BETHEL Last week, selectmen agreed to extend outdoor seating for area businesses until November 1.
Brian Simpson, who owns Butcher Burger restaurant, spoke on behalf of other businesses requesting for an extension, including Steam Mill Brewing and the Modern Barn.
Both Steam Mill and Modern Barn had employees or owners were present at the meeting.
Simpson said he thinks most people in the community feel safe and noted that no one at the meeting was masked, but that many people from away do not feel as comfortable, yet.
“A lot of the tourists coming into our state do not feel [as safe],” Simpson said. “They are still nervous.”
For 8 years, people who live and travel through Bethel, Maine have driven past a closed amusement park on North Road off Route 2. That all changed in June when Big Adventure Center opened once again.
Big Adventure Center originally offered mini-golf, laser tag, rock climbing, bowling, an arcade and a water slide. In the 2000s, kids in a small town like Bethel didn t really have a lot to do, and the Big Adventure Center became the place to go hang out with friends and family.
In the years since its closing, Big Adventure Center got the attention of several YouTube content creators who explore abandoned places and the water slide was a big draw for them. A quick search on YouTube turned up over a dozen videos of people walking through the property with cameras in hand.