WINTER HARBOR, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined Acadia National Park Superintendent Sheridan Steele and Schoodic Institute President and CEO Mark Berry to officially open the Schoodic Woods Campground at Acadia National Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the campground’s ranger station. The campground, which will be managed as a part of Acadia National Park, features 94 new camping sites, 8.5 miles of bike paths, and 4 miles of hiking trails. Senator King delivered remarks at the event, in which he spoke to the important role that the national parks system plays in conserving national treasures.  

“Acadia National Park holds a special place in the heart of this state, and it’s truly the crown jewel of our National Park system,” Senator King said. “The addition of this beautiful land on the Schoodic Peninsula, and all of the campsites and trails that come along with it, will not only enrich Acadia, but also add to the joy and marvel of all those who come here to experience our great outdoors and the way life should be. I congratulate Acadia on this momentous occasion and thank all whose generosity and hard work helped preserve this wonderful land for generations to come.”

Senator King, who is also a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over the National Park System, intends to spend the night at the campground with his wife, Mary Herman, in their RV. The campground sits on more than 1,400 acres of pristine land and features a total of 94 camping sites, 8.5 miles of bike paths, 4 miles of hiking trails, a 100-seat amphitheater, a ranger station, and 100 parking spaces for day use. It represents the culmination of a decade-long effort to protect the land, made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor who purchased the land in 2011 when it was under consideration for the development of a resort. The contributor then donated a 1,400 acre conservation easement to the government, thereby allowing the land to be managed as part of Acadia National Park.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony today, the campground will be open for self-guided tours. Camping is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Earlier in the day, Senator King also visited the Peabody Memorial Library in Jonesport, the Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education in Beals, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center and the University of Maine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin.

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