By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — A door opened up and widened the number of opportunities to enjoy snowmobiling and activities with other snowmobilers in the Casco area.

The door that just opened up is that of the completed and heated clubhouse that was constructed by the Crooked River Snowmobile Club (CRSC). 

“This will be the first winter we will get to use it,” according to CRSC President Gary Drew.

“We are thankful for all the volunteers and donations that helped to make this happen. Hopefully, we can get Mother Nature to cooperate with us and have a good snowy winter,” Drew said.

“We will be able to use it even without snow. But, hopefully we will get a lot of snow this winter,” he said. “We will have a lot more events. We plan on having a ‘winterfest’ with the recreation department, having a big winter festival here. With this here now, it gives us a lot more opportunities.”

On Sunday, the snowmobile club held an official open house for the clubhouse. The new facility is located off Meadow Road near the Casco Central Fire Station. The clubhouse has a separate entrance from the fire station and the Casco Town Hall. The clubhouse is being shared with the Casco Days Association, which needed it for storing the children's’ fire truck ride.

The whole building is 2,432 SF, or 76-X-32 feet. The clubhouse space is 48-X-32 feet, and includes running water, a bathroom and a heater mounted on the wall. 

On Sunday, Drew was doing double duty as club president and grill cook. The spread of food as well as a visual presentation of the CRSC’s history was the club’s way of saying thank you to donor and volunteers, he said.  

“It has been a long time in the making,” Gary began. “Originally, when we first started this project was when COVID-19 hit. We lost the volunteers we had lined up. Of course, the price of everything skyrocketed and we went way overbudget.”

It wasn’t until the autumn of 2023 that the group was able to finish the cement floor inside the building. Then this spring, the building was winterized just in time for a pancake breakfast on Maine Maple Sunday.

“We got to the point where the inside is done. It is all winterized. It has heat and running water. The inside is 100% done. Now, we can use it and enjoy it,” Gary Drew said.

“We have had a few volunteers who have helped on the clubhouse. We’ve put a lot of hours in. We have had people step up with donations,” he said.

The CRSC applied for a grant through the Carol & David Hancock Charitable Trust. Carol Hancock attended the open house and explained why the clubhouse received funding.

“Both Dave and I grew up in this town. We love this town, and we always felt we wanted to give back so we started a trust to help the town that gave us so much,” she said.

“It [the clubhouse] is a wonderful way for them to gather for social events. We are always looking for places where people can be together and enjoy what this area offers outdoors as well as inside,” Hancock said.

CRSC Treasurer/Membership coordinator Carol Drew was thrilled about seeing the dream of the snowmobile clubhouse come to completion.

“The open house is the opportunity for us to thank those who participated in making the building a reality. A lot of people haven’t been inside here until today,” Carol Drew said.

The previous clubhouse, located off the beaten path, was a tiny shed with a wood-burning stove.

“This is having a warming area for people who are out and about. It will bring more people to us. People will feel part of something more modern,” she said.

The clubhouse along with the future opening of a gas station on Pikes Corner will help draw winter recreation enthusiasts to the area, she said. 

“I can’t wait for the gas station. It puts gas closer to us. When the AG lost its gas pumps in the Casco Village, it changed people’s destinations. Having a gas station — that will put more people closer to us,” Carol Drew said.

“We have some of the best trails. We have some beautiful viewing areas. We take pride in that,” she said. “We have had some events: moonlight rides, poker rallies, barbecues and music. Because there hasn’t been much snow, we haven’t done that for the past three years.”

The only addition to the snowmobile clubhouse dream come true is a snowy winter, she said. Fortunately, that isn’t a game breaker. 

“We can now hold functions — whether there is snow on the ground or not,” she said.