Tag: national-parks

Half Price Park Passes May Be in Short Supply This Year Shaun Farrar Dec 06, 2024 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—If you have been putting off purchasing your half price Acadia National Park annual pass this month, you may want to get it done. Soon. Acadia National Park holds the distinction of being the only national park to sell its annual pass at a lower price in December. This year, as in years past, the annual pass is sold at half price during the month of December. However, this year there are less annual passes available than normal. “Each year, the park orders a set number of annual entrance passes specific to Acadia National Park, which are valid for the calendar year. The number of annual entrance passes that we order is an estimate of what we are likely to sell. The annual entrance pass costs $70, except in December when it costs $35,” said Acadia National Park Management Assistant John Kelly. Last year, the park increased the price of an annual entrance pass from $55 to $70. Because of that price hike, according to Kelly, “we anticipated visitors would opt to purchase the America the Beautiful—The National Parks and Federal Lands Annual Pass since it costs $80 but provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six federal agencies.” That rationale may not have taken into account the thousands of local residents in Hancock County and beyond who may not be planning to visit any national park other than Acadia National Park. AVAILABLE PASSES AND WHERE YOU CAN BUY THEM via NPS/Acadia National Park In 2023 the park had approximately 7,400 passes available for the month of December and the rest of 2024. The park sold approximately 600 of those passes and third party vendors sold approximately 4,100. However, the park ended up having 2,700 unsold by the end of the year. This year, the park has adjusted and reduced the number of annual passes available to a total of 3,200. Those 3,200 passes can be accounted for in the following manner as of the beginning of December. Acadia National Park has kept 1,200 for park sales. Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center received 800. Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce received 500. Harbor House, selling for the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Chamber of Commerce, received 100. Town of Gouldsboro (selling from town office) received 100. Town of Tremont (selling from town office) received 100. That leaves 400 passes remaining and only if all of the third party sellers for this year have been captured above. HOW THEY ARE SELLING As of approximately 4 p.m., December 5, the Harbor House had two passes left to sell and was awaiting more from the park. As of approximately 5 p.m., December 5, the Tremont Town Office had 38 passes left to sell but had not requested any more yet. As of approximately 9:30 a.m., December 6, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center had approximately 550 passes left to sell. As of Approximately 4 p.m., December 5, both the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Gouldsboro Town Office stated that their passes were selling well but didn’t have exact numbers. You can purchase a discounted annual park pass at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at the corner of Main Street and Cottage Street, in Bar Harbor, until 10 p.m. tonight, Friday, December 6, and during regular business hours. They will be there until the end of December or until there are no more cards available, whichever comes first. NEW THIRD-PARTY SELLER AGREEMENT The National Park Service instituted a new third-party seller agreement this year and a couple of towns that traditionally sell the passes in December were caught off guard. The new policy requires third-parties (such as a town or a chamber of commerce) to sell passes all year in order to participate in the discounted program that occurs in December. The towns of Mount Desert and Winter Harbor, both of whom have historically sold park passes during December, were not able to get the agreements signed in time to sell discounted passes this year due to communication snafus. Mount Desert expects to begin selling passes year round this coming year and have discounted passes available again next December. Bar Harbor Story is a mostly self-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you for being here with us and caring about our community, too! Subscribed Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below. To support The Story If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.
acadia national park

Half Price Park Passes May Be in Short Supply This Year

Shaun Farrar Dec 06, 2024 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—If you have been putting off purchasing your half price Acadia National Park annual pass this month, you may want to get it done. Soon. Acadia National Park holds the distinction of being the only national park to sell its annual pass at a lower price in … Continue reading Half Price Park Passes May Be in Short Supply This Year

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Cruise Ship Ballot Question Recount Moves Forward Portia Judson Honored, Reward for Illegal Deer Death on MDI, Comprehensive Plan Event, and other briefs
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Sirois and VanDongen Gather Big Honors

Briefs: Mount Desert Island Hospital to Acquire Acadia Family Centers, Court News, Carrie Jones Dec 06, 2024 Each week, we compile briefs and press release and event images and share them all in one (sometimes very long) story. This is this week’s press releases and begins with a brief. BAR HARBOR—Two Mount Desert Island runners were stand-outs this season in more ways than one. MDI … Continue reading Sirois and VanDongen Gather Big Honors

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Cruise Ship Ballot Question Recount Moves Forward Portia Judson Honored, Reward for Illegal Deer Death on MDI, Comprehensive Plan Event, and other briefs
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Sidman Denied Intervenor Status in Town’s Golden Anchor Case; Trenton Land Deal No Longer a Go

