Bar Harbor Inn Section of Shore Path Opens to the Public

Renovations of the remaining section will begin Monday, July 8

Jul 03, 2024

BAR HARBOR—This week, one of Bar Harbor’s most loved attractions came a little closer to being fully restored.

On July 2, just after 2:30 p.m., the Bar Harbor Inn’s General Manager Jeremy Dougherty and Food and Beverages Manager Jay Payne quietly removed the barriers from the inn’s section of the Shore Path and opened it up to the public.

Now, walkers can join the path at Ell’s Pier and walk to the south end of Albert Meadow. While this is just a small portion of the total path, it is an opportunity for both residents and visitors to once again experience the beauty and tranquility that the Shore Path can offer.

Fundraising is still occurring for the remainder of the Shore Path repairs that the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association will be undertaking and the renovations of the remaining section, Grant Park to Hancock Street, will begin Monday, July 8, the group announced July 3.

The majority of the Shore Path, while privately owned, is maintained by the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association (VIA) and has been since its creation in 1881. Both the Shore Path and the VIA were created in 1881.

There are many reasons to love Bar Harbor, but it’s hard to come up with one more beloved and iconic than the Shore Path. Since 1881 the Shore Path has been a scenic opportunity to witness the beauty and ferocity of nature, most especially the wonders of Frenchman Bay. Until yesterday’s quiet removal of the barricades, the storms of January 10 and 13 put an end to that cherished experience.

Some images of the storms’ damages. Photo: Shaun Farra

Harbor Inn Hotelier and VIA Board Member David Witham made it his company’s responsibility to repair the section of the Shore Path that is owned by the Bar Harbor Inn. At a cost in excess of $400,000, that section of the path was the first to be repaired and reopened.

That cost does not include the sizable expense of refurbishing the Inn’s back lawn and gardens that had to be removed in order to access the path for construction. None of the expenses were covered by insurance. There is a small amount of work still occurring on the lawns and gardens, but that will be completed soon, Dougherty said.

“It feels like only yesterday that I fought through the winds to make it down to the Shore Path to witness the incredible strength of the storm on January 10 and the historic damage that was taking place. I also could not have imagined the incredible effort it would take by the contractors to rebuild these sections of wall and restore a path that had existed since 1881,” Witham said about the destructive storms and extensive repair efforts.

As soon as the last barrier was removed yesterday, the first couple stepped upon the gravel walkway to enjoy a stroll on a beautiful July day. Before walking, they stopped to ask why the path had been closed and were informed of the intense January storms that the region had experienced. They’d had no idea.

Witham said, “It’s wonderful to see the public once again enjoying this scenic opportunity and listening to the sound of the gravel surface underfoot.”

VIA President Dick Cough said, “The VIA is thrilled to have this first section of the Shore Path completed and all the credit goes to David Witham and his staff at the Bar Harbor Inn and the contractors. We greatly appreciate the public’s continued patience and generosity because without their support we would not have the finances to finish the project.”

You can check for updated information on the VIA’s Facebook page. You can learn more about the VIA’s Shore Path efforts here and donate to the VIA’s Shore Path reconstruction fund here.