Paul Bunyan Campground is located in Bangor, Maine, a city where the Penobscot River flows. The business provides 88 campsites for visitors to reserve, ranging from RV spaces to tent sites. The campground season is from May 1st to October 15th each year. Amenities include a store selling travel supplies and snacks; a gathering place called "The Den;" and a pond with relatively small fish and frogs. The establishment is pet-friendly, allowing visitors to bring their dogs as long as they are leashed and cleaned up after. Various outdoor areas and national parks are located about an hour from the property, such as Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park, home to Mount Katahdin.
Paul Bunyan Campground offers a total of 88 campsites. Choices range from dry camping to full hookup RV slots, which the manager says "will meet the need of any preference." Some of the sites come with no hookups or only water and electricity, but a majority of them come with full hookups, including water, electric, and septic. The electrical output also varies between sites, with some providing 20 AMPs of power and others having up to 50 AMPs of power. Regardless of which site a visitor decides to reserve, every campsite and RV slot comes with a fire ring and picnic table. Each space typically has at least one or two trees that separate them from the neighboring site, which may help guests have more privacy and provide shade during the day.
As a whole, the grounds have many trees, but there are open spaces and fields as well. One can also find a heated pool, two bathhouses with showers, a laundry room with coin-operated machines, a store, and a dump station, among other amenities. The store sells a variety of things, namely wood, ice, snacks, and essential travel items that people may have forgotten to bring. Located within the main office building, the store is where visitors check in upon arrival. There is also an activity room called The Den, which offers games, books, and other activities. The manager explains that a free pancake breakfast is hosted at The Den on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Sometimes the business may have a potluck dinner, typically on Saturday evenings, which is hosted in The Den. Additionally located at the back of the main building is a dishwashing sink available for travelers who do not have water hookups at their site. Near the center of the campground, the premises is characteristic of a catch-and-release fishing pond, which is also known for its inhabitation of frogs. Swimming in the pond is prohibited. The manager of the company mentions that one pastime that people have previously engaged in is catching the frogs and letting them go. The camp also provides on-site storage for a fee, which allows people to leave their campers and take their cars with them to explore the surrounding area or fly out of Bangor for a trip.
Paul Bunyan Campground is centrally located to many different attractions. Mount Katahdin, one of the central attractions of Baxter State Park, is found about an hour northeast of Bangor and has a considerable number of hiking trails. The business is also about an hour away from Acadia National Park. Another outdoor area he mentions is Greenville, which has a lake and "guide services for moose sightings, bear sightings, and more." One location that is found in the city of Bangor is the Maine Savings Amphitheatre. Dennis mentions that Maine Savings Amphitheatre often hosts 20 - 30 concerts each summer. There are several restaurants in the vicinity as well. Two that Dennis likes to recommend by name are Eagles Nest Restaurant and Governor's Restaurant & Bakery.
The manager of Paul Bunyan Campground, Dennis Michaud, hopes to create an atmosphere where guests can feel peaceful and relaxed throughout their stay. He remarks that he wants them to be "free to have good, family fun." The manager mentions that he interacts with patrons as frequently as the visitors prefer. Certain events can be held at the property, as the manager mentions that they can rent out a covered pavilion to groups for celebrations, including birthdays, office parties, family reunions, and other similar gatherings.
There are several policies that guests should be aware of while they are staying at the campground. Quiet hours begin at 10:00 p.m. each night. Pets are welcome at the establishment, but dogs must be on a leash at all times, and their owners must clean up after them. Cats are allowed as well, but they must remain in the camper. The manager also mentions that there is a maximum seven-night stay for visitors staying in a tent.
The business has received many reviews from patrons who have previously stayed at the campground. Many of these comments mention specific aspects of the property, such as the amenities and the employees. One person who recently stayed at Paul Bunyan Campground wrote, "Polite staff and neighbors that are willing to help out. My kids love the pool and playgrounds. It's located in a very convenient place where shopping and essentials are a mile up the road." The business is open seasonally, starting on May 1st and closing on October 15th. Dennis mentions that the busiest months of operation tend to be during July and August because children are out of school for the season. The typical demographic of guests is families, though the manager remarks that many retired folks visit as well.
The current owners of the business are Dennis and Amy Hachey. They are also the original proprietors of Paul Bunyan Campground, having opened it to the public in 1991. Dennis Hachey was led into the industry because, when he was younger, he and his best friend dreamed of owning this piece of farmland and turning it into a campground. They fulfilled that dream in 1991 and became co-owners of the company. Sometime later, Dennis' friend sold his portion of the property to him, making Dennis the sole owner of Paul Bunyan Campground. The manager, Dennis Michaud, explains that the owner and his friend strategically planted many trees on the grounds shortly after purchasing the land.
Paul Bunyan Campground often receives many repeat guests who have visited for years. The manager mentions that two of his favorite parts of helping run the business are the establishment's location and being able to cater to families. The manager explains, "The campgrounds have been around long enough that we now have generational campers who grew up as children camping here. So now the parents, their children, and their grandchildren are all coming and camping together."
1858 Union St
Bangor, Maine 04401
United States
Campground
Dennis & Amy Hachey
