SPECIAL REPORT: Government shutdown looms, as Acadia braces for first major test in a decade

BAR HARBOR, Sept. 26, 2023 - There have been two government shutdowns the last 10 years, but the most recent and longest one - 34 days starting from Dec. 22, 2019 - was a non-event on the island because it was in the dead of winter.

The 16-day shutdown in 2013 was more impactful because it was at the height of the fall season. The length of a shutdown this year, if there is one, will be the determining factor in how severe of an economic hit the tourism industry here will suffer.

In 2013, the shutdown affected passengers from 24 cruise ships who were not allowed entry into Acadia National Park.

Passengers onboard Royal Caribbean's 2,112-passenger Brilliance of the Seas were shut out on Oct. 1, 2013, according to USA Today. Instead, Royal Caribbean representatives hustled to find alternatives for passengers visiting Bar Harbor on a one-week New England/Canada sailing from Boston.

The next day, Norwegian Cruise Line canceled “a small number” of shore excursions that visit national parks. “In these instances, we have provided guests with alternative shore excursion options," said spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews.

The 16-day shutdown of Acadia National Park resulted in a 76 percent reduction in visitation and a 13 percent reduction in tourism-related sales, according to regression studies conducted by University Maine economist Todd Gabe.

“This suggests that an estimated 17 percent of the potential visitors impacted by the Acadia closure cancelled their trips to Bar Harbor,” the study stated.

Because entry into Acadia is so porous, thousands were able to trek the park’s trails and carriage roads despite closures and limited Ranger staffing.

A hiker who violated the closure order fell and injured her knee on Oct. 5, 2013, requiring all four rangers on duty to respond (along with a team of five search and rescue volunteers) to carry the hiker out of the park on a litter. Park ranger Ed Pontbriand said the situation illustrated the reason why closing the park to the public was necessary. “We're so short of staff, we can't handle major incidents in the park. That's why we're asking people to do the right thing and honor the closure,” he was quoted in Wikipedia as saying.

There are 11 fewer cruise ships scheduled to visit Bar Harbor this October than the same month in 2013 when 41 ships were scheduled, according to reports from the harbor master.

Chris Fogg, then executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, told the Boston Globe sales from September and October revenues are estimated at about 30 percent of what local businesses bring in each season. The shutdown coincided with the peak of the fall season, including the long Columbus Day weekend. When Acadia closed, cancellations followed.

One hotel reported 182 canceled room nights, Fogg said, while another said it lost $33,000 during the shutdown. “What’s not shown in those numbers is the people who didn’t call, didn’t make a reservation,” Fogg said.

At the Quality Inn, sales fell about $15,000, compared with 2012, even though employees came up with a picturesque ride along Route 3 and Seal Harbor as a substitute for the views from Acadia’s popular Park Loop Road, the Globe reported.

“Columbus Day weekend — Friday, Saturday, Sunday — is usually full and booked months in advance,” general manager Nancy Tibbetts said. But visitors canceled or shortened their stays because of the shutdown.

“We filled one of the three days,” she said.

Maine Public reported Acadia park officials reported losing 192,600 visitors during the 2013 shutdown. “They said the closure could have resulted in as much as $16 million in lost park-related spending in the area, but acknowledged many of those ‘missing’ visitors may have traveled to Mount Desert Island anyway, despite the shutdown,” Maine Public stated.

Social Media platforms already were filled this week with speculation about the impact on the park in the event of a shutdown Oct. 1.

One poster stated:

“I called the park a week ago (we arrive 10/01), and the gal told me they have been given no guidance yet as to what may or may not be accessible if there is a shutdown. She also said they would not receive guidance until right before, if it happens. Another person posted that when they called, this last week, they were told the Park Loop Road will be closed if there is a shutdown.

“Sure hope it is open…”