Bethel Outdoor Adventure Center with Erin

and Garin Martin

by Meryl Kelly

For the past 30 years Bethel Outdoor Adventure has been a fixture at the intersection of Route 2 and the Androscoggin River. As the former owners move into retirement a new duo will take the helm to ensure that the campground continues to offer the perfect spot to stay — at a wooded tent site or in a pull-through RV — as well as a variety of outdoor recreation experiences for visitors and locals alike.

How Did We Get Here?

In the late 1970s a girl named Pattie was touring the USA in her converted-VW van. She ended her solo travels in Florida upon becoming smitten by a fella named Jeff Parsons. Together they traveled north exploring and searching for a place to call home. Eventually they landed here in Bethel. In 1995 Pattie and Jeff purchased 70 acres abutting the banks of the Androscoggin River, including the entirety of Hastings Island, with dreams of sharing their love of the area. After clearing sites and building a main lodge, Bethel Outdoor Adventure (BOA) opened to the public in the spring of 1996.

After almost 30 years in business, the twosome began to consider new adventures, and as it would happen, there was a young couple walking in surprisingly similar footsteps. Much like the adventuresome Parsons many years before, Erin and Garin Martin drove their RV from Florida to Maine in the spring of 2019. Though the original plan was to continue on their journey after visiting Garin’s home state, Maine worked its usual magic and won over Florida native Erin, who insisted they stay. The Martins knew of Bethel as a top ski destination, and as avid skiers they couldn’t think of a better location to set down roots.

Erin and Garin bought a home and wove themselves neatly into the fabric of our community. Erin’s digital marketing agency, SocialManas, quickly became a force, building websites and supporting social media accounts for many of our area’s local businesses. Garin made use of his engineering background by first working the obligatory couple seasons at Sunday River as a lift mechanic before taking a position as a line mechanic at Poland Spring’s Bottling Plant. Both were happy in their careers but a shared dream waited in the wings, biding time for an opportunity to arise. That dream was to own a campground. Time went by and they began to hear murmurs around town that BOA was coming up for sale. They withstood the temptation for a little while but eventually the entrepreneurial spirit overtook them. With the dream of owning a campground in their sights they quickly got their ducks in a row.

What Now?

After months of negotiations the ink on the deed transfer dried on November 30th of 2022 and Erin and Garin Martin officially stepped into their new role as owners and operators of Bethel Outdoor Adventure. The torch was passed. Erin and Garin are well prepared to seize this opportunity and expand the business. A newsletter will keep former guests engaged as the duo works to strengthen all aspects of the operation. Leaning on Erin’s digital expertise they will modernize processes and procedures to forge more seamless operations, freeing them up to focus on big picture goals. These upgrades include offering online booking and reservations while at the same time expanding their reach by listing BOA on a wider range of tourism sites. Garin will spearhead the campground’s physical transformation, overseeing the implementation of their 10 year plan: constructing yurt sites (allowing for year round camping), building a pavilion to host events and mapping out a low impact disc golf course on Hastings Island.

BOA’s growth doesn’t hinge only on the strengths of the new owners. They are excited by the opportunity to create a stronger business through building thoughtful symbiotic relationships with neighboring tradesmen, chefs and farms. Taking advantage of our area’s robust local food scene, they will curate a menu of grab & go food options. To round out the guest experience they will partner with local guide services to provide tailored excursions, ranging from fishing to more advanced paddles in the deeper water found downriver. This brokering of experiences unique to our area will allow vacationers or residents to have an immersive adventure without the headache of planning all the details.

Growth does not however mean abandoning what already exists. The Martins recognize the tremendous inherited history of all they now own. In the short term the camping sites and their amenities will remain the same. The sluice will continue to provide a beginner rockhounding experience. During their inaugural season the months of operation will be May through October, as usual. They will honor traditions such as the Workamping Program, which offers participants (and their pets) a connected campsite and access to all the BOA toys in exchange for 20 hours of labor per week. In general the heart of the operation will remain the same, any changes will be in the service of achieving the overarching vision of securing BOA’s position as a compelling four season tourist destination and an engaged community resource.

With Erin and Garin’s moxie, Bethel Outdoor Adventure will continue to thrive as a conduit for guests to revel in the expansive beauty of our little corner of Maine. All improvements will be viewed through the lens of the river’s guardianship. Central to their vision will be drawing area residents into a more mindful kinship with the “Scrog”, beginning with a commitment to host community days, at which stakeholders can use BOA gear to engage in river and shoreline clean ups. The future of Bethel Outdoor Adventure is bright. They see collaboration and music and many faces — new and old, from far and near — filling their campground to commune with the river and like minded adventurers. So stay tuned as they progress and re-open their doors to the community and visitors alike in May 2023. v