Fort Point State Park
Name: Fort Point State Park
Location: Stockton Springs, Maine
Activities: Walking trails, gazebo, group shelter, picnic areas, nature watching.
Dog-friendly: Yes, on-leash.
Hours: 9:00a.m.-sunset
Season: May 15th-October 15th
Fees: Yes, collected at entry booth
Fort Point is located just south of Stockton Springs in the heart of MidCoast Maine. The park sits right on Penobscot Bay, which provides visitors with gorgeous panoramic views all around the park. Three things draw tourists and locals to the park; Fort Pownall, Fort Point Lighthouse, and the beautiful Penobscot Bay.
History
In 1759, Thomas Pownall (governor of Massachusetts) wanted to build Fort Pownall to plug the rivers with the hopes that it would prevent the Penobscot and Noridgwoak Indians and the French from migrating south. He wrote a very convincing letter to the minister of England and one year later, he brought 400 men to the site and built the fort. And, in classic white men fashion, named the fort after himself.
In 1775, the British seized the fort’s cannons and powder and members of the continental army burned the blockhouse and filled in a lot of the ditch system to prevent the British from utilizing the fort.
Today, the Fort blends in well with the landscape and has become overgrown. Visitors would never know that there was once a fort standing tall. The Fort was pretty simple in design—it had four square flankers, a block house in the center, and was surrounded by a ditch 15 feet wide at the top and 8 feet deep. The block house in the middle was built out of timber and stood two stories high. There were 10-12 cannons in the upper story of the house.
Fort Point Lighthouse
Fort Point Lighthouse was the very first river lighthouse in Maine. It was built in 1836 to help guide ships through the Penobscot Bay. The station had a Fresnal lens that emitted a white light 88 feet above sea level and could be seen for more than 10 miles away. In the pyramid-shaped building next to the lighthouse sat a 1,200 pound cast iron bell. Today, the lighthouse emits an automated light and fog signal. Sitting next to the lighthouse in a pyramid-shaped building was a cast iron bell that would help to warn
Fort Point Hotel
In the late 1800s, the Fort Point Hotel was built to attract tourists that were vacationing in Bar Harbor. At the time, Fort Point was becoming a very popular tourist destination for wealthy individuals from Boston and New York City. The hotel was considered sophisticated due to its running water, gas lights, stables, bowling alley, and dance pavilions. Unfortunately, the hotel failed year after year and eventually burned down in the Spring of 1898. I’m not saying they burned it down for the insurance money…but…what do you think?
The Park
This small, family-friendly park offers visitors 120 acres to explore. There is a tidal sandbar, picnic areas scattered all along the waterfront, a 200-foot pier with docks for fishing and paddling, and gentle walking trails. In the Winter, the walking trails are perfect for cross-country skiing. Bring your doggo, friends and family, a picnic, or your fishing pole, and enjoy a relaxing few hours by the bay.
Our Experience
We visited on a warm, sunny day in November. The gate was closed, so we parked outside the gate and walked (what felt likes miles but was probably only a mile) into the park, only to find out there was a second parking lot right beside the lighthouse where we could have parked instead. Ya live and ya learn, folks. We only had a couple of hours, so we explored the fort, basked in the beauty of the lighthouse, walked a couple of trails, and watched the sun begin to set from the dock. Then, packed up, make our way back to our car, and headed home. Exploring the park was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Happy exploring, friends!
MyMaine
