Acadia still open to visitors, but ‘critical support’ is sidelined, group says

Acadia’s famed Carriage Roads are still open to visitors. Photo courtesy of Friends of Acadia.

By John Epstein

Lisa Horsch directs development for Friends of Acadia (or FOA), a not-for-profit that places seasonal interns and volunteers in Acadia National Park.  Mostly young adults, they help in the park’s Wild Gardens and provide assistance for recreational activities. 

“They are critical support for the park’s staff and work closely with them,” Horsch said.  “But on October 1 when I emailed one of the park employees who works with our interns, I got a message saying ‘I’m on furlough’ and now we’ve had to bring all these young people into our offices to find other work for them to do,” she said.

“October is always a very busy month at Acadia National Park,” said Perrine Doniger, who directs communications for Friends of Acadia.  “We estimate that last October, the park collected $1.5 million in visitor fees,” she added.

But now the federal employees who work at the entry booths collecting daily ticket fees and park passes have been laid off. 

“There’s no one collecting fees, and that money was supposed to go to help fund our programs,” Doniger said.  “We have plans for the construction of a big trail in the park -- how do you plan under those circumstances?” she asked.

Acadia as a financial engine for downeast Maine

Doninger cited National Park Service statistics that attest to the impact that visitors to Acadia Park have on the downeast Maine economy. In 2024, visitor activity created approximately 5,300 local jobs, brought $539 million in commerce to local gateway communities, and generated $745 million in economic stimulus to Downeast Maine, according to those statistics.

But many favorite sites are now closed at the park, including the Wild Gardens of Acadia, Hull’s Cove Visitor Center, Sieur de Monts Nature Center, and Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Peninsula. In addition, park ranger programming, school field trips and outdoor education experience have all been cancelled.

Despite some closures, much of Acadia is open to autumn leaf peepers 

Still, as of October 3, visitors can continue to enjoy much of the park. According to the Friends of Acadia website, the Loop Road, carriage roads and trails are open. The Cadillac Summit Road is open to vehicle traffic by online reservations. Campgrounds and most restrooms will be open and maintained.

Services maintained and staffed by the state continue in the park, including the free Island Explorer Bus and the Acadia Gateway Center. Privately run gift shops in the park are also open.

While the majority of Acadia National Park staff has been furloughed, those deemed essential employees are still working, including law enforcement personnel, firefighters and custodial workers. But they won’t be paid until the federal shutdown ends.

The last big government shutdown occurred in December 2018, a month when the park was relatively dormant. However, a federal government shutdown during the prime month of October 2025 is a burden on remaining staff, Doniger said.

“The park was already operating with 24% fewer staff because of budget cuts earlier in the year,” Doniger said.  While Acadia has long supplemented its operational needs by partnering with Friends of Acadia and the Schoodic Institute, which conducts science research and education, FOA’s communication director describes the current situation as unsustainable.

“The park needs full staffing to continue to be the treasure that it is for generations to come,” Doniger said.  Her advice to those who care: Urge policy makers to push for a resolution of the impasse that has led to the federal shutdown.  In the meantime, she said visitors can donate the value of their park entrance fee, which will be used by FOA to support the park.