Snowmobiling is more than a $400 million industry in Maine and that’s not counting real estate purchases and other ancillary things. And the four-wheeler industry is burgeoning now, with four-wheelers being sold at a rate of three ATVs to one snowmobile. Clubs have been formed all over the state and ATVers have been working with snowmobile clubs to create a multi-use trail system throughout the state, including the ITS system in the Greenville area.

Clubs have lost many of their trail systems in certain areas of southern Maine due to urban sprawl and developement, so more and more riders are turning to the north woods for their riding recreation. Greenville is pretty much situated at the center, the hub, of that recreational wheel.

There was concern raised at the meeting about the ownership of the CCC Road (also known as the Wilson Pond Road) which has been used as an established trail for the past 30 years. There is confusion as to who owns the road, however, as questions were raised as to whether the town could claim the road without having to maintain it. Concerns were raised about landowners on the road wanting the road plowed throughout the winter. How would that affect the snowmobilers?

If the CCC were closed, snowmobilers and ATVers would have no place to go to go north or east. There are 60 or so landowners on that road, many belonging to the Wilson Pond Association. A question was raised about the property in the Burnt Jacket area of Beaver Cove. Rumor has it that Roxanne Quimby has expressed interest in the property. Club members were unanimous in their concern that that might cut off additional trail access on the east side of Moosehead Lake. Riders of the ITS trail system would have nowhere to go, at least if they chose an easterly or northerly direction. The fear expressed was that if these properties and roads were closed to access, Greenville would be essentially isolated from the trail system. “It would affect the whole state,” said snowmobile club president, Tom McCormick. “And it would certainly have a negative effect on businesses in the Moosehead region.”

Club members stressed the importance of getting the word out. “Many of us will attend the next selectmen’s meeting,” McCormick said. That meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29 at 6 p.m. at the Fireman’s Hall in Greenville. Local business owners are urged to attend as well, said McCormick. “We need to start working on this right away,” he added.

It should be noted that John Simko, Greenville’s town manager, was unavailable for comment by presstime.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."