FORT KENT (AP) – The former Pineland Center in New Gloucester, longtime state home for the mentally retarded, will soon become the new home of the U.S. Biathlon Association.

The association, which has been based for about a decade in Colchester, Vt., announced nearly a year ago that it would be moving to Portland in early 2006. But in a change in plans, it recently signed a multi-year lease for space at the 3,500-acre Pineland Farms.

Pineland has cross-country ski facilities that are part of the Maine Winter Sports Center and Pineland itself is owned by the Libra Foundation, a major contributor to the sports center.

Fort Kent is currently holding the Olympic trials for biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and target shooting with a rifle. The association supports and promotes the development of the sport in the United States and prepares athletes for the Olympics and other international competition.

The association considered a number of options for a move, including downtown Portland and Pineland, and decided after two meetings in New Gloucester that it preferred the country site.

“Over a period of time it was recommended that Pineland would be the optimal location for us, so we went with that recommendation,” said Bill Lilly, the USBA’s interim president.

Libra purchased the property in June 2000, four years after the Pineland Center closed. It now includes 19 buildings and three farms, with the entire facility situated over four towns: New Gloucester, Gray, Pownal and Yarmouth. Tenants are a mix of nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses, including Energy East and Apple Computer.

With all that land, USBA workers can take their lunch breaks on the cross country ski trails.

“The skiing is right there,” Lilly said. “It’s country-ish, but that’s biathlon and that’s Maine.”

Copy the Story Link