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Mini Golf A Fun & Challenging Mini Golf Course! The Desert of Maine has a new, modern 18-hole "adventure" mini golf course that is as unique as the Desert itself! It features beautiful landscaping, water features, challenging hole designs, and sculptures from the Desert’s history! We are open rain or shine, with the exception of ongoing severe weather that makes it unsafe for visitors and staff to play or work on the course . NOTE: Tickets for mini golf are separate from general admission tickets. That is, you are not required to purchase general admission tickets to play mini golf! Advance tickets are not required. See our FAQ below for more information about planning your visit, accessibility, groups, and more! Tickets 18-holes Adults: $12 Kids (12 & under): $11 ​ Discounts • 50% off for same-day replay • 10% off for seniors (65+) • 10% off for active duty military • 10% off for members​ • 20% off for groups of 20 or more • 50% off for Snap/EBT/WIC/ Mainecare program participants BUY ONLINE Gallery Season Pass Can't get enough mini golf? We are now offering a season pass that gives you the option of playing unlimited mini golf for the entire season! Members enjoy a $20 discount on Mini Golf Season Passes! Season Pass Pricing ​ Adults: $99 Kids (12 & under): $89 ​ • $20 off for members! Group Visits For groups of 20 or more, we offer a 20% group discount. You don't need to contact us ahead of time to coordinate unless you are bringing a large group (>40) during our busiest times which are weekend afternoons in June, July, and August. We ask large groups to break into groups of 4-5! Mini Golf FAQ Mini Golf FAQ TICKETING Do I need to buy tickets in advance for mini golf? No! You can buy tickets in person day-of. ​ If I buy mini golf tickets, can I also go explore the dunes? Mini golf tickets are separate from our general admission to the Desert of Maine. General admission gives you access to the dunes, exhibits, and various features of the Desert. If you are also interested in experiencing the Desert in addition to mini golf, check out the combo ticket we offer. I want to bring a group of people to play mini golf, do I need to make special arrangements? If you plan to bring a group of under 40 people, you do not need to coordinate with us in advance. If you plan to bring more than 40 people, please reach out ahead of time. Certain days and times may be more challenging for us to accommodate larger groups. All groups, regardless of size, will need to split up into smaller groups of no more than 5 people per group to play the course. ​ ​ PLAN YOUR DAY How long does it take to play the whole course? It is an 18 hole course, so depending on your group size, how busy the course is, and your pace, it could take 30-60 minutes. ​ Does the course ever fill up? Yes, weekend afternoons, and some weekday afternoons, particularly in July and August, can be especially busy for us, and may result in short wait times for new players to get started. ​ Are pets allowed on the mini golf course? We only allow ADA-designated service dogs on the mini golf course. Is the course accessible? Mostly. Holes 4-7 require navigating a couple stairs down and a moderate incline up. The rest of the course is accessible and includes curb cuts to allow access to and from each hole. Adjustable putters with ball retrievers are available upon request. ​ When is the latest I can show up before closing and still be able to play? We will allow you to start a new game any time before our posted closing time. If I haven’t finished my game and it’s time to close, will I have to leave? No, we always let people finish their games, we just won’t allow any new games to begin after our posted closing time. Is mini golf open rain or shine? Generally yes, we will remain open even in the rain. If we are forecasted for ongoing thunderstorms that last for the remainder of our open hours for the day, we may close due to safety concerns. We post these updates on our social media, but you can call or text us to confirm in the event of a storm. When is mini golf the least busy? Usually the first and last hour of the day are the least busy. Weekday mornings are generally lighter in mini golf attendance. Weekends and weekday afternoons, particularly in July and August are the most popular times for mini golf and may result in short wait times for new games. Mini Golf Tour

