Merger brings North Country Rivers, Maine Whitewater together
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
BINGHAM — The trend in mergers has splashed down in Bingham, by way of East Vassalboro.
A recent deal has brought white-water rafting outfitter North Country Rivers, of The Forks, together with competitor Maine Whitewater, of Bingham. The deal makes North Country the state's third-largest white-water rafting outfitter.
Gadabout Gaddis Airport, a 2,000-foot grass strip named for the pilot nicknamed the "Flying Fisherman," was among the assets North Country acquired when it bought Maine Whitewater late last month. 
Staff photo by DAVID LEAMING A group of white-water rafters with North Country Rivers company paddle on the Kennebec River.
The merger of the two companies creates a rafting company with $1.5 million in annual revenue.
"I think it's a real positive move for both companies," said North Country owner Jim Murton, of East Vassalboro. "The two combined are stronger than two companies separated, and that's a real bonus for Bingham as well."
Murton said North Country will move its base at The Forks to Maine Whitewater's base at the airport. Maine Whitewater has been the only rafting outfitter in Bingham. Most are farther upriver.
The deal included Maine Whitewater's rafts and launch allocations on the Kennebec and Dead rivers; 60 acres on the Kennebec River, including the airport; a 10-site campground, and a restaurant — Patrick's Restaurant and Pub.
Murton declined to release the purchase price.
The merger moves North Country from the fourth-largest rafting company in Maine to third, according to Raft Maine, the industry's trade association. North Country took 8,700 customers down Maine's three white-water rafting rivers —the Kennebec, the Dead, and the Penobscot — last year. Maine Whitewater had 2,000 customers on the Kennebec and the Dead.
Northern Outdoors is the largest white-water outfitter in the state. It had 12,741 customers in 2000. New England Outdoor Center was second with 11,148. Magic Falls was third with 9,680.
The merger cuts the number of established outfitters to 13, though going into the 2001 season there are six startup rafting companies, albeit with no launch allocations.
Those allocations — the number of people a firm is permitted to launch onto the river during the year — are determined by the state as a means of protecting the rivers from overuse.
Maine Whitewater was founded 25 years ago by Jim Ernst, Maine's first licensed white-water rafting outfitter.
Murton said Ernst will continue to live in Bingham and work for North Country, maintaining the rafting base and airport.
Murton started his company on the Carrabassett River in 1983, with one employee and enough equipment to put one raft in the water. Since then he has purchased four other rafting companies or pieces of companies, including Maine Whitewater.
Last year, North Country counted about 60 full- and part-time employees on its payroll. This year Murton expects that to top 80, with the addition of Maine Whitewater's business.
"We got some great employees from other companies, which is a fine asset," Murton said.
He said by setting up his combined company in Bingham he will have access to a larger labor force as well. "That was one of the hidden benefits I wasn't aware of at the time" the deal was being negotiated, he said.
Murton said North Country will continue to operate the Gadabout Gaddis Airport as a free airstrip.
The airport was made famous by Roscoe Vernon "Gadabout" Gaddis, the "Flying Fisherman," who went from tackle salesman to fishing celebrity in the late 1930s. Four decades of films and TV programs about fishing made him a household name among sportsmen.
Every September it's the site of the Gadabout Gaddis Fly-in, which draws thousands of pilots, flying fans, and would-be aviators from New England and eastern Canada.
"The airport has notoriety and the fly-in. There's the history, there's uniqueness. I fly myself," Murton said. "I'm going to keep it licensed and encourage people to fly in and tie down for free. Lots of (rafting) guests like to fly in."
North Country also operates a white-water kayaking school, Maine Kayak, and rents mountain bikes for local rides.
Murton said he is hopes to expand the kayak service to flat-water tours on area lakes and is also considering adding rock climbing to the company's recreational offerings.
"Rafting will be our core, but we're trying to diversify into other recreational opportunities," he said.
Rafting is a $16 million business in Maine, according to Raft Maine.
"But in rafting, there's a limit to growth because of the allocation system," said Raft Maine Executive Director Wende Gray.
"If you want to grow your company, you have no choice but to become an outdoor adventure resort. You see all of the companies going in that direction."
To reach Joe Rankin
Phone: 474-9534