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Otyokwa

Bremen, Lincoln, Maine

40 acres hosted by John S.

Camp Otyokwa was a thriving boys camp established in 1931, by members of the Rumson family in Bremen, ME. (At the time, the town line was drawn listing the camp in Waldoboro) The surviving photos and guestbooks of the camp show a vibrant atmosphere of boys venturing out in the wild and learning self-sufficiency, teamwork and fortitude in what was the 'far north,' an isolated and spartan environment in mid-coast Maine in 1931. A description from the Otyokwa guide from 1931 holds true today- "The camp, comprised of fifty acres of fields and pine groves, borders Lake Pemaquid for over one-half mile. The Lake, which is nine miles long, is crystal clear. Its natural sandy beaches and gradually sloping shores afford ideal bathing conditions." Photos show the boys, in black bathing suits with pith helmets (!) swimming, trailblazing, and practicing archery. The harsh reality of WW2 and the coastal blackouts that ensued, closed Otyokwa over the winter of 1941-42. The camp was run as a private family camp in the Rumson family from then to 1984, when a former camper, Ernie Groth, rediscovered the property, and with fond memories of his youthful Maine summers, purchased it, restored some of the cabins which had fallen into disrepair, and basically made it his family Vallaha. His children were raised there, got married there, drove cars over the ice in winter there, and kept the Otyokwa spirit alive among their friends and family. Ernie passed some years ago, and the kids proudly kept the property until last year when they found a group who would assume stewardship of the property and continue the story.

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Beach

Forest

Lake

Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp

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