BY ERIC STILES

FOA President and CEO Eric Stiles. (Photo by Lily LaRegina/Friends of Acadia)

This spring, seasonal employees working in Acadia will move into a newly completed, eight-bedroom housing complex at Dane Farm in Seal Harbor. With construction finished last fall, crews spent the last few months planting grass, moving in furniture, and putting the final touches on a major development in our ongoing efforts to alleviate the park’s critical housing shortage.

This milestone would not have been possible without generous donors like you who helped us reach our $10 million goal earlier this year. Your philanthropic investment will unlock an expected $21 million in federal matching funds and an additional $2 million from the National Park Foundation, helping Friends of Acadia and Acadia National Park secure a total of $33 million for housing.

Building on the momentum of Dane Farm, Acadia National Park is putting these funds to immediate use. Construction geared up this spring on the most ambitious housing initiative yet: the first phase of a 56-bedroom facility at Harden Farm in Bar Harbor.

A Collective Achievement

Reaching our ambitious $10 million fundraising goal was a significant achievement – one made possible by generous contributions led by the Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation in early 2023 and completed this spring by Kate and Andrew Davis, who matched $1 million in donations. These gifts and matching funds helped catalyze a groundswell of support from over 321 total donors, many of whom gave for the first time. To each and every one of you: thank you! Your support will make
a lasting impact on Acadia, not just in housing but across every aspect of park operations for decades to come.

Addressing a Critical Need

Building housing for Acadia’s seasonal workers is vital to the park’s success. Without affordable housing, the park has struggled to fill up to 30% of its seasonal positions in recent years. This shortage has forced the delay of essential projects such as trail maintenance, facilities upkeep, habitat preservation, and visitor programming.

We are relieved that, thanks to the support of the public and Maine’s delegation, the hiring freeze on seasonal workers was lifted in February. These new housing options will help the park attract and retain the skilled seasonal workers Acadia needs this year and into the future.

From left: Exterior of Dane Farm; kitchen at Kingsleigh House; rear exterior of Jordan River Road. (Friends of Acadia photos)

Comprehensive Housing Initiatives

Beyond the developments at Dane Farm and Harden Farm, Friends of Acadia is helping address the short-term housing needs of Acadia and its partners with a multifaceted approach that includes the renovation and expansion of options at four additional locations.

• Jordan River Road: Acquired by Friends of Acadia in July 2024, this 18-acre property in Trenton includes six two-bedroom townhomes. Renovated over the winter, these single or double occupancy units are now ready to house seasonal staff, with priority given to Island Explorer bus drivers. Over time, this additional housing will help support the Island Explorer’s growth, as new buses are added to the fleet starting as early as 2027.
• White Birches Campground Upgrade: Recognizing the diverse housing needs of Acadia’s seasonal staff, 13 RV pads were created at White Birches Campground in Southwest Harbor and equipped with water, electric, and septic. The former commercial campground now serves seasonal employees and volunteers who utilize recreational vehicles during their tenure at Acadia.
• Kingsleigh House: Purchased by Friends of Acadia in 2023, this 10-bedroom former bed-and-breakfast in Southwest Harbor opened to seasonal staff last year and is ready to welcome tenants again for the upcoming season.
• Park Housing Renovation: Friends of Acadia helped fund the rehabilitation of three bedrooms in existing park buildings in Seal Cove and Bar Harbor.

These new accommodations can provide housing for up to 58 seasonal employees in 2025, with the first phase of Harden Farm adding another 28 beds as soon as 2026.

Together, these projects represent significant progress toward our long-term goal of creating 130 new beds over the next decade. In addition to supporting Acadia, they will also help ease Mount Desert Island’s broader housing shortage by reducing demand for local rentals.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To our donors, partners, and community members: your support has been the cornerstone of these accomplishments. These new accommodations will help ensure Acadia has the seasonal workforce it needs to protect and preserve the park for generations to come.

Together, room by room, we are building a stronger foundation for Acadia’s future.

ERIC STILES is Friends of Acadia’s president and CEO.