Presque Isle’s Nordic Heritage Outdoor Center is closed as of Sunday, Dec. 1, city officials said.
The property was not yet gated on Monday afternoon, but no one was on site and a Pineland Farms truck and trailer sat at the facility.
Portland’s Libra Foundation funded and built the facility in 1999, and continued to pay for its operation. Pineland Farms of New Gloucester owns the property. The closure marks the end of a 25-year gift from Libra to the city of Presque Isle. But it is up to the owners to do with the property as they see fit, City Manager Tyler Brown said.
“From a city standpoint, it’s unfortunate. We want to see it be utilized,” Brown said. “They’re making a business decision to cancel the contract [with the city], and that is their right.”
City officials offered to discuss the closure with Libra, but the foundation followed through Sunday on their intent to close the center, he said.
There has been no further discussion on next steps or what the plans are for the facility, Brown said.
Libra Executive Vice President Erik Hayward declined Monday to answer questions about future plans for the venue.
The 750-acre facility has hosted international and national biathlon competitions, community events, conferences and more. Skiers, hikers and bikers have used its trails. Local schools have held numerous ski meets and championships there.
Libra announced the closure on Nov. 12 via a social media post. Later that week, the Facebook group Friends of the Nordic Heritage Center formed to try to see if the center could be kept open, and on Nov. 22, Aroostook County legislators also appealed to the Libra Foundation.
Though a volunteer group managed it at one time, the city’s Recreation and Parks Department managed the ski venue for the past three years.
The center is officially closed and out of the department’s hands, Deputy Director Andrew Perry said Monday.
“I believe that the Libra Foundation has sent individuals up here that will be working to clear out any remaining items that they’re taking off site, and that the access road will be gated,” Perry said. “I have not heard from anyone at Libra as far as their plans, but I believe the plan is to look for a buyer.”
Foundation staff did say that whoever the future owner may be, that person or entity may wish to keep some of the items there such as tables and chairs, Perry said.
As of Monday, the facility did not appear on local or state real estate company websites. Pineland Farms representatives did not immediately return requests for comment.