Train Ride Hop on board our electric train, fashioned after an 1800s Maine Central Railroad train, and enjoy a ride around part of the dunes and woods! The train covers about a half-mile loop, stopping at many of our visitors’ favorite exhibits, including Gemstone Village, Fossil Dig, and the 1800s Farmhouse. Train Schedule Peak Season (June, July, August): Daily, 10am-3pm Shoulder Season (May, September, October): Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10am-3pm *Please note that while we hope to have the train available as much as possible, we will not be able to operate in poor weather, if we are short staffed, or if we experience maintenance concerns that must be resolved before it can be operated again. The train is a fun way to enhance your experience or get around this landscape, which may not be easy to navigate for everyone. Since visitors get on and off frequently, the loop is quite short (about 7-8 minutes total), and it does not span the whole property, the train is not set up as a traditional “tour,” in which visitors stay for a set duration and listen to a guide. Instead, in the coming weeks, we will be equipping the train with short-form information about the Desert of Maine to make the ride informative and fun. The best way to learn about the history, geology and ecology of the Desert of Maine is to take our self guided Ecology Tour and history tour that spans a mile loop! To view the train route and other exhibits, check out our site map here ! Train FAQ Is the train free? The train ride is included in general admission to the Desert of Maine! Where do you get on the train? The train runs on a loop through a portion of the dunes and woods, so the best place for visitors to get on the train is at the bottom of the dunes. There is a stone bench and sign marking where visitors can wait for the train. How long is the ride? It is about 7 minutes for the whole loop. Can the train accommodate groups? The train seats about 36 people, which varies depending on whether visitors are kids or adults and how close people sit together. If you are coming to the Desert of Maine with a larger group (20+), depending on the timing, you may not all be able to board the train at once! Please plan accordingly. Can I bring my stroller or mobility device on the train? Yes, if you have a stroller or mobility device that folds up, you can easily put it on the train. There is a ramp in the back for strollers and mobility devices that do not easily fold, and the driver can assist you. Can I bring my dog on the train? Yes, dogs can ride the train with you!

Wander in Wonder Experience the beauty and fascinating history of an iconic Maine destination over 10,000 years in the making A tourist attraction that is fun and interesting for all ages 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. PLAN YOUR VISIT 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! ...that is also great for adults! ​ The Desert is also great for adults ! There is a 1-mile self-guided tour that covers the history, geology, and ecology of Desert; fascinating exhibits like the Buried Spring House and 1800s Farmhouse museum; and the natural beauty of the dunes and surrounding forest. EXPLORE Mini Golf New for 2022 we have a fun and challenging mini golf course that is as unique as the Desert itself! It features beautiful landscaping, waterfalls, modern hole designs, and sculptures from the Desert’s history! Expected to open in June 2022! EXPLORE 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 beautifully renovated bath house, strong WiFi, and water & electricity available at most sites. BOOK NOW Read what people have to say...

Desert Tent Calendar Check the calendar below to see if there is an available time slot. There are three time slots per day (10am, 2pm, and 6pm). They are titled " Desert Tent - Available " if they are available and " Desert Tent - Booked " if they are booked. Sorry if that sounds painfully obvious; we get a lot of questions! Click the calendar icon below to jump to your preferred date Ready to Book? If you are ready to book your party, check our Desert Tent Calendar and see if there is an available time slot for your chosen day. When you see something that works for you, click the "Book Now" button below to fill out our Birthday Party form. When you submit the form you will receive an email with a link to an invoice for a 50% (non-refundable) deposit to secure your date. BOOK NOW

