Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge) is a Dream Fulfilled for this Energetic Maine Couple and a Great New Destination for their Customers

by Barb Somerville

You are dining on fresh Prime Rib, with a crunchy garden salad and garlic mashed potatoes. Your appetizer was a bowl of thick, creamy Seafood Chowder and dessert is a generous slice of classic New York cheesecake, topped with cherry sauce. The coffee is superb. Perhaps your partner has opted for the Seafood Platter, succulent scallops, shrimp and haddock broiled to perfection or sauteed in butter, served with a tasty rice and wild rice side dish and perfectly steamed broccoli with a dollop of cheese sauce.

You look up and -- No, you're not in downtown Fredericton, Houlton, or Woodstock. You're gazing out at a peaceful scene of new fallen snow icing evergreen boughs. The Clearwater Brook slides by just outside the window, flowing in and out of its blanket of ice, and there's no one else in sight, besides your own dining companions and the friendly folks who have just prepared and served you this delightful meal.

You are, in fact, in the cozy and attractive dining room of the Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge), just five minutes from the turn off to Juniper on Route 107, an easy half hour drive from Bristol. The proud new owners of this unique wilderness lodge are Andrea and Rodney Reed, formerly of Durham, Maine, now hosts par extraordinaire.

The Reed's serve lunch to all comers from Monday through Friday, 11 until 2 p.m., with a choice of a hearty daily special or the soup/salad/sandwich combination that the diner customizes to his or her own taste. Coffee and tea are just seventy-five cents and the servings are best suited for those who have worked up an appetite working or playing in the great outdoors.

Dinner is served each evening and on weekends in the Lodge dining room by reservation only. The Prime Rib and the Seafood Platter are the mainstays of the dinner menu, but other choices are available, like the Surf n' Turf being offered throughout the second full week of February in honour of St. Valentine's Day. Log onto www.PaperBirchLodge.com or give the Reeds a call at 246-5223 or 1-877-646-5223 for more information about this special event, the winter get-away packages, and everything else that Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge) has to offer.

The Reeds describe their current occupation as the proprietors of an established hunting and fishing destination on the headwaters of the famed Miramichi River as a dream come true. In fact, they admit it's something they've always wanted to do. But in the meantime, raising their son and daughter, 23 year old Justin and 20 year old Natasha, has been their priority. While Rodney earned his Maine guide's license, he kept his day job at Bath Iron Works, and Andrea held down a job at the well-know outdoor equipment provider, L. L. Bean.

This choice of employment was appropriate, since both Andrea and Rodney have been outdoor enthusiasts throughout their lives. As well as fishing and hunting, the energetic couple have enjoyed white water kayaking, hiking, camping, and many other activities with their children. They had just redecorated their home and Rodney claims they weren't even looking when an ad in Maine Sportsman led them north to check out the lodge for a weekend.

It was partly the beauty of the location that attracted the Reeds. "It's such a pretty place," enthuses Andrea. "This area has a lot to offer," adds Rodney.

Consisting of 17 acres of woodland, the Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge) property was sold to Frank and Eileen MacDonald by Ada Flemming, widow of past NB premier Hugh John Flemming, 22 years ago, with the understanding that its pristine nature would be maintained.

The MacDonalds built the lodge and cabins, developing an outfitting business that attracted clients from all over Canada and the United States, with hunting privileges on a nearby crown lease now owned by J. D. Irving Ltd. When the Reeds took ownership on July 6, they saw an incredible opportunity to fulfill their dream of owning their own outfitting business.

Visitors to Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge) pass through an incredible, spacious living room on their way to the dining room. Golden log walls are hung with the trophies of many successful hunting expeditions. A huge black bear rug graces one wall, while a large fieldstone fireplace draws the eye right up to the log rafters of the vaulted ceiling. Comfy chairs and couches, draped with warm afghans, conjure images of hunting stories told by the crackling fire.

Two cabins adjacent to the main building can accommodate overnight visitors in comfort and style in four separate two-bedroom units. An outside hot tub is available to guests and one deluxe cabin features a queen size bed in one of two bedrooms, well as two singles in the other. Each cabin has kitchen facilities or guests can enjoy their meals at the lodge, making it a great place for those working in the area or a unique year-round vacation destination. In warmer weather, a four unit motel is available as well for overnight stays.

At this season, the lodge is perfectly located along Trail 53, part of the NB Trail system used for snowmobiling. The welcome mat is out for sledders, as well as those who want to snowshoe and cross country ski on the trails leading from the lodge. Equipment can be rented and the Reeds are happy to offer their expertise to visitors.

Other activities offered by the Reeds include guided hunting -- moose, deer, spring and fall bear hunting, bird hunting, and fishing, both for trout and salmon. Rodney also makes and hunts with a collection of incredible recurve bows that he has lovingly constructed himself. It would be well worth the drive from anywhere in the valley just to see this collection of handcrafted bows.

A fly fishing school is in the works, with stocked ponds available for practising. Groups are welcome to come for meals or meetings, workshops or retreats, and Andrea invites ladies to come for quilting, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties, and to enjoy the meditation garden she is planning. Already seniors have targeted the Lodge for spectacular fall foliage tours.

And the cuisine offered at Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge) may well turn out to be the biggest attraction, based on the Reeds' love of cooking and their high standards in using only the freshest, best quality ingredients.

Just over one hour's drive from Fredericton or Woodstock, Paper Birch Lodge (formerly Juniper Lodge) is located at 6251 Route 107. Watch for the sign and prepare for a warm welcome.