top of page
Welcome Center front.jpg

Re-opening for the 2024
season on May 4th! 

A pink and yellow camel statue, brighty painted wih pink, orange, and purple flowers and bright green leaves stands on a sandy expanse with large pine trees in the background and blue skies above.

What is this place?
 

The Desert of Maine is a weird and wonderful place. It is far more than just the 20 acres of rolling sand dunes in the middle of a lush forest. It has rich history going back to the 1800s, and it has been an iconic tourist destination in Maine for nearly 100 years. It is fun, educational, beautiful--well-suited for families with kids, history buffs, nature lovers, science nerds, and curious travelers.

A perfect place for kids...

​

Kids absolutely love it here. We have a one-of-a-kind natural playground, an imaginative labyrinth called Gemstone Village where kids can dig for gems, a hands-on Fossil Dig exhibit, a new mini golf course, a Story Walk, a Secret Sandbox, and lots more!

A little girl with brown wavy hair wearing a pink and yellow dress smiles at the camera and holds onto the arms of a younger, shorter boy with blonde hair who smiles and looks to the right away from the camera. The two kids stand in front of a brightly painted camel statue on a sand dune, with pine trees in the background and blue skies above. .
Four older adults sit in a row on a wooden bench facing a sand dune, green leaves of some large oak trees in the background catch the sunlight.

...that is also great for adults!

​

The Desert is also great for adults! A self-guided experience takes you to interpretive signs and exhibits that cover the history, geology, and ecology of Desert. Explore fascinating exhibits like the Buried Spring House and 1800s Farmhouse museum and take in the natural beauty of the dunes and surrounding forest.

Mini Golf


We have a new fun and challenging mini golf course that is as unique as the Desert itself! Opened in summer of 2022, it features beautiful landscaping, waterfalls, modern hole designs, and sculptures from the Desert’s history! 

Wooden fences and grey concrete rocks enclose mini golf greens, with a waterfall on the right and a fountain on the left. Trees line the horizon and the blue sky contains pink and purple clouds.
20 exterior moe and stick.jpeg

Campground


Feel like you are far away, while being close to everything. A quiet, secluded campground surrounded by tall pines, sandy dunes, and a gentle stream. Features a selection of cabins and glamping tents, beautifully renovated bath house, strong WiFi, and convenient self-serve camp store for the basics.

Read what people have to say...

bottom of page