Bulldog Camps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bulldog Camps |
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View of the dock at Bulldog Camps
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| Location | Enchanted Pond, Maine, United States |
| Type | sporting camp |
| Land | 16 acres |
| Campsites | 7 cabins |
| Facilities | lodge |
| Water | yes |
| Fires | yes |
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Bulldog Camps
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sporting camp
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| Nickname(s):
Enchanted Pond Camps
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| Motto(s):
“A Traditional Maine Sporting Camp”
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 Bulldog Camps
Location in Maine
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Somerset |
| Established | 1880s |
| Elevation | 1,447 ft (441 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04945
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| Area code(s) | 207 243-2853 |
| FIPS code | 23-025 |
| GNIS Feature ID | 563166 |
Bulldog Camps, once called Enchanted Pond Camps, is a special place in the mountains of Maine. It's a traditional sporting camp located on Enchanted Pond. For over 100 years, people have visited this remote spot in the United States. It started as a logging camp in the 1880s. Later, in the early 1900s, it became a popular sporting camp. Today, Bulldog Camps is still a proud member of the Maine Sporting Camp Association. It is found in Upper Enchanted Township, near Jackman.
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Why is it Called Bulldog Camps?
The name "Bulldog Camps" comes from the mountains around Enchanted Pond. Two mountains, Shutdown and Coburn, have cliffs that are 800 feet tall. These cliffs rise sharply from the pond's sides. They used to look like two bulldogs facing each other across the water. Because of this, the pond was nicknamed "Bulldog Pond." Since these camps were the only ones on the pond, they got the name "Bulldog Camps."
History of Bulldog Camps
Early Days as a Logging Camp
The camps began in the 1880s. A man named H.P. McKenney started them as a logging camp. He used the area to cut down trees. McKenney built a famous log sluice here. This was a special channel to move logs from Bulldog Pond to the Dead River. It saved him a lot of travel time to the mill.
To make the sluice work, a wooden dam was built. This dam held back the water in Enchanted Pond. The water was released in the spring to help float the logs. Many people wondered if McKenney's sluice would actually work. But in the spring of 1900, the first logs successfully went through. You can still find parts of the old dam and sluice today.
Becoming a Sporting Camp
Logging stopped at Bulldog Camps around 1908. The place quickly changed into a sporting camp. It became popular with people who loved to fish and hunt. Famous visitors like Henry David Thoreau and President Theodore Roosevelt even came to the region.
During the 1930s and 1940s, business slowed down. The camps changed owners several times. In 1957, a couple named Ruel and Hazel Orff bought the camps. They brought new life to the place. They offered traditional American Plan meals, boat rentals, and guide services. You could even fly in by float plane.
Sadly, the main lodge burned down in the fall of 1973. This happened shortly after new owners took over. For the next few decades, the cabins were only available for rent without meals.
Restoration and Modern Era
In 2005, Darren Savage bought Bulldog Camps. He spent several years making it new again. One of the original cabins from the 1800s was turned into a new lodge. Now, guests can once again enjoy three home-cooked meals a day.
The camps had never been open in winter before. So, all the cabins were updated. They got new roofs, porches, wood stoves, and propane heaters. They also added full bathrooms with hot running water. A new road was built to the camps. Before, you could only reach them by a 4x4 trail, hiking, or float plane.
In 2009, the camps also bought another cabin. This cabin, called the "Warden's Camp," is on the southwest end of Enchanted Pond. It was built in 1960 by the chief pilot for the Maine Warden Service. This cabin can be rented, along with the six cabins at the main camp.
Bulldog Camps attracts different visitors throughout the year. Fishermen and ATV riders come in the spring. Families enjoy summer vacations. Hunters and people who love fall foliage visit in autumn.
Fishing and Hunting at Bulldog Camps
Fishing in Enchanted Pond
Enchanted Pond was once thought to be bottomless. But it was found to be over 200 feet deep. This makes it the deepest lake in the area. It's a great place to catch bright, native brook trout. The water is very clear and clean.
Hunting Opportunities
Hunting trips happen in the fall. They run from the last week of August through the first week of December. Hunters can look for bear, whitetail deer, and moose. Other animals include coyote, grouse, woodcock, and rabbit.
