Each fall, hundreds of thousands of people travel to Maine to experience something truly breathtaking: sunrise over Cadillac Mountain, crisp hikes through fiery red foliage, and the coastal beauty of Acadia National Park at its peak. For many small businesses in Bar Harbor and beyond, this season isn’t just magical—it’s essential to survival.

But with the federal government shutdown now underway, Acadia faces partial or total closure. No rangers. No restrooms. No maintenance. No pay for the 75 staff members who keep this iconic park safe and welcoming.

This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s devastating. Local hotels, shops, restaurants, and tour operators rely on autumn tourism to make it through the long winter months. A shuttered park during the busiest time of year could lead to job losses, business closures, and long-term economic damage to one of Maine’s most beloved communities.

In the 2018–2019 shutdown, even partial closures caused real harm to parks nationwide—damage that took months or years to repair. We can’t afford to let history repeat itself.

We’re calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior, Senator Angus King, and Representative Jared Golden to immediately allocate emergency funding or administrative flexibility to keep Acadia open, safe, and staffed during this shutdown.

Tourism is the lifeblood of Maine’s coastal economy. Acadia is a national treasure—and a local necessity. Don’t let a political standoff in Washington punish the people of Maine.

Sign now to demand urgent action to keep Acadia open, protect local jobs, and preserve our park for everyone who loves it.