Finding Refuge in the Maine Woods: A Guest Post by Nick

Every now and then, life throws a curveball so devastating that it completely knocks the wind out of you. My dear friend Nick was dealing with an unimaginable family tragedy back home in Connecticut last August. When I saw he was nearby and running on absolute fumes, Mark and I knew we had to get him up to Maine for some literal and figurative breathing room.

What started as a last-minute rescue mission turned into an unforgettable two-week journey of healing, community, and unexpected comfort. While staying with us, Nick wrote down his reflections on his very first experience at Twin Ponds Lodge—a place that gave him exactly what he needed right when he needed it most.

I’m incredibly proud to share his raw, beautiful, and hilarious words with you all. Pull up a chair, and read Nick's story below.

“A Hole in the Woods”: How an All-Male Campground Became My Unexpected Sanctuary

By Nick

As I reflect on my visit to Twin Ponds Lodge, I can recall a few things—however, let me give you a little background for context.

I am in my mid-30s. I was born and raised in a small town in Connecticut, but I have lived in San Diego for seven years now. This trip to the East Coast was far from a planned one; my brother-in-law had suddenly died in his sleep at just 36 years old. My 5-year-old nephew found his dad dead in bed, and my sister came home to find the police surrounding her home. I flew out immediately to be there for her for a month, and so many heavy things unfolded. After about two weeks, I hit a point of complete physical and mental exhaustion. Unknowingly, I was in desperate search of refuge.

Mikey saw my location on Snapchat and reached out promptly. I told him why I was in Connecticut and filled him in on everything that had happened. He didn't miss a beat: “Okay, so you’re hopping on a train to Maine! I’ll pick you up in Saco. You’ll stay with Mark and me for a few days, and then we will go camping!”

If you know Mikey, you know that once his mind is made up, there is no changing it!

Changing Expectations

While I was on the train up, he casually mentioned that we would be camping at a gay campground. My initial mental imagery was essentially a bunch of guys in tents around a campfire singing “Kumbaya.”

LET ME TELL YOU how incorrect that was!

Okay, well, not completely—there are gay men, there are tents, and there are fire pits. With enough liquor, some people might actually be singing Kumbaya around them, but I digress. I would describe it more as a massive community of loving, compassionate, and empathetic gays and theys who come from all walks of life.

Beyond the vibe, the amenities are incredible: a very fully stocked bar adjacent to a fairly large community space, a pool, a hot tub, and several other perks. It is an all-male campground, but non-cisgendered males are very much welcomed.

During my time there, I had the opportunity to meet so many different people: men working in the tech industry, retired men who have “been there and done that” to most events in life, regulars who visit every single weekend, groups of friends seeking bonding time away from heteronormative society, and guys who only wanted to play their own adult version of “cornhole”—if you catch my drift.

A Judgment-Free Zone

I also met a few guys who were in recovery and felt a bit anxious about there being an active bar around. I need to be completely transparent here: NO ONE at TPL will EVER make you do ANYTHING you are uncomfortable with, nor will they pressure you into their ideology of what life should look like. Like I said, it’s a space for men from all walks of life.

Some of the regulars are there because TPL has truly become their refuge, their community, and their family. As many of us are aware, a lot of LGBTQ+ people don’t have supportive biological families. These people have built an incredible chosen family at Twin Ponds Lodge. It’s a place to find and meet men who genuinely just want you to enjoy yourself. The owners are a lovely bunch of gentlemen who are deeply invested in both their campers and their property. Everything is immaculately well-maintained and clean. They want you to make their campground your home away from home, even if it's just for a short while.

Kink Weekends and Comfort Zones

My first trip just happened to coincide with the grand opening of their sex-positive "play-ground" for Kink Weekend. When I was first made privy to this, I was a bit taken aback, as I’ve never really been exposed to events like that.

While I personally did not partake in the "festivities," I did meet some very cool guys who went to visually check it out purely out of curiosity. We did the good old “I came, I saw, I went home”—meaning we saw the adult jungle gym and decided we would rather head back to the lodge and play board games instead.

The best part about that? No one tried to make us step too far out of our comfort zone. No one tried to pressure us into partaking in something we didn’t want to do. There are plenty of other activities to do within the facilities—the bar is open, the pool is warm, and there is a heavenly scent of burning wood in the air at almost all times. If you are in recovery, no one will force a drink into your hand. Hell, if you talk to the staff, I am sure they would be more than obliged to mix you up a killer signature mocktail!

The True Meaning of Community

If you do not want to partake in any sexual activity, you don’t have to. I didn’t. I wasn’t in the right mindset, as I was still actively coping with the sudden loss of my brother-in-law. Instead, the most common thing I encountered was people simply asking if I needed anything: a hug, a drink, someone to talk to, or if I just needed some quiet space. It was the most heart-filling experience I felt during the entire trip. If you are "from away," you will only be met with kindness and curiosity, just as I was.

Originally, the plan was for me to stay at the campground for five days. I ended up extending my trip and staying for about two weeks!

I am already looking forward to my next opportunity to fly across the country and visit Twin Ponds Lodge. I cannot wait to see the familiar faces that I can now call friends, and to meet new people along the way. If you are seeking community, a good time with lots of laughs, a vacation around other gay men, or just want to be a hole in the woods for the weekend—look no further than Twin Ponds Lodge.

P.S. Look for my little orange pin on San Diego that I put on the map!