In the tranquil woods of Freedom, Maine, Heather Donahue finds herself immersed in the natural beauty she long dreamed of. Known for her role in the iconic low-budget horror film “The Blair Witch Project,” Donahue’s past left her grappling with terrifying scenes set amidst dark forests. Today, however, her forest journeys are more serene, as she goes about cleaning trails, such as picking up a discarded soda can along her path.
At 51, Donahue has made a dramatic shift from her acting days and now resides blissfully in a small town, captivated by the picturesque allure she once read about in fairy tales. “It’s just as enchanting as those storybooks promised,” she muses. Yet, her recent experiences in the Maine woods are marked by tension rather than enchantment.
In an unexpected twist reminiscent of her cinematic past, Donahue is entangled in a dispute involving local townsfolk over orange marks she painted on trees, signs meant to help navigate dense forests. Historically, Donahue served on the town’s Select Board, but a contentious issue over the ownership of a rural road led to her removal from office.
The heart of the disagreement lies with Beaver Ridge Road, a path that winds through the lush canopy, changing from paved to gravel before finally becoming a dirt trail. Some local property owners argue the road’s rugged extension is private, warning that leisure activities there, like riding all-terrain vehicles, amount to trespassing. Donahue and town authorities, conversely, assert the road is public property.
Using old maps, Donahue marked the road’s easement center with orange blazes, a move that inflamed local property owners and resulted in her recall – the first in the town’s 212-year history. Her removal came in April, and the town is set to elect her successor soon.
Among the concerned property owners is Tyler Hadyniak, who claims the recall was warranted because of a pattern of Donahue’s conduct since she took office, not just because of the marked trees or trail. “I felt her mannerisms and treatment of others were inappropriate for a town official,” said Hadyniak.
Despite the friction, Donahue is acutely aware of being perceived as an outsider, having moved to the area following a transformative personal journey. Originally from Pennsylvania, her path took her through California and various international destinations, battling alcoholism, leaving acting, becoming a medical marijuana farmer, and even penning a memoir. Finding solace in the Pine Tree State, Donahue settled in Freedom three years ago after overcoming her addiction. Now, she dedicates her time to life coaching and passionately shares her love for gardening and medicinal plants.
While she occasionally jokes about her infamous role in “The Blair Witch Project,” the year 1999 catapulted her into fame and subsequent legal battles over film rights. It dawned on her how much her life has been intertwined with the role, to the point of overshadowing her identity. “It felt like my life story was told at 25,” she reflects.
In Freedom, where local buzz typically revolves around the persistence of blackflies or the fishing prospects at Sandy Pond, the road debate has gripped the community’s attention. Still, Donahue enjoys support from some residents, including Bob Kanzler, who affirms the road’s public nature. “Heather’s work researching these extinguished roads is commendable,” remarks Kanzler.
Even amidst the ongoing discord, Donahue feels at home in Maine, content with her place in nature and determined to remain. “This is where people truly thrive,” she declares about her woodland sanctuary. “I’ve mastered doing much with little, allowing me to wander blissfully through the forest.”