"A lot of my friends worked at the park for college internships, so I would stop by during the summer," McCabe recalled.
Little did the Unity College graduate know that someday he would be the person in charge of future college students in the same position.
McCabe, 29, took over as park director in December, when Nancy Warren retired.
"The legacy of Lake George is pretty inspiring," McCabe said, pointing to its history as a youth camp -- Camp Modin --for years before the park was established in 1993.
The state purchased the land for the park before 1997 and leased it to operators of the park, which straddles the Skowhegan-Canaan line. The park is leased to both towns and run by a nonprofit group, Lake George Corp. The board is comprised of five people appointed by selectmen in each town.
The park, which survives on donations, fundraisers and gate fees, also is helped by extensive volunteer and internship programs, according to McCabe.
Including land purchased in 2002 with money from the Land for Maine's Future and foundation grants, the park is now a 320-acre treasure with swimming holes, boat launches, hiking trails, 15 miles of cross-country ski trails, 16 buildings "and some of the best bird-watching around," McCabe said.
He said there also are bath houses on the east and west sides of the lake, a social hall on the west side and other smaller buildings for family reunions, barbecues and group functions.
McCabe said his new position is an apt fit because of a strong partnership between the park and his alma mater. Unity College provides interns an education on how the park is run while they perform work there.
McCabe's job includes fundraising, handling the day-to-day operation of the park, bookkeeping, office management, and human resources. During the summer, there are up to 20 day camp employees.
Beyond that, however, an enthusiastic McCabe has set his eyes on bigger goals.
"I hope to grow the year-round usership, pursue foundation funding, upgrade and maintain the buildings and improve trail maintenance," McCabe said. He said he also hopes to expand the park's affiliation with area schools, perhaps offering environmental education in the fall and spring.
Already, McCabe said, he has written two grant applications and has two more in the works.
"There are a lot of people committed to this park," he said. "What I think a lot of people don't realize is how much the park relies on donations to run.
"It's not actually passes and gate fees that keep the park running. Capital improvement relies on substantial donations and grants, from buying a chain saw -- which we need right now -- to finishing our office. It still needs a deck and ramp for handicap accessibility."
McCabe, originally from Arlington, Mass., graduated from Unity College in 2000 with a degree in environmental education. For five years he was executive director of Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District. In that capacity, he traveled the state working on conservation and environmental issues as they relate to water quality and soil erosion.
McCabe lives in Skowhegan with his wife, Sara, and their daughter, Carly Francis.
"I thought this job was a good fit for me. It's not every day people get to work where they have a sense of place. Before I was all over the county. Now I'm in one location," McCabe said. "I spent a lot of time in Maine as a kid and I always said I would move here. Now here I am, and I love it."