New Employee Housing at Acadia: Harden Farm

Artistic drawing of the Harden Farm Development Plan

NPS photo, courtesy of VHB

Project Vision and Purpose

The National Park Service identified Harden Farm as a site for park employee housing in 1959. In the 1960s, the National Park Service constructed eight one-bedroom apartments as an initial phase of a larger residential development.

Thanks to funding from the National Park Service’s Housing Improvement and Centennial Challenge Programs, donations to Friends of Acadia’s $10 million Raise the Roof fundraising campaign, and a grant from the National Park Foundation, Acadia National Park can now build additional employee housing at Harden Farm.

In September 2024, the National Park Service awarded a nearly $10 million contract to complete Phase 1 of construction at Harden Farm. Phase 1 of the project will provide 28 bedrooms. An additional 28 bedrooms may be constructed if funding becomes available for Phase 2.

Illustration of Acadia National Park's new Harden Farm employee housing.

NPS photo, courtesy of VHB

Facts and figures

• Location: Kebo Street, Bar Harbor, Maine

• Building envelope: Approximately 4 acres

• Square footage of 8 bedroom buildings: 3,515 SF each

• Square footage of 6-plex one bedroom buildings: 3,164 SF each

• Total cost: $9.9 million

• Contractor: King Construction (Machias, Maine)

• Phase 2 of construction would provide an additional two 8-bedroom units and two 6-plex single bedroom apartments

• The full build-out of Harden Farm will provide a total of 56 bedrooms for Acadia National Park.

• All proposed exterior lighting will conform to Dark Sky standards.

Project Updates

October 8, 2024 - National Park Service announces award of construction contract.

At Friends of Acadia’s ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of Dane Farm, Acadia National Park announced the award of a nearly $10 million construct new park housing. This project is being supported through the National Park Service’s Housing Improvement Program and Centennial Challenge Program, along with support from Friends of Acadia and the National Park Foundation.

Acadia National Park expects construction to begin this fall.

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