Every weekend in the summer, thousands of cars snake up Maine's highway 1 toward the coastal destinations of Bar Harbor, Rockport and Belfast. People used to drive right past the small town of Manchester. But these days a lot of them are turning off there.
Manchester (population 2,500) is the home base of Maine Cabin Masters, the hit renovation show that follows five charming, rough-around-the-edges local builders who restore dilapidated family "camps" (as vacation cabins are known in the region), often in remote locations and amid treacherous weather conditions. The series' success has put the town on the map and made stars of contractor Chase Morrill, his decorator sister Ashley, her husband, Ryan Eldridge, and their childhood friends Matt "Dixie" Dix and Jared "Jedi" Baker.
On any weekend morning the parking lot of their Kennebec Cabin Company headquarters on Western Avenue is packed with the cars and RVs of fans who have traveled from around the country to visit their store and its neighboring bar the Woodshed and, hopefully, to catch a glimpse of the stars themselves. "They come from all over. We've seen Alaska plates, Hawaii," says Ryan, 48.
"A month ago there was a bus of women from Africa, Brazil, three or four different places," adds Jedi, 44. "They had gotten together to come in hopes of seeing one of us." (They succeeded.) Last summer the gang hosted four lobster bakes with 350 tickets each that all sold out in a day. During the events, each of the stars was stationed at an individual booth with a Sharpie in hand, ready to sign autographs and take selfies for a line of fans that stretched down the block.
This story is from the September 11, 2023 edition of People US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 11, 2023 edition of People US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
All About Tom Brady's Summer Plans & New TV Gig
Tom Brady is doing just fine in retirement - if you can call it that. On June 12 the former NFL quarterback, 46, was inducted into the New England Patriots' Hall of Fame.
Inside Billy Ray Cyrus's Divorceand Where Miley Stands
Just seven months after Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose said \"I do,\" their marriage has come to an end.
MISSY ELLIOTT'S SUPA DUPA NOW!
THE HIP-HOP SUPERSTAR REVEALS HOW SHE OVERCAME HEALTH ISSUES AND ANXIETY FOR A BIG RETURN TO THE SPOTLIGHT
MARIA SHARAPOVA - Still Winning!
JUGGLING NEW PURSUITS WITH RAISING SON THEODORE, THE TENNIS LEGEND OPENS UP ABOUT APPROACHING LIFE WITH THE SAME ENERGY SHE BROUGHT TO THE COURT
JUDE LAW MOVIES OF MY LIFE
HE'S PLAYED A ROGUE, A ROBOT, A SPY, A SEDUCER AND NOW A KING. JUDE LAW LOOKS BACK AT SOME OF HIS ALL-TIME FAVORITE ROLES
SANDY HOOK SURVIVORS GRADUATE 'The Sorrow Has to Live Within the Joy'
THEY WERE FIRST GRADERS WHEN A GUNMAN MURDERED 20 CLASSMATES. NOW THEY'RE ENTERING YOUNG ADULTHOOD FOREVER CHANGED BUT READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG WHAT I KNOW NOW
AS A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES THE DESIGNER'S INFLUENCE ON FASHION AND CULTURE, SHE'S SHARING THE SOURCES OF HER INNER WISDOM
THE JOY OF BEING AMY POEHLER
THE INSIDE OUT 2 STAR ON PLAYING AN EMOTION, RAISING TEENS AND MAKING THE VERY MOST OF VACATION
Why I Believed Her
Sherri Papini faked her own abduction and torture and lied about it to authorities-and her husband for six years. Now Keith Papini speaks out
Princess Kate's Moment in the Spotlight
THE ROYAL MOM MADE A POWERFUL RETURN AT TROOPING THE COLOUR, RADIATING STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE ALONGSIDE HER FAMILY AS SHE CONTINUES TO UNDERGO CHEMOTHERAPY