Heading to Camden Hills State Park this summer? When you get hungry, there will be a new food shack near the entrance offering healthier fare for those heading for the great outdoors
The Trail Magic Snack Shack is expected to open in early August, about a quarter mile from the state park entrance at 251 Belfast Road. The bright yellow and green roadside shack is surrounded by greenery and picnic tables off Route 1. A nearby garage has a “Starry Night” mural on its wall facing the shack.
Owner Jason Doppelt said he saw an opportunity to provide new meal options for people headed to and from the nearby park and trails.
“I’m a mountain biker, and there’s a lot of trails at Sagamore Farm and at the state park,” Doppelt said. “I’ve seen the shack many times, and I’ve just always thought it’d be fun to get in there and do my spin on it.”
Doppelt wants to keep the menu simple, but tasty. What that will mean in terms of options is still being worked out — the final menu for opening day hasn’t been set. Doppelt expects to begin with a smaller menu and expand offerings once the place is up and running.
It will be a bit different from the previous occupants. The building was last home to Two Dudes Tacos, and before then it was Deidre’s Roadside, but has been empty for about two years, Doppelt said.
It’s also different from Doppelt’s two other Camden food businesses. Doppelt owns two hot dog stands in Camden — Harbor Dogs at the town landing and Snow Dogs at the Camden Snow Bowl, known for their specialty hot dogs like the barbecue bacon Kansas City Dog, the sauerkraut laden Reuben Dog and the Chili Cheese Dog, as well as hot lunch fare.
Trail Magic Snack Shack will offer hot dogs, burgers and wraps as well.
“We’re gonna be doing bison burgers and healthier stuff geared to hikers and outdoor people,” Doppelt said.
The space has enough outdoor seating to accommodate between 30 and 40 people, he said, and Doppelt plans to open a beer garden, which will offer special adult ice cream floats with alcohol among other beverages. It received its liquor license from the town this week and renovations are underway. An opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but it is expected to be sometime in early August.
Once the shack opens, the hours are expected to be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Tuesday.
