AUGUSTA, Maine — A whale skeleton and outdoor treasure hunts are among the tools being used to attract an increasing number of visitors to Maine’s state parks and historic sites.
Family oriented activities that have included cross-country skiing, skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, demonstrations on winter camping, sledding and a cookout during the typically slower winter months also have helped draw more folks year-round, according to state officials.
“Most of us are familiar with [parks in] the summer months, but it’s much different — really special — in the winter,” Gary Best, acting regional director of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, said.
The efforts to attract more visitors seem to be working.
Overall, use at Maine’s 48 state parks and historic sites is up 17 percent from 2,166,844 visitors in 2008 to 2,539,754 in 2014.
Already this year, use is up by 10 percent through the end of May, with 400,704 visitors, compared to 364,169 over the same period in 2014, according to Best.
With July and August being the parks’ busiest months, officials have yet to see whether the trend of increased use will continue for the rest of the year. Best also admits weather will play a “huge factor” in whether the trend continues.
But park use has gone up in the last decade and actually peaked in 2010 at 2,602,097 visitors, largely because of the parks’ 75th anniversary celebration that year. The parks have been able to maintain momentum gained from the anniversary celebration with special offerings and events, such as the free admission given to Maine residents on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21.
“Maine state parks are for the people of Maine,” Best said, adding that the parks try to attract residents and out-of-state tourists but do not keep statistics on whether visitors are from Maine or from out of state.
Wherever they come from, visitors’ time at the state parks benefits all of Maine. State parks and historic sites bring in an estimated $100 million annually, according to the last economic impact study, done about 10 years ago, Best said.
The parks always are looking for new and innovative ways to bring new people to their facilities, which include taking advantage of a pilot whale that stranded itself and died at Popham Beach State Park last year.
The skeleton of that whale is being reassembled so it can be put on display in the nature center at Ferry Beach State Park.
“We tried to turn this into something positive that we can all learn from,” Best said.
Tentatively set to open Aug. 8, the exhibit will include a variety of information about pilot whales as well as about the bones, which will be hanging from the ceiling.
“It’s really going to be a wonderful addition to the education we are able to provide.” Best said. “We’re really looking forward to that.”
The treasure hunting with GPS devices, or geocaching, program grew out of a policy that allowed others to hide containers holding certain items in the parks. Park officials noticed the popularity of the activity and decided to add their own geocaches, with a promotional twist.
For example, the hidden, water-tight containers include a stamp that can be used to mark the Maine State Parks Passport, a pamphlet containing information on all of the parks and historic sites.
While the geocaches are hidden in only eight of the 48 parks and historic sites, participants are encouraged to visit all locations to stamp their passport.
Best said the parks are engaged in making continuous improvements to facilities. For example, two handicapped accessible fishing platforms will be added to Sebago Lake State Park, which has been working with Trout Unlimited to plan the project for about four or five years.
The project is being completed in honor of U.S. military veteran. Once completed, Trout Unlimited and Veterans Affairs will provide therapeutic fishing programs for veterans, Best said.
Funding for the project comes from Trout Unlimited, a $60,000 grant through the Land, Water and Conservation Fund and L.L. Bean. Eldredge Lumber and Hardware is donating lumber for the project.
“This is not going to cost the taxpayers any money,” Best said.
The bureau does some marketing for the parks but only on a “shoestring budget,” he said. News releases are sent to media outlets, and the bureau partners with the Maine Office of Tourism, which markets Acadia National Park and state parks under the same umbrella.
“We don’t make the distinction,” Maine Office of Tourism director Carolann Ouellette said. “I think certainly we’ve recognized that [state parks] are very much a part of the outdoors experience.”
Best said the state parks don’t compete with Acadia but rather try to complement it.
“We do think there’s more of a cooperative relationship,” he said. For example, sometimes people will stay in state park campgrounds on their way to or from Acadia.
The office of tourism has been marketing the state parks using “ Maine Insiders.” These are Maine residents who recommend various sites, including the state parks.
The bureau website also features interactive maps and information. Visitors can search the parks for information by location or by activity.
Lamoine resident Alicia Holdsworth is a regular user of Lamoine State Park, where she and her husband, John Clewley, went boating June 20.
“Just look,” she said in response to a question about her reasons for choosing this park. “It’s just beautiful.”
For more information about Maine state parks and historic sites, visit parksandlands.com.