The wheelchair accessible carriage is kept at the Wildwood Stables in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Sam Mallon/Friends of Acadia)

BAR HARBOR, MAINE –Friends of Acadia and Carriages of Acadia are pleased to announce the availability of a new wheelchair accessible carriage for tours on Acadia’s historic carriage roads. The carriage has a ramp on the back that should be accessible to most types of wheelchairs. Several additional passengers may join on the carriage’s bench seats.

The carriage was purchased through Friends of Acadia with support from an endowment established by the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation, the predecessor of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.

Eric Stiles, President of Friends of Acadia said, “We are grateful to the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation for their support of accessibility projects at Acadia. We are committed to helping the National Park Service remove barriers for access, and we hope that many visitors will take advantage of this new opportunity to get out and explore.”

Diana Davis Spencer, Executive Chairman of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, said,“There is a sense of exhilaration, being in a carriage with a pair of horses, meandering within Acadia’s parkland with its dense forests, mosses, ferns, and vistas. My late husband John, who had MS, relished sharing this experience with others. The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is delighted to help make Acadia National Park accessible to more visitors, in a way that allows those with differing abilities to enjoy the park together.”

The carriage is available for reservation by calling 207-276-5721. Prices for tours vary depending on the length of tour and number of people. It is recommended that those hoping to reserve a tour call well in advance of the desired date as spaces are limited.

All are welcome to examine the carriage in advance of a visit to decide for themselves whether the experience matches their capabilities and interests. Information on the tours offered by Carriages of Acadia can be found at acadiahorses.com.

More coverage:

• Accessible carriage available for ANP tours – via Mount Desert Islander
• Donation Brings Accessible Carriage To Acadia National Park – via National Parks Traveler
• Acadia National Park can now offer accessible carriage rides – Bangor Daily News
• Wheelchair accessible carriage available for Acadia National Park tours – via Penobscot Bay Pilot
• Acadia horse drawn carriage tours now more wheelchair accessible – via WABI5