Landowner Fred Bess of Waldoboro realized a dream six years in the making with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 15, officially opening the East Ridge Mobile Home Park on Lady Slipper Lane.
“We started this project the day after 9/11,” said Bess. “The planning part took 16 months, and then the actual building was six years.”
The project was to create a mobile home park that caters to mature adults. Bess has done all the work himself – literally, with some help from friends and family. “My wife has been so supportive,” he said.
Bess explained because of Maine’s weather, he could only work from early spring with the first thaw to the bitter cold day the ground froze solid. “I don’t have the heavy earth equipment,” he said.
He has cleared and leveled the land, sectioned out the lots, created paved streets and driveways with culverts and drainage, and installed infrastructure for power and water.
Lady Slipper Lane, off Rt. 235 in Waldoboro, is just a few hundred yards from Rt. 1. The lane is also beautifully paved, and winds down a private road deep into a stand of tall pine and hardwood trees.
“There’s 19-plus acres here, and 10 of it has been divided into 40 lots. Every one has power and water, and all that’s needed is the home,” said Bess looking around. The area is indeed private, inviting and quiet.
At Bess’ side at the ribbon cutting is Waldoboro Town Manager Bill Post. Post knows intimately the time and patience Bess has shown in the permitting and approval process. There have been hours and hours of planning and appearances before the planning board to make this day a reality.
Though it took years, the process was not entirely new to Bess. He owns apartments in Waldoboro, and now with this huge process under his belt, he’s a bonafide developer.
Bess said his number one goal is to make the park completely inviting. He even built and installed a state of the art water system, with an adjacent fire pond.
“I’m working with two local mobile home dealers – Ralph’s Homes and Boggs Homes. We are open and ready for moving in,” he said.
For more information about lot rental, Bess hopes he’ll get the calls first. “Call me at 832-5341,” he said.
