West and Long Ponds in Parsonsfield, Maine Will Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
March 28th, 2010 categories: Sanford Lakes Region
Another beautiful day in Maine on West Pond, Parsonsfield
Tucked in the foothills of the White Mountains are two delightful ponds in the little town of Parsonsfield, West and Long Ponds. The ponds are only two hours from Boston and 45 minutes from the White Mountains and North Conway, New Hampshire.
West Pond covers 140 acres and has a maximum depth of 28 feet with an average depth between 5 and 12 feet. The West Pond Association (WPA), formed to maintain and operate the dam, test and monitor the water quality, and promote public safety plus safeguard the pond’s wildlife and environment, is led by president Joe Howes. The water quality is considered average. Bill and Nicky Buchanan monitor the water clarity. Joe Davock conducts water testing and sends samples to Demers Testing Laboratory in Springvale, where it is deemed drinkable.
There is no public access to West Pond, but lakefront property owners enjoy boating, skiing and other family fun. The coves and rocky ledges provide areas for great fishing. The coves, such as Charlie’s and Sunset, plus Lily Bay are also fun places to explore via canoe or kayak. Views of Dearborn, Cedar and Randall Mountain and the surrounding hills are enjoyed from the water.
The WPA meets in conjunction with the Long Pond Association at the West End House Camp each July. West and Long Ponds may be separated by a ridge, but they are connected by Road Between the Ponds.
The Long Pond Association (LPA) meets twice a year, in July and August. A public boat launch is located on Road Between the Ponds. Long Pond covers 263 acres and has an average depth of 18 feet with a maximum of 33. The water quality is considered to be above average. Small and largemouth bass are frequently caught here.
For over 100 years the West End House Camp has provided boys with recreational programs in a nurturing atmosphere on Long Pond. This past November the Boston Globe reported the passing of 104 year old George Kane, a long-time camper at West End: “‘He told the story that when he first saw Long Pond, his hear skipped a beat,’ said Bill Margolin, executive director of West End House Camp. ‘And even years later he’d say that when he sees Long Pond on a visit, his heart still skips a beat.’”
Nearby, the Leavitt Plantation, a 8,603-acre forest in Parsonsfield, has been permanently protected by the State of Maine. The Plantation is a destination for hunters, snowmobilers, hikers, cross-country skiers and cyclists. Eighty miles of mountain biking trails were created through the forest by Back Country Excursions.
West and Long Ponds are both perfect places to listen to the cry of the loons, gaze at the stars and just plain unwind. If you are looking for lakefront property that will make your heart skip a beat, look no more.
Tom - MrLakefront
