Mount Desert Islander
Acadia Mountain Land Protected
October 2, 2007

MOUNT DESERT — The north slope of Acadia Mountain has been protected from development. On Sept. 26, Friends of Acadia closed on a previously announced deal to purchase 25 acres on Acadia Mountain, including the 19-acre parcel for which development plans were presented to the Mount Desert Planning Board in July. Acadia National Park, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) and Mount Desert’s planning board and concerned residents have worked for several years to conserve the parcel of land on Acadia Mountain – the purchase culminates those efforts.

“The acquisition of the Acadia Mountain parcel is conservation happening in the real world,” said Friends of Acadia President Marla O’Byrne. “The land is a bit chewed up with rough drives built and septic systems placed, but acquiring this key parcel abutting Acadia National Park was essential to protecting it from development that would forever change the character of the Acadia Mountain and Somes Sound.”

Friends of Acadia purchased the property from landowner Mr. C. Gus Grason for a price of $1.75 million. The local community strongly supported quick action to protect Acadia Mountain. The purchase was funded by donations to Friends of Acadia from residents and donors who believed that Acadia Mountain should remain an inspiration of nature.