Courtesy / Point Lookout Conference Center
Hedges Hall, part of the lease offering, contains meeting space, a 6,000-square-foot ballroom and a 10,000-square-foot outdoor pavilion.
Updated: October 1, 2019
New Point Lookout owners seek tenants to continue resort operations
Courtesy / Point Lookout Conference Center
Much of the 387-acre Point Lookout Conference Center in Northport is now available for lease.
Six months after buying the Point Lookout Conference Center in Northport, the owners are looking to lease out most of the facility in order for it to continue operations.
In March, David and Tami Hirschfeld bought the 387-acre property, at 67 Atlantic Highway overlooking Penobscot Bay. But unforeseen costs related to unexpected maintenance issues have proved more costly than they expected, making it difficult for them to maintain it for the long term.
“As we got into this, we began to realize that this facility was developed as a corporate retreat,” said David Hirschfeld. “The structures required a great deal of annual maintenance and there are huge annual expenses in order to keep the place up. We’ve come to find out that those have been a challenge.”
Over the summer, the couple decided to shut down resort operations once existing contracts for 2019 were fulfilled.
Then they heard from the community. Local residents were mainly concerned they would lose access to the fitness center.
“We heard how important this facility was to them,” he said. “We spent the summer wringing our hands, to try to figure out a way to keep it operational. We were heartbroken by some of the things we heard from folks in the community.”
In August, the couple came up with the idea of leasing resort operations to someone with more experience in the industry and new ideas. They began advertising statewide last week, and national advertising begins this week.
Last week, the Hirschfelds issued a request for proposals, due Nov. 1, for potential lessees to run the bulk of the facility.
“With the right management team and a more streamlined form, the facility could maintain a prominent presence in the area,” the RFP says.
Besides leasing 40 or so cabins, the plan includes selling about 60 of them. The plan also includes maintaining the Hirschfelds' continued residence at Point Lookout.
The couple’s daughter and son-in-law will continue to operate the property’s fitness center independently of the resort.
What happens if the Hirschfelds don’t receive an appropriate proposal by the deadline?
“At this point, we’re just focused on making sure we get it leased out,” said David Hirschfeld. “If something changes down the line, we’ll stay light on our feet and make that determination at that point.”
Montana transplants
The Hirschfelds are principals in Deep Creek Grazing Association Inc. in Choteau, Mont.
The couple and their two children had been longtime visitors to midcoast Maine. The children are both in their 20s, married with careers of their own and living in Augusta and Rockport.
“They liked it in Maine and so did we, so we said, 'Let’s start looking for a place where we can be all together,'” said David Hirschfeld. “We were advised that Point Lookout was available for purchase.”
It seemed ideal: The property was turnkey, and the couple could run the resort, live there and cultivate apple trees and blueberries.
But soon after the transaction was finalized, they ran into serious issues. For example, the HVAC system would need to be replaced at a far higher cost than they could afford.
The center offers overnight accommodations; conference, retreat and wedding facilities; and on-site recreation including a fitness center, bowling center, hiking trails, beaches, and athletic fields and courts, according to the center's website. The site available for lease includes 10 three-bedroom cabins, 28 two-bedroom cabins, two one-bedroom cabins, the bowling center, Hedges Hall, the Copper Pine Café and an education center.
The fitness center will operate independently but will be open to the public, including cabin guests or tenants. The site is split into three parcels.
Cabins range from 500 to 720 square feet. Each contains a kitchenette, screened porch, dining table, living room and paved parking space.
Hedges Hall contains meeting space with a reception area, a 6,000-square-foot ballroom, several enclosed porches, a full-service kitchen, and a 10,000-square-foot covered outdoor pavilion with retractable walls and a heating system. The ballroom can be divided into three separate spaces. Multiple events can be held simultaneously on the veranda and in the pavilion.
The education center contains six classrooms. Copper Pine Café Gazebo contains a kitchen. The bowling center contains eight bowling lanes, a locker room, game room, large seating area and private event space.
Questions regarding the RFP can be sent by noon Oct. 9 to susan@visitpointlookout.com.
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