Camp Pondicherry on Adams Pond in Bridgton, Maine
Tucked away in the hills of the Sebago Lakes Region of western Maine is the 45-acre Adams Pond.
Located in South Bridgton, Maine the pond was almost renamed Adams Lake about 30 or more years ago. According to local resident Barry Johnson, there was a push to get a professional water skiing group to come to South Bridgton. This group would only ski on lakes, not ponds, so some residents wanted to make the change.

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The name change didn’t occur, nor did the water skiing group come to Adams Pond. Instead, the pond remains quiet. A summer day on Adams Pond cries out for folks to enjoy it in a small boat. Paddle along the shore and spot loon, deer, moose, an array of birds and other wildlife.
There is a public access, but only if you carry your boat in, so it’s perfect for kayaks and canoes. Maine Statue 13068 states “A person may not operate a motorboat having more than 10 horsepower on Adams Pond, Foster Pond or Otter Pond in the Town of Bridgton in Cumberland County.”
The pond is alive with fish. Barry and his son, Ben, fish for bass, trout and white perch.
“Fishing’s pretty good,” says Barry, “The state stocks it with trout.”
Though the state says Adams Pond is closed for ice fishing, it was accidentally opened for two winters. Barry’s wife, Julie, says the pond was packed the years it was open.
The swimming is great too. There is no public beach, but the Johnsons live across the street from the pond and neighbors let them use their beach. One summer Barry and Ben swam across the pond and around it. Ben was training for a swim across Highland Lake in downtown Bridgton. This father and son team also enjoys snorkeling together.
“We’ve found interesting stuff like old shovels. There used to be an old wooden boat that was fun to snorkel out and see, but it decayed over time,” says Barry.
In the late 1800s, early 1900s, farms surrounded the pond. The Ingalls and Perley families had settled the area. Today, places still bear their names, but Adams Pond is home to the Girl Scouts’ Camp Pondicherry, Adams Lake Cottages and several private properties.
The pond is monitored regularly by Lakes Environmental Association (LEA). According to a 2008 year-end report by LEA, “Dissolved oxygen depletion and elevated phosphorus levels in the bottom waters are frequently observed in Adams Pond. For these reasons, the pond remains in the high degree of concern category.”
The maximum depth of Adams Pond is 51 feet. A dam at the outlet to Sawyer Brook is privately owned and operated.
You’ll find the peace and beauty of the Maine woods, if you purchase lakefront property on Adams Pond. From fine fishing and swimming to snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, this is an outdoor person’s paradise.
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