Point Sebago Treasure Retires After 31 Years of Service

A Point Sebago Resort favorite is retiring as the Maine campground enters its 56th year. 

It’s not Chippy, the beloved mascot. Let’s get that rumor out of the way. It’s a real person. Someone at the heart of everyday life at Point Sebago for the past 31 years.

Someone who has seen generations of kids grow up on Sebago Lake. 

Someone who has taken your reservations, greeted you at the Guest Hub, and helped you transition from camping in Maine to finding your vacation home.

That someone is Lori Galford.

31 Seasons of Point Sebago Families

For the past three decades, guests have chatted, laughed, and toured the campground resort with Lori. She’s a Point Sebago Resort treasure who calls retiring “bittersweet.”

“I’ll miss the people. My teammates, the guests, the longtime seasonals. They’re all my family.”

Lori Galford

She retires May 31 from Point Sebago, where she sells park model cabins at the popular resort that borders Sebago Lake State Park.

The cabins become second homes for guests ready to upgrade from rental cabins. If you’ve bought a cabin at Point Sebago, you likely know Lori. 

She knows the ins and outs of the Maine campground. She knows what sets Point Sebago apart from neighboring camps. And she knows that buying a cabin is really about the intangibles – recapturing precious memories and making new ones.

“People always say to me, ‘My kids loved it here. I want my grandchildren to have those same memories.’”

It’s her favorite role and one she’ll miss dearly.

“I really like everyone here. We had a gathering for the seasonals one time, and I hugged 95% of the people. These are all my people, and I’ll miss them.”

The Perks of Working at Point Sebago

Lori’s Point Sebago career turned guests into lifelong friends. The job also included perks for her own family.

“They grew up here,” recalls Lori when talking about her grandkids. “We always had at least one weekend where we would come stay.”

She also lived at the resort for a season. The move allowed her grandkids to visit every Sunday. They enjoyed the private Point Sebago beach, competed in the resort activities, and even helped with the hayrides for kids.

“It’s been a family thing for them as well.”

Now her grandkids are grown. It’s one of the catalysts for Lori’s retirement. 

“I’m going to rest and relax for the summer. I haven’t had one off in 31 years.”

Lori’s plans are simple. She’s going to see her granddaughter’s horse shows, hit the beach, and check out a yard sale or two. It’s summer on her terms.

Then & Now: Reservations in the 1990s

Retirement will be a big adjustment for Lori. She began her career at Point Sebago in 1995, working 12-hour days, six days a week.

“You got compensated for it in the end. I’d have time off in the winter, but you needed it because you were exhausted from working all summer.”

Lori began her career at Point Sebago by booking reservations. Back in the 1990s, it took a team to hammer out all the details so guests could reserve their favorite Sebago Lake campsites. 

“I remember on May 2nd, we took 400 new reservations for the following year,” recalls Lori.

It was first-come, first-served. Lori remembers endless phone calls, guests coming in, and people even faxing their requests. 

Now the process is more streamlined. Point Sebago guests can book reservations online and reserve specific sites up to a year in advance. You can still call. But you won’t find Lori on the other end.

She was promoted to reservation lead in her second season. She eventually advanced to run the front office. However, Point Sebago Resort is not your typical office job. There’s a special magic that kept Lori coming back for more than 30 years.

“I really enjoyed the atmosphere. People are coming to Point Sebago so excited. They’re on vacation, and they’re so excited to be here. That energy is felt throughout the resort.”

Then & Now: Big Changes in the 2000s

It’s a feeling she chased in every new position she tackled at Point Sebago. 

Lori ran the Guest Hub for one year.

“That wasn’t enough activity for me.”

As Lori’s career evolved, so did Point Sebago Resort. Lori’s one of the few remaining employees who remembers working with the original Point Sebago Resort owner, Dr. Lawrence (Larry) Gould. 

Expanding Larry Gould’s Sebago Lake Campground

“He was an amazing man – a visionary.”

She recalls Larry’s vision of expanding Point Sebago. He wanted a campground that offered everything, so people didn’t need to leave. She watched as Larry evolved the campground with new ideas. 

The Maine campground began selling cabins the year after Lori came on board. The golf course also began to take shape. Now the resort includes an award-winning 18-hole golf course, driving range, and restaurant. 

“Larry wanted people to really be able to be a part of Point Sebago. Bring your family here and become a part of our family – the Point Sebago family.”

Larry did just that until he died in 2015. He also helped found Camp Sunshine, which was originally held at Point Sebago Resort. 

Lori credits the success of Point Sebago to Larry’s vision and the memories it has created. Guests eventually forget the changes they didn’t like. But the good memories live on season after season.

_{Tap a photo above to expand images and see inside Point Sebago Resort in 2026.}

New Ownership & the Next Point Sebago Generation

Lori sees parallels between Gould and the new leaders running Point Sebago Resort, including General Manager Matt Hesser. 

“He’s absolutely fabulous. He’s very fair with our guests and honest and open and upfront,” explains Lori, who stayed on at Point Sebago when Cove Communities bought the resort in 2018.

Ownership changed. Leadership changed, but the spirit of Point Sebago remains intact, according to Lori.

“People’s excitement coming here, being on vacation, has not changed in 30 years.”

Lori jumped around playing different roles at the campground through the years. 

She managed the Point Sebago marina and even served as the general manager’s assistant. Eventually, Lori found her place helping families find their vacation homes at Point Sebago.

“I should have been here years ago.”

Buying a Point Sebago Cabin

Now Lori turns campers spending a weekend in Maine into regulars.

“I love talking with people. Especially people who have never been to Point Sebago. I love to introduce them to everything we have to offer.”

Every guest wants a cabin on the water and a boat slip. That’s hard to find. So Lori is open with families looking to buy cabins. Look beyond what you think you want. Instead, look at what’s all around you at Point Sebago.

There are 270+ summer activities each week, renovated sports courts, and 32 bands playing live music in 2025.

“People are always surprised by the variety of things to do. It’s a unique resort.”

Lori knows because she’s checked out the competition even beyond Sebago Lake. 

“Boaters want to be here because it’s the second biggest lake in Maine. There are wonderful little campgrounds nearby, but they don’t offer the activities Point Sebago does.”

Cabin owners at Point Sebago pay an annual lease for their land. It includes water, sewer, trash, and most importantly, access to the resort amenities and activities. 

“It’s like everything in the world right now. You pay a little extra. But few things are the same price they were 30 years ago.”

Lori covers lease costs during her tours, answers questions on what’s included, and explains the perks of having an on-site service team for cabin owners. Once you’ve toured Point Sebago with Lori, you’re “her people.”

Leaving a Legacy at Point Sebago & Beyond

“That’s one of the hardest things about leaving Point Sebago. You are all my family.”

It’s a level of hospitality that’s unmatched, according to GM Matt Hesser. 

Lori’s hospitality is infectious. With guests and team members alike, she is quick to check in on people and isn’t shy about offering up baked goods either. Point Sebago means the world to Lori, and it’s evident daily by her excitement and caring attitude towards everyone she meets.”

Point Sebago General Manager Matt Hesser

Lori’s hospitality and legacy stretch beyond Maine.

She’s trained some of the best in the business. If you get a chance to visit Point Sebago’s sister resort in Savannah, Georgia, you’ll notice some similarities. That’s because the CreekFire RV Resort community manager, Susie Gilliam, got her start at Point Sebago. Lori hired her in 2003.

As for Lori’s legacy at Point Sebago, she struggles for an answer. She only hopes the spirit of Point Sebago remains the same. It’s simple.

“I hope that it stays a Maine destination where people can come and relax and enjoy, have a nice vacation with their families.”