Article

Renovations at Hulls Cove Visitor Center

Under the word 'explore' a visitor stands looking at maps and art on wall
A visitor uses the self-service maps at the new Hulls Cove Visitor Center.

NPSPhoto

Hulls Cove Visitor Center is the main visitor contact facility at Acadia National Park. In the winter of 2019, the interior of the building went under a small scale interior renovation to improve visitor traffic flow and queuing, provide more restrooms, and provide a separate space for the park store.

While the project addresses a number of long overdue stopgap improvements, many significant issues remain at the site, which was designed decades ago for a small fraction of the visitors Acadia has today. Among the most notable shortcomings, accessible parking is limited and visitors can only access the building via 52 stone stairs.

Many of these latest improvements are supported with funds collected from visitor entry fees and helps reduce the park's maintenance backlog. . Costs of interior displays and exhibits are supported through generous contributions from the park store.

List of Improvements

  • Sound-dampening design and materials were used to reduce the sound volume in the building.
  • New carpet and visitor service desks were installed.
  • There is no longer be a park theater, or a park film. The theater was removed to make room for the America's National Parks Store.
  • There are an expanded number of restrooms, and a new family restroom.
  • The park store is expanded and now has a separate direct entry outside.
  • Crowds should be more comfortable with a significant HVAC upgrade.
  • There digital signs are on site conveying real-time messaging about available parking, campgrounds, weather, tides, and emergency closures.
  • Three oversized maps, each upwards of six feet tall, are available to help visitors explore finer details of the park's road system, hiking trails, and carriage road network.
  • There is a new public display of as many as a half dozen pieces from the Acadia's Artist-in-Residence program.
  • An exterior bulletin board was remove and a new bulletin board was installed.

Before and After: Park Store and Info Desk

bookshelves line the walls of a room with a solid double door at the end of the room bookshelves line the walls of a room with a solid double door at the end of the room

Left image
The 'before' space had an auditorium and divided the park store on either side.

Right image
Removing the auditorium gave the park store its own space and made way for a self-service map area, digital information screens, and more queuing space for the information desk.

Before and After: Better Restrooms and Security

a man in a blue coat stands at an information desk a man in a blue coat stands at an information desk

Left image
The 'before' space for information and passes.

Right image
The renovation made way for new and expanded restrooms and a more secure area for our staff to sell passes.

Before and After: Self-Service Maps and Art Displays

visitors shopping in a park store visitors shopping in a park store

Left image
The old park store space.

Right image
Relocating the park store to it's own space freed up an alcove for large, self-service maps and displays from our Artist-In-Resident program

Tags

Acadia National Park

Last updated: October 5, 2022