WILLOW CREEK — A proposed $2.3 million broadband feasibility study, if approved by the Aroostook County Commission, could reshape who visits Willow Creek and for how long, as remote workers increasingly seek rural destinations where they can blend vacation with telecommuting.
The Aroostook County Fiber initiative, still in its planning phase, would assess the viability of bringing high-speed symmetrical gigabit internet to homes and businesses in town. Northwoods Outfitters has already expressed interest in marketing “work-from-anywhere” packages that would bundle lodging with future high-speed access.
“It’s the number-one question I get from potential guests,” said Julia Chen, owner of Northwoods Outfitters. “People love the idea of staying a week or more, but they need reliable internet to make it work. Right now, our bandwidth is a bottleneck.”
“Imagine if they could stay twice as long as traditional tourists,” Chen said. “A week instead of a weekend. That’s more revenue for the outfitter, for the General Store, for The Dry Dock.”
The prospect has attracted interest from the Maine Office of Tourism, which is tracking Willow Creek’s feasibility study as a potential case study for rural remote-work destinations.
Selectwoman Eleanor Vance noted that long-term visitors spend differently — less on souvenirs, more on groceries and dining — and said the town is considering co-working space zoning adjustments.
Niall O’Flaherty of O’Flaherty’s Maple said he hopes broadband will drive midweek pancake breakfast sales, a shift from the traditional weekend-only pattern.