‘As Maine residents, they intend to be good stewards of this remarkable property’

New owners, managers for Point Lookout property and Conference Center

Tue, 03/19/2019 - 6:15pm

    NORTHPORT — On March 19, it was announced in a news release that Deep Creek Grazing Association is the new owner of the 387-acre Point Lookout Conference Center and that Olympia Hotel Management, of Portland, will be operating the facility. David and Tami Hirschfeld, of Camden, are principals of Deep Creek Grazing Association.

    Until today, Athenahealth, based in Watertown, Mass., and with offices in Belfast, owned the property, which occupies the southeastern side and top of Ducktrap Mountain, all overlooking Penobscot Bay. Athenahealth had acquired Point Lookout from the Maryland-based Erickson Foundation, which had, in turn, acquired its Maine real estate from Bank of America, which had acquired its Maine properties from MBNA, the credit card bank that originally developed the mountainside land as a corporate retreat, beginning in 1997.

    Since last year, the real estate had been the subject of a federal court decision and an appeal. The announcement today closes that litigious chapter for the mountain, and its new owners are, according to a news release, “proud to take the helm of such a majestic property, one that offers guests, wedding couples and corporate clients an authentic Maine experience.”

    Olympia Hotel Management will assume management of the business that includes a gym and bowling alley, 106 cabins, artificial turf playing field, and two event centers.

    “The Hirschfelds look forward to welcoming new and returning guests to Point Lookout,” said Matthew Arrants, executive vice president of Pinnacle Advisory Group, on behalf of Deep Creek Grazing Association, in the news release. “They are devoted to the region and deeply committed to the resort’s employees. As Maine residents, they intend to be good stewards of this remarkable property. It’s why they reached out to a Maine-based company like Olympia Hotel Management for their hospitality and operational expertise.”

    For Portland-based Olympia Hotel Management, which currently manages Maine hotels, including Inn by the Sea, “Point Lookout is a welcome opportunity to partner with another iconic property in their home state,” the release said.

    “We’re thrilled to take over the management of Point Lookout,” said Sara Masterson, senior vice president of Olympia Hotel Management. “We have a deep and lasting commitment to the state of Maine and this remarkable coastal property aligns perfectly with our expertise in managing outstanding properties that play an integral role in the local community.”

    Point Lookout was designed for family vacations, business conferences and weddings, the release said, adding:

    “It offers 106 classic Maine pine log cabins that range from one to three bedrooms, each of them with a private screened porch, a fully-equipped kitchenette or kitchen, living and dining areas, gas fireplaces, air-conditioning, wireless high-speed internet access, cable TV, telephone, and private bathrooms.

    “There is a state-of-the-art fitness center, a gymnasium, tennis, racquetball & squash courts eight lane bowling alley bowling alley, foosball and video game arcade, billiards, sports fields, 18-hole disc golf course and hiking trails.

    “Casual dining can be found at the indoor/outdoor Copper Pine Café, which offers breakfast and lunch.”

    The release continued:

    Meetings & Weddings

    Point Lookout offers more than 40,000 square feet of conference space spread among three different buildings, designed for corporate meeting, team-building retreat, family reunion, or weddings. The largest event facility, Hedges Hall, is a 20,000 square-foot conference center with an ornate lobby, sunlit wrap-around verandas, and elegant ballroom sub-dividable into three rooms. Attached is also a 10,000 square-foot open-air pavilion with retractable sides, 12 wood fired grills, and two 50-pound lobster cookers for festive barbeques or lobster feasts.

    The premier conference space is The Summit, a mountaintop executive retreat, which commands one of the most spectacular panoramic views in the entire state. It features 18,900 square feet spread over seven break-out rooms, a private dining room and great room, a formal lobby & lounge area, and a scenic wrap around deck and lawn overlooking Penobscot Bay.

    A Base Camp for Coastal Adventures

    Point Lookout is an ideal base for exploring nearby Maine coastal towns, such as the yachting center of Camden, the gallery-filled town of Rockland, and Belfast. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are just an hour’s drive away. Local summer activities include golfing, sailing, whale watching while during the winter, there’s downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, toboggan sledding, ice fishing, and ice skating.

    Point Lookout Resort and Conference Center, 67 Atlantic Highway, Northport, Maine 1-800-515-3611  https://www.visitpointlookout.com/

    Olympia Hotel Management is a division of The Olympia Companies, a leader in high profile real estate development, equity investment and hospitality management projects in the U.S. Currently working with a portfolio of 23 properties nationwide, OHM is known for managing a new breed of customized campus hotels such as The Alfond Inn at Rollins; independently-owned luxury boutique hotels like The Glen House, SOPHY Hyde Park and Inn by the Sea; and receiving multiple best-in-class awards for its work with such select-service brands as Wyndham, Hyatt Place, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn. For more information, visit https://theolympiacompanies.com/services/hotel-management/