Forest Lodge

Forest Lodge is a homestead with seven buildings arranged along the northern bank of the Rapid River in Upton, Maine. The compound includes residential houses, wood storage sheds, and a working workshop that together form a complete early twentieth-century settlement.

This homestead took shape in the early twentieth century as a private family settlement along the river. It received official recognition through inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, acknowledging its historical importance as a record of that era.

Author Louise Dickinson Rich owned the property from 1933 to 1944, writing extensively about her experiences in publications including We Took to the Woods.

This site is remote and reachable only on foot, which prepares visitors for its isolated riverside location. Access varies with seasons and weather conditions, particularly during winter months when snow can make paths difficult to traverse.

The Guide House intentionally has no modern utilities such as plumbing or electricity, displaying life as it existed in the 1930s. The Winter and Summer Houses still contain their original furnishings with personal items like a typewriter that reflect the daily routine of that time.