The town of Harrison is located at the very northern end of Long Lake, just five miles from Bridgton, 35 miles from North Conway, NH and a one hour drive from both Portland and Freeport.
Harrison calls itself “The Friendly Village” and by spending a little time here you’ll know why. In its quaint village area, Harrison offers two convenience stores, two restaurants, two marinas, a bank, post office, public library and town office. All are within walking distance of each other lending itself to a lot of local foot traffic and social interaction.
Aside from “meeting and greeting” on the street, many will grab a coffee at the Market Basket, for example, pull up a chair at the community table, and peruse the local paper or join in conversation with tablemates.
The village lies between two lakes, Long Lake and Crystal Lake. Long Lake runs eleven miles to the south and ends in Naples while Crystal Lake is much smaller in size, but doesn’t lack for beauty and is big enough to offer all kinds of water recreation opportunities. At the head of Crystal Lake is a public park where the local Little League plays, and where locals enjoy a sandy beach and swimming, a public picnic area, and a small playground for children.
Harrison has a population of just under 2,500 which swells to many times that in the summer. Indeed, summer homes, camps and cottages dot the shores of Long and Crystal Lakes and there are many summer recreational camps for children of all ages in the area.
Just a mile from the village find Deertrees Theatre. Deertrees was built in the 1930s by wealthy patrons connected to the Metropolitan Opera in New York who wanted a summer retreat for opera and theater lovers. In the 1980s it had fallen into disrepair, but a strong community effort brought new life to the theater and it remains a summer destination for many, offering a full summer schedule of music and entertainment.
During the “off season”, Harrison has less going on, but nonetheless is a beautiful place to spend a weekend or a lifetime. The lakes, surrounding hills, woods, farms and fields, provide an ever-changing background of foliage, ice and snow, and the wonder of spring. You will never lack for outdoor recreational activities or the opportunity to just enjoy a connection to Nature in all her seasons when staying in Harrison.
Visit the town of Harrison’s website at www.harrisonmaine.org.