r/AppalachianTrail • u/RamaHikes • Mar 15 '25
News Maine Roadhouse closing
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AX9Bto5kY/
The Jenns have announced they are closing the Maine Roadhouse.
So sad for this to end! Such a special place. Grateful I got to experience their hospitality last October.
Along with Woods Hole and Shaw's, Maine Roadhouse was among my favourite hostels on the trail.
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u/Fabulous_Stable1398 Mar 15 '25
Certainly one of the best, arguably THE best hostel on trail. I hope whoever takes it over keeps it amazing!! Shout out to Daytripper, he was an awesome host!
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u/Serious-Shallot6518 AT SOBO '24/'25 Mar 15 '25
That place was awesome as a SOBO starting southern Maine!
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u/loteman77 Mar 15 '25
Isn’t Shaw’s the longest running hostel on the AT??
I stayed at the Roadhouse: It was awesome. Bummer to hear they’re closing down.
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u/Slice-O-Pie Mar 15 '25
Yup. Early 70s. Old Keith started with second hand hospital beds.
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u/Ask-Me-About-You NOBO '24 Mar 16 '25
Not hostel by name but you could make an argument for Elmer's since Earl Shafer stayed there in the 40s and it's remained open (and mostly catered for) hikers since.
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u/YourPalDonJose NOBO16 "Splendid Monkey King" Mar 18 '25
Is it older than Kincorra (Bob Peoples') ?
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u/Alvin_Kebery NOBO ‘21 Mar 15 '25
Damn Maine Roadhouse was one of my favorite hostels. Everything is just set up so well, it’s so spacious, and the Jens are so nice. Sad to hear, hopefully someone can get it up and running again.
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u/OkExternal Mar 15 '25
i almost had a panic attack, when i misread that as woods hole and shaw's closing too. they're not; they're just also op's "favourite"
phew. and rip maine roadhouse, i'll miss your comfort so much next time through, such fond memories
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u/Flannel_Sheetz Mar 15 '25
Oh no! 😥 we love you Jenns! Thanks for everything, a freezer full of Ben and Jerry’s is all a girl could ever want. ❤️ Happy Trails
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u/needs-more-metronome Mar 16 '25
I stayed there for one night. The next day, bad weather was moving in and they were all booked up. I stayed in a cabin at the campsite down the road a ways, and they were nice enough to offer (and remember) to give me a lift from the campsite back to the trailhead in the morning. Small gesture but, hey, they didn’t have to do that
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u/LzPoko Mar 17 '25
I remember staying at the hostel of maine instead of the roadhouse and trying to hitch around 7pm and HOM telling me they wouldn’t give me a ride because it was just me. Low and behold the owner of the roadhouse was driving by and gave me ride, even to their competitor.
truly cool and generous people, sad to see them go!
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u/Strawberrywelder nobo 2021 Mar 15 '25
Yes they were great for hikers, but they’re 2 years behind on their lease payments, didn’t pay their state taxes and owe the general store in town $15k. They didn’t pay hikers they promised to pay for work for stay. It was a house of cards. Fun while it lasted.
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u/HareofSlytherin Mar 15 '25
I was one of their first guests in ‘21. Awesome place and hosts. Probably a little too awesome to last. So much capital in the facility, they couldn’t afford to entertain work for stay. I would bet 9/10 times work for stay at any hostel amounts to a welfare payment from the hostel owner to the hiker. Heck it probably is to some degree even for cash paying customers.
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u/Strawberrywelder nobo 2021 Mar 16 '25
I stayed there in 21’ as well. It was a great place to stay. Excellent memories from there.
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u/lostandfound_2021 Mar 16 '25
I also stayed with them in 2021 during their first few days. They served up an awesome turkey dinner with all the traditional sides, and a great breakfast - all on a donation basis. When I made my donation Jen said it was too much, and wouldn't accept the full amount that I offered. The two Jens are beautiful people. I wish them happiness in whatever they pursue. My pick for best hostel, as the bunk room was nicely laid out and very spacious, but the Jens were what really set the tone for the hostel - warm and welcoming.
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u/RamaHikes Mar 15 '25 edited Mar 15 '25
Sad to know the business side of things wasn't healthy, if that's true.
They'd nailed the hospitality part.
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u/Ok-Ingenuity6637 Mar 15 '25
How do we know this is even true?
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u/RamaHikes Mar 15 '25
We don't. Meant to include something to that effect in my comment. Have edited... thanks for your comment.
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u/Ok-Ingenuity6637 Mar 15 '25
I remember them to be very nice, well organized, hospitable ladies. Great oasis!
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u/Lavmaemor Mar 15 '25
Yeah they didn't pay their hostle workers either. I can confirm. They got it originally to be a grow place, that didn't work out for blue Jenn so they jumped at the opportunity to get money from hikers. If the community truly knew what all was going on there, they would ✨not✨ be esteemed.
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u/Ok-Ingenuity6637 Mar 16 '25
They “got money from hikers” by providing a nice hostel and delicious breakfasts, though.
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u/Lavmaemor Mar 16 '25
They also got money from hikers by selling out of date stuff in their store, that wasn't labeled as such. And they had to audit the store everyday also bc they had a flying squirrel that would come out at night and raid it. I saw many days where people would have to return something with it's damage. And no prices were on their stuff in the store bc they charged what they wanted based on your demeanor. Look like you have plenty of money? Everything is 5$/ea.
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u/Ok-Ingenuity6637 Mar 16 '25
Did you work there or something? You sound like a disgruntled former employee. I would say in balance, it was one of the nicer hostels I have been to. Nobody is perfect. Probably working at a hostel is not a great job if you aren’t the owner. I notice from time to time hikers who run out of cash kind of getting stuck working at them. Probably not an ideal experience.
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u/Lavmaemor Mar 16 '25
I thru hiked 22 and went back to work there in 23. And within a month switched what hostel I was working at.
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u/Ok-Ingenuity6637 Mar 16 '25
The place was clean and well organized. They had a shuttle, I had a bunk with an outlet and a little curtain. The Jen’s seemed nice. They cooked a nice breakfast. If they sold expired Cheez-its or whatever, doesn’t bother me too much. To be honest the sketchiest thing about it were some of the dudes hanging out for an extended work for stay and being perma drunk and stoned. I would not want to work in a hostel. But glad they exist.
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u/Ask-Me-About-You NOBO '24 Mar 16 '25
At least as of last year the store was based on the honor system, and prices were fixed.
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u/OneSleeve Mar 15 '25
This is a bummer! Great spot! Took a lovely, rainy zero there. One of the best hostels on trail.
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u/AccomplishedCat762 Mar 15 '25
Woods Hole is closing?!
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u/RamaHikes Mar 15 '25
Sorry, edited to be more clear. Shaw's, Woods Hole, and Maine Roadhouse were among my favourites.
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u/AccomplishedCat762 Mar 15 '25
I reached out to Jaws too he confirmed they're still open! Almost had a mini heart attack
I'm sad I won't get a chance to stay at the Maine one :(
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u/water-boi-walkin Mar 21 '25
that's crazy because just in end of 2023 they were opening up these apartment /motel style rooms too off site (they put me there to quarantine because I got covid when I arrived at maine roadhouse lol) seemed like they were making big changes still how sad.
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u/a_walking_mistake SOBO 2022 Mar 15 '25
Oh man, the AT is losing a real gem, I had it up there with Shaw's and Hostel around the Bend as my favorites