Time moves differently—and is counted differently—on Three Mile Island.
The summer camp on Lake Winnipesaukee, which is owned and operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1900. And many of the campers, some of whom have been returning annually for more than half-a-century, are more likely to tell you when they first started coming to Three Mile, rather than admit their age.
Guests stay for one or two weeks in rustic cabins that dot Three Mile’s shores. They don’t have electricity, or flush toilets, just the AMC’s scratchy green blankets and a private dock made for morning swims. Campers, who range in age from 4 to 80-plus, may use a phone or gadget in the confines of the cabin, but all technology is prohibited from the public areas of Three Mile, including the rec hall, Main House and dock. Instead, campers idle away their days swimming, reading, kayaking or napping, when there isn’t a game of Capture the Flag in the works.
Take a listen to some of the unique rhythms and traditions of Three Mile in this audio postcard produced by NHPR’s Todd Bookman.
This story is part of NHPR’s series Surrounded: Stories from New Hampshire’s Islands.
