FREEPORT, Maine -- L.L. Bean plans to develop a 700-acre outdoor adventure center in Freeport, with the goal of creating a national recreation destination, according to paddlinginsturctor.com.

The site reports:

Visitors might hike, bike, play golf or cross-country ski on the site off Desert Road, or go kayaking, seal watching or fishing in nearby Casco Bay. Then they could eat and stay the night on the property.

The company also hopes these visitors would stop by the flagship store and buy products and services to help them enjoy the activities.

No development costs, visitor projections or employment estimates are being publicly discussed at this point. Still, the project represents a major undertaking and expansion of strategic direction for Bean, a family-owned company with net revenue last year of $1.5 billion.

Roughly 3 million people walk through the Freeport stores every year, making L.L. Bean Maine's second most popular tourism destination behind Acadia National Park.

In recent years, Bean has branched out into recreation through its Outdoor Discovery Schools. A destination adventure center such as the one being discussed would propel Bean from being a store, mail-order retailer and a brand into a full-fledged outdoor experience, the company said Monday.

"It's quite a stepping out for us," said Carolyn Beem, a Bean spokeswoman. "But it's something we think is exciting and can really take off."

Bean is on a fast track to make the project happen. It plans to pick finalists early next month to submit proposals for how to develop the project.

It wants to see the theme park operating within three years.

"It is an aggressive timetable," Beem said. "But if we're going to do it, let's do it. It's where we want to position ourselves."

Bean operates seven full-price retail stores and 14 outlets on the East Coast. It plans to open 35 more full-price stores within five years, and future stores also could be linked to outdoor adventure centers in other states, Beem said.