WEBVTT THANK YOU.THE TOWN OFWELLS, THE THIRDOLDEST TOWN IN MAINE, WAS FIRSTFOUNDED IN 1643.TO READ 372 YEARS, IT HASTRANSFORMED ITSELF INTO A HAVENFOR TOURISTS AND NATIVE MAINERSALIKE.WELLS IS ALSO HOME TO A GEMWHERE THEY SAY TIME STANDSSTILL.LET'S GO TO WELLS WITH NORMKARKOS FOR THIS WEEKENDSHOMETOWN MAINE.NORM: THE TOWN OF WELLS ISSYNONYMOUS WITH SUMMER IN MAINE.EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS TRAVEL TOTHIS COASTAL GETAWAY TOEXPERIENCE ITS BEACHES, FOOD, ORTO SIMPLY TRAVEL ALONG ROUTEONE.WHILE IT REMAINS ONE OF THESTATE'S GREAT DESTINATIONS,WELLS IS ALSO HOME TO ONE OF THEBEST KEPT SECRETS AROUND, THEWELLS RESERVE AT LAUDHOLM FARM.THE WELLS RESERVE IS A PLACETO DISCOVER, WE ARE A COASTALSCIENCE AND EDUCATION CENTER.NORM: CALLED BY MANY A NATURALTREASURE, THE RESERVE HAS MORETHAN 2200 ACRES OF PROTECTEDLAND AND A RESTORED SALTWATERFARM, WHICH IS UTILIZED YEARAROUND.IN THE SUMMER, WE OFFERWALKS, LECTURES, KAYAKING TRIPS,SUMMER CAMPS, CONCERTS IN THEBAR, THERE IS A BIG FESTIVAL INSEPTEMBER.WE HAVE CROSS COUNTRY SKIING,SNOW SHOEING, WE ARE OPEN 365DAYS A YEAR.NORM: THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIPWITH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC ANDATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, THERESERVE IS ALSO THE FIRSTNATIONAL ESTUARY RESEARCH CENTERIN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND.RIGHT DOWN THERE, THERE IS ARESEARCH LAB, AND WE HAVE PEOPLEDOWN THERE DOING DOCTORAL ANDPOST-DOCTORAL WORK; THEY ARESTUDYING THE ENVIRONMENT ANDCLIMATE AND SO ON, AND SO FORTH.NORM: ON ANY GIVEN DAY, RESEARCHASSOCIATE JEREMY MILLER STUDIESEVERYTHING FROM WATER QUALITY TOMARINE LIFE.THE LAND WAS FIRST SETTLED AS AFARM BACK IN THE 1600'S ANDWOULD EVENTUALLY TAKE ON THENAME "LAUDHOLM," MEANING "LORDHOUSE."IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY,RAILROAD MAGNATE GEORGE LORD,PURCHASED THE LAND AND WOULDTURN THIS BUILDING INTO APOPULAR BED AND BREAKFAST.IN 1968, GEORGE LORD THE SECOND,SOLD A PORTION OF THE LAND TOTHE STATE OF MAINE.FOLLOWING HIS DEATH THE LAUDHOLMTRUST WAS FORMED.IT WAS A CITIZEN INITIATIVE.THE TOWNSPEOPLE OF WELLS BANDEDTOGETHER TO SAVE THIS LAND.THIS OLD FARM THAT BECOMERUNDOWN, TRESPASSED UPON AND WASFADING INTO OBSCURITY.NORM: FUNDS FROM FEDERAL, STATE,LOCAL AND NON-PROFITS HELPED TOPRESERVE THE LAND, AND MAKE ITWHAT IT IS TODAY.IRONICALLY, THE RESERVE JUST MAYBE MORE WELL KNOWN NATIONALLYTHAN IT IS IN ITS OWN BACKYARD.PEOPLE KNOW THIS PLACE FROMTHE WEST COAST, ENGLAND, IRELANDAND SO FORTH.BUT ASK SOMEONE ON THE OUTSKIRTOF TOWN ABOUT THE RESERVE.HUH?WHAT?NORM: THE RESERVE ATTRACTSNEARLY 30,000 VISITORS ANDSTUDENTS EACH YEAR WHO TAKEADVANTAGE OF ITS 7 MILES OFHIKING TRAILS, ITS MUSEUM ANDSALT WATER MARSH.I LOOK AT THIS PLACE ASTEACHING TO ALL OF OUR GUESTSTHE STEWARDSHIP OF THE EARTH.KATIE: ONE OF MY FAVORITEPLACES, TRULY WORTH A VISIT IFYOU HAVE NOT BEEN.IF THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUTYOURHOMETOWN THAT MAKES IT UNIQUE,WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.