Birthday Parties Enjoy the Moment Birthday Parties We have all been to birthday parties hosted indoors--the blinking lights, the strip mall vibe, the kids bouncing off the walls. The Desert of Maine is a beautiful natural setting that is big enough to contain kids' excitement, allowing adults to relax and enjoy the special moments. Base Package All birthday parties at the Desert include: ​ Desert Tent - 2 hour rental of our 20'x40' wedding-style tent which overlooks the dunes Tables, chairs, tablecloths, plates, cups, napkins, and plasticware Cooler for drinks (ice not included) Access to a cart for carrying stuff to and from the tent Access to the dunes - Access includes the dunes, all features and exhibits such as Gemstone Village, the Fossil Dig, Electric Train, the Natural Playground for up to 2 hours (concurrent with tent rental) Train Ride - Kids can get a ride to Gemstone Village on our new 1800s style electric train! Staff - Our Welcome Center staff will be available to ask questions as needed. Our Oasis Snack Bar staff will be available to coordinate on food prep timing (if you ordered food) Gems & Shark teeth - Kids can keep up to 3 gems in Gemstone Village and 1 fossilized shark tooth Mini Golf (optional) Enjoy 18 holes of the newly constructed Hermit's Adventure Golf opening early- to mid-June! This course is fun and engaging for kids--a perfect activity that everyone will remember. Food and Drinks You have the option of pre-ordering discounted food and drinks from the Oasis Snack Bar: ​ Grilled hot dogs Drinks (organic juice boxes, bottled water) Chips Scoop ice cream & soft serve Suggested Itinerary We have three time slots to choose from: Morning - 10:0AM - 12:00PM Afternoon - 2:00PM - 4:00PM Our suggested itinerary is as follows: ​ Organizer arrives 30 minutes before to set up Kids arrive and play on the playground for the first 15 minutes Take a ride on our electric train to Gemstone Village or the Fossil Dig for 30 - 45 minutes Spend an hour in the Desert Tent eating, opening presents, and socializing Go back to the playground for parent pick up and departures If you want to play mini golf on the day of the party, you can play any time you want as long as the course is open. We are typically opening at 10:00AM. NOTE: You can add time to your tent rental if you want to be more leisurely about the whole affair. You can add up to one additional hour ahead of time, and potentially more time on the day of the event if there are no events scheduled after your event. This works well if you have lots of adults and they all want to socialize for a bit longer! The additional fee is $100/hr. Pricing Base Package Base package - $300 Access to the dunes and exhibits, Desert Tent rental for up to 10 children (age 4-18) for 2 hours. $15 per each additional child. Accompanying adults and children 3 and under are free. $ 100 for each additional hour (1 extra hour max for morning time slot if there is an afternoon party scheduled). Note: R ental of the Desert Tent is a privilege reserved for annual passholders . If you do not have an annual pass, individual annual passes can be purchased for as little as $60. Learn more here . Most people upgrade to higher annual pass levels so they can use it after the par ty! Annual passes pay for themselves in as little as one or two visits to the Desert of Maine. Additional Options Hot dog + potato chips + drinks - $ 7/person Grilled hot dog + small bag of chips + drink (organic juice box or small bottled water) Ice cream - $4/person Small soft serve ice cream in a cup + sprinkles (if desired) ​ Mini golf - $1 discount per person (pa id in person on the day of the party) 18 holes at our new adven ture mini golf course FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Do you have availability on the date I want? Check our Desert Tent Calendar and look for an available time slot! Can I bring my own food & drinks? Yes! We have a cart that you can use to bring it up to the tent. No alcohol permitted. Can I bring my own decorations? Yes! Decorate the Desert Tent however you want. Guests often bring banners, streamers, balloons, themed place settings, etc. We just ask that you take decorations down before you when you leave. How long can guests stay at the Desert? I.e. Can guests stay as long as they want? Guests can stay two hours, give or take, or longer if you add additional time to your tent rental. The fee you pay for the birthday party (which is free for adults) is primarily for rental of the space and giving kids some activities which are bounded by time. If guests want to stay significantly longer, they can come back another day, pay for general admission, or better yet, become annual passholders! If you decide to stay for an extra hour because everyone is having so much fun, just let us know so we can add it to the final invoice. What happens if we're rained out? If you choose to reschedule your party due to inclement weather (within 24 hours of the party), we will help you rebook your party on any available time slot that works for you. If you choose to cancel your party altogether, there is no refund unfortunately. What if I'm not sure how many children will be coming? Just let us know your best estimate for planning purposes. We will ask you about the final tally of youths (under 18) after the party so we can adjust the final invoice if necessary--either by sending a supplemental invoice for extra guests or by refunding you for guests that didn't ultimately show. What is the maximum capacity of the tent? You can fit a lot of people in there but we have chairs and tables for 60 people. How does it work if we order food as an add-on to the birthday party package? If you order the hot dog combo or ice cream, just make sure to stop by the Oasis before your party begins and let them know how many people you paid for and what time you want the order to be ready. You will pick up the food from the Oasis pick-up window. How does the train ride work ? The electric train goes on a loop around the dunes from 10am-3pm (approximately). If you want to ride the train to Gemstone Village / Fossil Dig, just go to the train stop nearest the Desert Tent and wait for the train. We recommend you take a full loop around the track before stopping at Gemstone Village / Fossil Dig. This is a very fun experience for the kids! NOTE: on some occasions, the train may not be operating due to staffing issues, rain, or vehicle maintenance. We can not absolutely guarantee this will be a part of the birthday party experience but it operates the vast majority of the time. Can my guests bring additional kids (e.g. siblings)? Absolutely! If the additional child is a +1 (i.e. not included in the totals on the invoice), your guests can just pay for that child at the door. It is $15/child (18 and under). They just have to let the person at the Welcome Center know! Do you charge for parents / accompanying adults? No. Believe us, we want as many chaperones as possible! Is there any special programming associated with the birthday party? No. We provide the space and things like place settings, tables, chairs, etc. The kids don't really need our help to have fun here, but it's also why adults are free. ​ Is the itinerary set in stone? Not all all. You have exclusive use of the Desert Tent for your entire time slot (plus 30 minutes to set up), and free and unlimited access to the dunes (general admission) for your guests. Sometimes kids spend most of the time in the playground. Other times they run around the dunes or get really enchanted with Gemstone Village. We don't exert any influence over how you structure your activities. Do I have to be an annual passholder to book the tent? Yes. Individual annual passes can be purchased for as little as $60 (20% off for Freeport residents). You can also select a different annual pass level if you think you might take advantage of the many benefits . Ready to Book? If you are ready to book your party, check our Desert Tent Calendar and see if there is an available time slot for your chosen day. When you see something that works for you, click the "Book Now" button below to fill out our Birthday Party form. When you submit the form you will receive an email with a link to an invoice for a 50% (non-refundable) deposit to secure your date. CHECK AVAILABILITY BOOK NOW Questions before you book? Email us at events@desertofmaine.com Enjoy the moment