Briefs: Upcoming Dances, Events, Trout Meeting and More Carrie Jones Nov 30, 2024 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Andy’s Home Improvement Inc. BAR HARBOR—In a four-page order, November 27, the Maine Business & Consumer Court’s Judge Michael Duddy denied Charles Sidman’s request to act as a defendant intervenor in the Golden Anchor, L.C.’s case against the Town of Bar Harbor. The town took … Continue reading Sidman Denied Intervenor Status in Town’s Golden Anchor Case; Trenton Land Deal No Longer a Go

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Cruise Ship Ballot Question Recount Moves Forward Portia Judson Honored, Reward for Illegal Deer Death on MDI, Comprehensive Plan Event, and other briefs
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Mount Desert Business Receives $200k, LifeFlight Asks People to Please Not Point Lasers at Its Helicopters

Events, Closures, and More Briefs Carrie Jones Nov 22, 2024 Share Each week, we compile briefs and press release and event images and share them all in one (sometimes very long) story. This is this week’s briefs LOCAL BUSINESS RECEIVES $200K FROM STATE AUGUSTA—Governor Janet Mills today announced $7 million in grant awards from her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to help Maine technology companies … Continue reading Mount Desert Business Receives $200k, LifeFlight Asks People to Please Not Point Lasers at Its Helicopters

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Are We Heading For A Substantial Drought? Many Residents Concerned, but It's Too Early to Tell
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Are We Heading For A Substantial Drought?

Many Residents Concerned, but It’s Too Early to Tell Shaun Farrar Nov 22, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—Rain was drifting down on Friday, but plenty of Mount Desert Island residents have been talking and wondering about the low water levels that they are seeing on the island. According to WGME meteorologist Emily Santom, “About 70% of Maine is currently seeing drought conditions. Maine saw its first signs … Continue reading Are We Heading For A Substantial Drought?

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No Rest For These Bed Racers or Shoppers Bar Harbor Bed Races Take Over Cottage Street
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No Rest For These Bed Racers or Shoppers

Bar Harbor Bed Races Take Over Cottage Street Carrie Jones Nov 09, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—There was no rest for a lot of retailers, shoppers, and bed racers this morning in Bar Harbor, Saturday morning as the town celebrated with the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s annual Pajama Sale and Bed Races. There were a few penalties, one racer lost his bed, and a wheel … Continue reading No Rest For These Bed Racers or Shoppers

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Milagro Coffee & Espresso Opens Year Round Under New Owner, Paradis Concedes in Commissioner’s Race, Park Has Busiest October

Hundreds of Volunteers Turn Out for 34th Annual Take Pride in Acadia Day and more briefs and press releases Carrie Jones Nov 08, 2024 Share Each week, we compile press releases and briefs that have been sent in to us and send it to you as one story. This is this week’s compilation! Jacquith Porter Is the New Owner of Milagro Coffee & Espresso SOUTHWEST … Continue reading Milagro Coffee & Espresso Opens Year Round Under New Owner, Paradis Concedes in Commissioner’s Race, Park Has Busiest October

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More Visitations Than The Fourth? Acadia National Park Breaks Daily Visitation Record
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More Visitations Than The Fourth?

Acadia National Park Breaks Daily Visitation Record Carrie Jones Oct 30, 2024 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Gary Friedmann for State Representative. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—The record-breaking number for visits at Acadia National Park on the October 12 holiday weekend are more than just numbers, according to the park’s Public Affairs Officer Amanda Pollock. They have nuance. They have impact. And they tell … Continue reading More Visitations Than The Fourth?

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Has Region Hit Maximum Capacity? Some Officials Say Yes Regional Leaders Talk Traffic and Housing
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Has Region Hit Maximum Capacity? Some Officials Say Yes

Regional Leaders Talk Traffic and Housing Carrie Jones Oct 23, 2024 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. NORTHEAST HARBOR—Elected representatives from multiple area towns and staff converged at a League of Towns meeting at the Neighborhood House on Thursday night. The goals were to revive the group after a bit of faltering attendance during the pandemic, acquaint (and reacquaint) the towns … Continue reading Has Region Hit Maximum Capacity? Some Officials Say Yes

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Acadia National Park and Friends of Acadia celebrate workforce housing. Angus Kind.
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Acadia Cuts The Ribbon for Dane Farm Housing and Announces Expansion of Bar Harbor Housing Project

Carrie Jones Oct 08, 2024 Share SEAL HARBOR—Acadia National Park officials and Friends of Acadia had Senator Angus King on hand as they cut the ribbon on one workforce housing project and announced the expansion of the Harden Farm project in Bar Harbor from 28 units to 56, doubling the project size. The announcement from Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider during the Dane Farm … Continue reading Acadia Cuts The Ribbon for Dane Farm Housing and Announces Expansion of Bar Harbor Housing Project

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