KINGFIELD — On Thursday, Aug. 27, Maine Huts & Trails hosted a special event at its Flagstaff Lake Hut.

MH&T staff, board members and others gathered to celebrate some of their success to date and provide project updates to the guests of honor and key supporters who were able to join them.

Guests of honor included Gov. John E. Baldacci and New Zealand Ambassador to the U.S., Roy Ferguson, and his wife, Dawn. 

Approximately 50 people gathered for dinner, about 40 spent the night. Board Chairman Bob Peixotto and Executive Director Dave Herring provided some key highlights of the organization’s successes to date.

In 2008, MH&T hosted approximately 800 over-night visitors at Poplar Stream Falls Hut and expects to host more than 3,000 overnight visitors between the two huts in 2009. These visitors have hailed from at least 18 states and three countries, staff report.

After cutting costs to help create a favorable budget this year, the group announced good financial standings in a year-to-date financial report.

Peixotto and Herring also announced two major contributions which they said have triggered plans for a third hut and other structures. The group was pleased to show their gratitude toward the two generous contributions. A $250,000 gift was received from Robert and Gayle Greenhill of Greenwich, Conn. This contribution is in addition to a $500,000 gift made by the couple in the fiscal year of 2006-2007. The other significant contribution was from a foundation that will remain anonymous for the next few weeks, but amounts to $500,000.

Applications for permits for the organization’s third hut, located near Grand Falls along the Dead River, and a pedestrian foot bridge crossing the Dead River in the same area, have been recently submitted to the Land Use Regulation Commission.

Pending permits, and an additional $500,000 to $700,000 in funding, both projects are currently planned for 2010, Herring said.

This will complete the first phase of the MH&T effort. Once complete, they will have connected Carrabassett Valley to Grand Falls, and The Forks with approximately 40 miles of trails — at the same time, providing three comfortable and spacious huts that can accommodate hundreds of visitors.