Senior Grounds & Maintenance Staff To apply to this position, please email us a short cover letter telling us why you would be perfect for this role. Feel free to let your personality shine through! Attach a resume that highlights any experience you think is relevant. If you put in the effort, we will seriously consider you. ​ Apply Now

ABOUT US Become a member today Members enjoy unlimited admission all year long—plus, your membership directly supports the Desert of Maine Center for Arts and Ecology 's artistic and educational programs. Join now for 2023 and get the remainder of the 2022 season for free! ​ All members receive: ​ Free admission to the Desert of Maine tourist attraction Members-only hours including scheduled hours per week where members can enjoy free, unlimited mini golf (Tuesdays at 6pm, and Fridays at 8am) 10% off all gift shop and snack bar items 10% off Mini Golf during regular hours Early access to Events and campground reservations Off-season access for snowshoeing, ice skating, and dog walking Event rental privileges at our activity tent EXPLORE THE BENEFITS Support our Non-Profit! Your membership helps sustain our affiliated non-profit organization, the Desert of Maine Center for Arts & Ecology , which operates on-site. ​ Examples of Programs: Hands-on history and ecology classes for schools, camps, and other groups Art workshops for adults, families, and kids Ecology speakers, films, and programs Musical events in our barn or on the dunes Other artistic events such as plays, spoken word poetry, and films BECOME A MEMBER NOW

Newsletter Don't Miss an Event! Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive updates about events such as concerts, guest speakers, programming for children and adults, general news about the Desert of Maine, and updates about our campground! ​ You can also follow us on social media:

Animated History Video Hi, I'm the Hermit of Maine! Before you visit the Desert of Maine, I invite you to take a journey with me to discover the history of the Desert. The video below is fun and entertaining, and it will help you get more out of your experience when you visit. ​ Take a few minutes to be transported back in time with me! This video was an international collaboration: written by our own Mela Heestand, directed by the incomparable David Heatley of New York, drawn by Olga Shtonda of the Ukraine, animated by Hadi Tabasi of Turkey, with music by Eoin Russell of New York!

1800s Farmhouse Come see what life was like for the Tuttle family when they farmed this land in the 1800s. The original Tuttle farmhouse burned down in 1906, so we found a nearly identical farmhouse in NH which we relocated to the Desert. We spent more than a year restoring the frame and putting the original interiors (parts of which dates from the 1700s!) back together. The house is now a living museum of what life was like in 1800s for farmers in Maine. As featured on the TV show Restoration Road... Watch the Video Available for purchase on YouTube or stream on Discovery+ Photos

Adorable things lawyers say... We may, on rare occasions, take photos of the premises for marketing purposes. If you object to a photo that includes you that happens to appear in our marketing, you can request that it be removed, and we will do so if reasonably feasible. As a general rule, we will not take photos of children without parental permission (except as part of aerial or wide landscape shots). The Desert of Maine campus is a natural and wild setting, and as such there are risks associated with entering the premises, including but not limited to falling trees and limbs, insect bites, rashes, lightning strikes, etc. You assume all such risks upon entry to the Desert of Maine. 500 Terry Francois Street, San Francisco, CA 94158

Accessibility Plans ​ Current State The parking lot has van-accessible spots and a paved walkway that takes you straight into the Welcome Center The gift shop is well set up and there is a ramp from the Welcome Center to the Cafe There is a ramp from the back of the Welcome Center to a new boardwalk that takes you all the way to a vista point for the Desert Unfortunately, we are unable to provide access to the dunes for people that cannot walk on loose sand. That will be changing soon. ​ Planned Improvements We have a new 8-passenger electric vehicle arriving in late August which will allow people who cannot easily walk the dunes the ability to be driven around on a tour of the dunes We will be constructing accessible pathways through the playground to improve access to the equipment We are re-thinking our tour to provide access for people who are deaf or visually impaired New A-Frame cabins are being built this fall in the campground, including a fully ADA-compliant unit with its own ADA-compliant bathroom, picnic table, fire ring, and more. The renovated Tuttle Barn (to be completed in 2022) will be a fully ADA-compliant performing arts venue The new mini-golf course will include a 9-hole accessible loop (which can be played twice) This is just the beginning. We are working with consultants and soliciting feedback from guests to improve accessibility across the entire campus. This is extremely important to us, and we appreciate your patience as we improve the situation. 500 Terry Francois Street, San Francisco, CA 94158