For 26 years, brothers Doug and John Garland have owned and operated the Bear Notch Ski Touring Center in Bartlett. I learned its history from an interview Chris Proulx of White Mountain TV had with Doug Garland 3 weeks ago (tinyurl.com/x55urhdn). The Garland family owned many acres along the Saco River and across Route 302 behind Mountain Home Cabins and wondered what the best use was for them.
Unlike many landowners, they weren’t interested in selling or developing them. They wanted to preserve that natural environment of fields, riverbanks, forests and streams, but they didn’t want the land to be unused. John came up with the idea of starting a cross-country center. It would have a low impact on the land, but also allow people to enjoy outdoor exercise in a beautiful setting.
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