HISTORY OF BRADFORD CAMPS

Bradford Camps, as they are known today, trace their roots to around 1890 when William Atkins came to Maine from Quebec and began guiding in the Rangeley Lakes region. Encouraged by the sportsmen he served, he set out to find a place of his own. His search eventually led him north.

After moving into the Moosehead Lake region, Will explored the vast watersheds of northern Maine. Following the headwaters of the Aroostook River, he traveled lake by lake, stream by stream, mapping the interconnected waters that would shape his future. He continued downstream to the Village of Oxbow, where he established a home and a base of operations for what would soon become “Atkins’ Camps.”

What he discovered was extraordinary. The fisheries were rich, the wilderness untouched, and the opportunity unmistakable. A true sportsman’s paradise.

In those early days, reaching camp was an expedition in itself. Guests traveled by rail from cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston to Oakfield. From there, they continued by wagon or buckboard to Oxbow and the Atkins Hotel. After a night’s rest, guides met them at dawn. Canoes were loaded. The journey continued upriver by pole and paddle, with an overnight stay at the Lean-to Camps before the final leg to Munsungan Lake.

Five days of travel brought them to camp, where many would remain for a month or the entire summer season.

Over more than a century, Bradford Camps have had only a handful of owners. That continuity speaks to something rare: stewardship. A dedication to preserving the resource, honoring tradition, and providing an experience for those who seek the North Maine Woods at its finest.