Bridgton, Maine, is located approximately 35 miles west of Portland and 20 miles east of North Conway, NH, on Route 302. The town encompasses a little over 25 square kilometers of scenic woods and mountains, including the state's third-largest ski area, Shawnee Peak at Pleasant Mountain. Also, over a third of the town's area consists of lakes, ponds, and streams, making it a haven for swimmers, boaters, canoeists, and fishermen. Orginally called Pondicherry, the town was founded in 1768 and incorporated in 1794 as "Bridges' Town", named after one of the original petitioners to the crown, Moody Bridges. Bridgton is the western-most town in Cumberland County, and home to about 5000 year-round residents. During the summer months, due to its abundance of natural resources and its proximity to Boston, New York, and other large population centers, Bridgton swells to around 35,000 inhabitants.

Bridgton is the service center for the western part of the state, featuring a district court building, numerous social service organizations, churches for many religious groups, restaurants ranging from pizza shops to gourmet dining (and almost everything in between), plus department and specialty stores, a popular art gallery, a two-screen drive-in movie complex, many antique shops, an indoor ice rink, a new elementary school, and a new, state-of-the-art hospital. In addition, Bridgton has just become home to a new Hannaford Supermarket, a new Hancock Lumber retail center, a Dunkin' Donuts, and will soon be the home of a newly-rebuilt Magic Lantern movie theatre, with four screens, a live-theatre stage, stadium seating, and a cafe on-site!

Bridgton is a great place for people who want to "get away from it all". Just a short, day-time trip from almost 1/4 of the U.S. population, Bridgton brings back the peace and tranquility of yesteryear, with its 18th and early 19th century homes, its public beaches, hiking trails, and quaint antique and specialty stores. It has a beautiful but challenging 18-hole golf course, the Bridgton Highlands Country Club, which is open to visitors, plus several other 18-hole courses within 20 minutes of its downtown. The lakes, ponds, and streams provide excellent fishing for anglers plus quiet waterways for canoes and kayaks. There are many hills and mountains to hike, and a newly-created downtown park with hiking trails will soon include scenic views for those who want to get out and enjoy Mother Nature's beauty.

Wintertime, too, brings plenty to do in Bridgton. Home to Shawnee Peak, with 47 trails and the largest night-skiing in New England, the area offers much outdoor fun. The newly-refurbished and well-groomed snowmobile trails take sledders through woods, fields, glades, and mountainsides for unsurpassed views. This is not the place for fast, reckless racing, but rather a family trail system with "snowmobiling for the civilized". The multi-use trails also host cross-country skiers and sled-dog teams, and the annual Winter Carnival and Mushers Bowl sled dog races bring thousands of people out to enjoy the crisp days of winter.

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