The Nest at Saddleback

The Nest, a new 2,500-square-foot ski-in, ski-out on-mountain dining experience is situated at 3,620′ in elevation atop the Rangeley Quad side of the mountain. The interior features an 80-seat dining area and 14-seat bar designed to easily transform into an event/wedding space, complete with a full kitchen, restrooms and support space. In addition to indoor and outdoor dining, the accompanying ski-up food kiosk allows mountain enthusiasts to place orders without stepping foot inside.

The building is designed to be environmentally conscious in the heart of a boreal forest, with large sliding windows overlooking the Rangeley Lakes region and a living roof covered in hay-scented ferns and native lowbush blueberries. Locally sourced materials include pine boards stained with linseed oil and pine tar used for the siding. In addition, the facility is built on posts instead of a poured foundation to minimize disruption of the watershed. Construction was also closely coordinated around the breeding season of the Bricknell’s thrush, one of North America’s rarest songbirds that breeds exclusively in the boreal forests.

Construction during the winter months required extensive coordination with mountain operations to utilize ski lifts and groomers for the transport of materials and personnel.