around Mooselookmeguntic Lake from the Height of Land 10.11.17.

09/10/2017

Update: Footings are poured and rebar is in. Forms are going in and getting poured this week!

30/09/2017

Gravel is down and footings are ready to go in. Then foundation drains and gravel, foundation walls, foam, more gravel, floor. Coming along!

20/09/2017

Day 6: Excavation is underway with a lot of progress!

20/09/2017

An update from Saddleback. The new management company is being very conservative in that they are promising low and delivering high so far- looks like new lifts are starting to go up!

Afternoon Saddlebackers! We wanted to check in and let you know the dominoes have fallen into place and we are able to amp up efforts to reopen the mountain. We are pleased to announce physical work is starting at Saddleback.

The first step will be taking down the existing Rangeley lift. This process will be carried out by Jim Quimby, Jared Emerson and the Mountain Operations team, weather permitting. Following this, the next step will be construction and repair of the T-Bar and also the Rangeley chair lift.

We know your single biggest question here is going to be, when are you going to open? The only thing that is going to hold up or delay this process is Mother Nature. As work progresses and we are able to establish a firm timeline, you will be the first to know. We thank you for your continued support and patience through this process.

Best regards,
The Saddleback Team

15/09/2017

Day 4: All the way up!

14/09/2017

Day 3: Up on rails...the big lift is tomorrow. Then it's blocked and excavation begins!

13/09/2017

Up she goes!!! She's going up over 4x higher so that an excavator can fit underneath to dig out for the foundation then she will be lowered back on top of it. Features pupper: Cubby.

01/09/2017

So what is the news that I've been holding back on sharing? Well we're starting our efforts to make it an environmentally friendly retreat as well- and much more pleasant in the winter. This first step though is a really big deal: Starting this month (delayed due to rain) the cabin is getting lifted 12-14 feet in the area. Excavated out underneath. And set on a concrete frost protected shallow foundation- hopefully to start soon. What does this mean? No more frost heaving. Warm floors in the winter. Less energy usage.

We've already replanted the waterfront with low growing but soil stabilizing plants, replaced chinking, and will be reroofing and replacing failed windows. Eventually we will also add additional layers of foam insulation on key walls.

11/08/2017

MLS #1321114 - 34 Needham Ln, Rangeley, Maine 04970

Have you stayed at the cabin and thought "I would love to buy one of the other homes in this neighborhood". Well now is your chance- the Royal Coachman is for sale:
https://www.exitkeyrealestate.com/real-estate/Maine-Listings/Residential/property/1321114-34-Needham-Ln-Rangeley-Maine-04970/

MLS #1321114 located at 34 Needham Ln, Rangeley, Maine 04970 is a Residential listing in Rangeley Maine for $235,000. # 2075 Nice updated 1435 sq. ft. yr. rd...

05/08/2017

A Saddleback update from the new owners. We will have news this fall at the cabin as well!

Hey Saddlebackers, sorry for the radio silence over here! We’ve been heads down finalizing details for the lift work we have in front of us and building a killer team that will get us where we need to be. It may seem quiet on the home front, but know that behind the scenes we are in high gear working to get this place back in action. While our posts may be less frequent as we gear up, rest assured that when there is real news to report, you all will be the first 21,959 people to know 😜 So without further ado, Fred, Perry, Greg and I would like introduce you to the Saddleback dream team (aka the folks who will help us make this happen). All have joined Majella and are already working to rebuild systems, equipment, and lift planning. We're so happy to have these people back on the hill. More later!

-Jim Quimby, Fred LaMontagne, Perry Williams, and Greg Andrews

Jared Emerson: Mountain Operations Manager
Donna Piotrowski: IT Manager
Scott Knight: Mountain Operations
John Tullos: Mountain Operations
Ian Grierson: Retail/Rental

07/07/2017

Our loons have 2 new babies this year! This photo of a parent and yawning baby was shared with us by our neighbor Sue. It's wonderful!

01/07/2017

So this is a new one. I'm sitting on the porch looking out on the pond, watching the loons and listening to the rain on the roof and a Pine Martin goes walking by with a chipmunk in its mouth. How cool is that?

30/06/2017

Northern Exposure

The Rangeley Region / Western Mountains of Maine are a magical place. Here's a short documentary about one couples adventure after returning to the east coast after road tripping the west.

Aimee and I once spent an entire summer living out of our van, gallivanting around the western United States soaking in every bit of its wondrous beauty. But where…

28/06/2017

Australian company buys Saddleback resort

Do you like to ski or snowboard? Did you think Sugarloaf was the closest ski mountain since Saddleback closed 2 years ago? Not anymore!!! Saddleback was just purchased by the Australian Majella Group and they be installing news lifts and making other major improvements to the resort! We have other BIG news about the cabin too that I'll be sharing tomorrow!

http://bangordailynews.com/2017/06/28/outdoors/australian-company-buys-saddleback-resort/

An Australian company announced Wednesday that it has signed an asset purchase agreement to secure ownership of Maine’s third-largest ski resort.

26/06/2017

A minute long video showing our loon pair and their nesting platform. This was taken from the shared dock earlier today! They are so much fun to watch- but please keep a safe distance as not to bother them.

24/06/2017

Doodlebug Cabin's cover photo

21/06/2017

The best lake towns in the US

It appears we may have been discovered! If you haven't been- you really need to visit Rangeley. There isn't anywhere else like it.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/tripideas/the-best-lake-towns-in-the-us/ss-BBCVFLT =8

Why go to a crowed beach when you can explore a charming lake town instead?

14/06/2017

In case you were wondering why you should go loop up at the sky at night when visiting...

This one is for all the night owls. Staying up late has its rewards. Rangeley Lake. 6.13.17

01/06/2017

Can you spot what's different? We've shined the floors, put out the chairs for summer and replaced the rugs.

01/06/2017

The Airshow & Fly-In is returning to Rangeley!

28/05/2017

Doodlebug Cabin

26/05/2017

Did I mention the loons are back? They use the nesting platform one of our amazing neighbors put up. You can see them and their babies (in season) from the dock. Their beautiful calls echo across the pond in the evening. Loons are also a sign of good water quality. "Friends of Quimby Pond" has done a lot to conserve and increase the water quality of the pond which in turn helps out the trophy wild brook trout fishery as well. Many of our neighbors have Lake Smart properties and we're aiming for it as well.

26/05/2017

The loons are back and we even saw a hummingbird this morning. You may have noticed that the shoreline in front of Doodlebug was clearcut by a prior owner. While this makes for great views- it's not what's best for the pond. To keep the views and benefit the pond we spent a day landscaping the shoreline. In addition to the wild blueberries we now have sage, mint, sundrops, bee balm, salvia, and some seedling pines. We built a small stone and put down bark mulch as well. I think it looks great, will benefit the birds/bees and the pond, and will stay low to the ground as it fills in -but with some nice flowers and color.