The Founding Father Ghost of Acadia National Park

The Acadia National Park is said to be one of the more haunted places in Maine and one of the places said where people see ghost is by the Compass Harbor Nature Trail where the founding father, George Dorr is said to linger.

Acadia National Park is a stunning natural reserve located primarily on Mount Desert Island, the largest offshore island outside of Maine, United States. Established in 1916, it encompasses over 49,000 acres of rugged coastline, lush forests, granite peaks, and pristine lakes.

The park offers a diverse range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, bird-watching, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives along the historic Park Loop Road. Acadia is renowned for its iconic landmarks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak in the U.S. Atlantic coast, and Thunder Hole, a natural rock formation where waves crash against the shore with thunderous force. Additionally, the park is home to a rich array of flora and fauna, including moose, black bears, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons.

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Acadia National Park is not only a haven for outdoor enthusiasts but also a place of profound natural beauty and ecological significance. What it also is known for is being one of the most haunted places and one of the ghost stories from the park starts with the man known as the Founding Father of the park.

The Acadia National Park is said to be one of the more haunted places in Maine and one of the places said where people see ghost is by the Compass Harbor Nature Trail where the founding father, George Dorr is said to linger. — **Acadia National Park:** This huge national park in Maine is thought to be haunted by the man that spent his life to make this place a park people could enjoy nature in.

Georg Dorr and His Life in Acadia National Park

One of the ghosts said to wander the trails in Acadia National Park is George Dorr, also known as the Father of Acadia. It is said that he can be seen hiking alongside of you if you take the Compass Harbor Nature Trail.

Not only is George Dorr remembered as one of the ghosts haunting the Acadia National Park he spent his life building, but is also one of the characters known from Bar Harbor ghost stories.

George Bucknam Dorr was born in 1853 in Massachusetts to his parents that had become rich on the textile business that he inherited. They moved to Mount Desert Island when they built the 58 acre house that became known as Old Farm in 1878. This is not to be confused with Storm Beach Cottage, originally a guest cottage from 1879, that was on the estate that he moved into in the later years.

When he was alive he used to work with John D. Rockefeller in the early 1900s Gilded Age and worked tirelessly to make the Acadia National Park into what it is today. He loved the idea of preservation and gave away money and land, and it is said that his trustees had to hide away money so there would be enough for a funeral when he died. For a time he only accepted a salary of a dollar a day as the park custodian.

Old Farm Estate Ruins on Compass Point Nature Trail

He lived on his family estate known as Old Farm on Compass Point outside Bar Harbor as a lifelong bachelor. You can reach this trail by taking Route 3, walk perhaps half a mile towards the water through the woods.

In his final years he started to go blind and worried about Old Farm and the future of Acadia National Park. He died on the Compass Harbor Nature Trail at the age of 91 in 1944. His ashes scattered over Bar Harbor.

His estate was destroyed soon after his death as it was no heir to take over it. He never married or had children as the park was his life and he donated his 30 room mansion to the park. But the world war still roared and the government expenses for parks were thin, leaving the old farm to ruin.

In 1951 the once grand home was demolished. It is said you can walk through the remains of the estate today, although there is nothing but ruins left that are now reclaimed by the park.

The National Park Service decided to tear it down rather than conserve it. No one was speaking up for the park after George was gone.

The Ghost on the Trail

But how is this man connected to the haunted rumors going on along this trail? The details are vague, and the debate about if it is is just his essence and spirit left in the park or if he actually is haunting it is up for debate.

In life he was a strong believer in Transcendentalism and the connection between nature and humanity and a very spiritual man. To this day visitors claim to have seen the ghost of George Dorr going through the trail together with his caretaker.

According to Marcus Libbizi, the author documenting most rumors about the ghost stories from the island as well as the rest of the Acadia National Park describes the sightings like this:

A dark man wearing blue appears for a moment before vanishing. The ghost looks like it is stalking hikers on the trail.

But is it really George Dorr haunting the trail going as a loop through Compass Harbor? According to some, it is in fact the caretaker that walked with him on the day he died, watching from the woods.

The Ghosts of Oldfarm

But who was this caregiver? According to the texts, it was John Rich who stayed by Dorr’s side when he died. But according to rumors, the duo is not the only one haunting the premise.

It is also said that a female spirit is haunting them when she appears on the overgrown avenue and passes through the forest and the ruins of the old estate. She walks all the way to the shore to the tip of Dorr Point before disappearing into the sea.