Gov. Paul LePage has signed a financial order that grants Maine residents free day use of most state parks and historic sites beginning Saturday, Aug. 11 and running through Labor Day.
The governor, in an announcement Thursday, said he took the action to recognize public support for Maine State Parks, which have collectively seen record attendance.
“Maine State Parks and Historic Sites have experienced record-breaking attendance in recent years,” LePage said in a statment. “Our park staff have worked very hard to enhance the visitor experience with new offerings, year-round events and educational programs for all ages. Public support has never been higher. This is our way of saying thank you to the Maine people.”
Day use is defined as being from 9 a.m. until closing, which is sunset t most locations. The fee holiday does not apply to camping.
The following locations are included: Androscoggin Riverlands, Aroostook, Birch Point, Bradbury Mountain, Camden Hills, Cobscook Bay, Colburn House, Colonial Pemaquid, Crescent Beach, Damariscotta Lake, Eagle Island, Ferry Beach, Fort Edgecomb, Fort Kent, Fort McClary, Fort Point, Fort Popham, Fort Pownall, Fort O’Brien, Grafton Notch, Holbrook Island, Lamoine, Lake St George, Lily Bay, Moose Point, Mt Blue, Owls Head Light, Peaks-Kenny, Popham Beach, Quoddy Head, Range Pond, Rangeley Lake, Reid, Roque Bluffs, Two Lights, Sebago Lake, Shackford Head, Swan Lake, Vaughan Woods, Warren Island and Wolfe’s Neck Woods.
Free admission, however, does not apply at these locations: Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Peacock Beach, the Maine Wildlife Park, Scarborough Beach State Park, Swan Island, Fort Knox Historic Site, the Penobscot River Corridor or the Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect and Songo Locks.
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