Recruiting for May 16th, 2027 to October 17th, 2027.
Be part of a team caring for 22 draft horses in Acadia National Park. Duties include but are not limited to handling, feeding, watering, mucking stalls and paddocks, bathing and grooming. Must be physically fit and able to lift 50lbs. MUST have experience handling horses.
Help with barn chores but also accompany drivers on carriage tours and give the history of Acadia National Park and its historic carriage road system, a gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr.. Tours are one and two hours in duration. You will have the opportunity to work with the driver on harnessing and hitching.
Barn chores include but are not limited to handling, feeding, watering, mucking stalls and paddocks, bathing and grooming. Must be physically fit and able to lift 50lbs. Must have horse handling experience and be comfortable around 2000 pound draft horses.
Be part of a team caring for 22 draft horses in Acadia National Park. Duties include but are not limited to handling, feeding, watering, mucking stalls and paddocks, bathing and grooming. Must be physically fit and able to lift 50lbs. Our carriage horses operate out of 2 barns on the property. Looking for a knowledgeable horse person to oversee both barns and the turnouts. Looking for someone with an eye for detail who can spot issues before they become a problem, direct barn workers, keep track of diets and grain orders and the overall well-being of the horses.
Teams of draft horses pull 10 passenger carriages on the historic carriage roads created by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in Acadia National Park. Our one and two hour tours are fully narrated by either the driver or a tour guide. Experience driving is required. Drivers are expected to fully care for their teams of horses from feeding and mucking out to harnessing and bathing and everything in between.
This is a Full-time 5 days per week position with 2 days off. At times, due to the nature of the tour schedule, hours might exceed 40 per week. Hours worked after 40 are time and a half the hourly rate. Interested drivers may have the opportunity to work additional days.
Each day is different at the stables. Duties can include manure removal, moving hay, mowing lawns, fence and stall repair, cleaning the carriage roads and various minor repairs. Experience operating a tractor as well as being able to maneuver trailers is needed. Horse handling experience is preferred.
Our small office is the hub of Wildwood Stables in Acadia National Park. Here is where passengers check in for carriage rides and make reservations. Some reservations are made over the phone as well as for walk-ins. Equestrian boarders also check in here. Supplies and souvenirs are available for sale. Must be comfortable speaking on the phone and dealing with the public as well as entering reservations into the system and operating the cash register. The office assistants are expected to keep the office and entrances to the office neat and tidy. This entails cleaning skills such as sweeping, dusting and some vacuuming. There is a lot of walking to and from the office to the carriage loading area involved with this position. Office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm. The office is open 7 days per week during the season. This position requires you to work 5 days per week with 2 days off. However, interested employees may work additional days. Pay rate is time and a half per hour after 40 hours worked. Some horse knowledge is necessary.
Acadia By Carriage operates out of Wildwood Stables in Acadia National Park mid-May to mid-October. We offer narrated horse-drawn carriage tours on John D. Rockefeller Jr's historic carriage roads. We have 22 carriage horses. We also host equestrian users from all over the country. Wildwood Stables has 3 boarding barns with a total of 33 stalls and 9 campsites available for the horse owners with water, sewer and electric hook-ups.
We are fully staffed for the 2026 season but take a look at positions for 2027
Live and work inside Acadia National Park nestled in between mountains and just a few miles from the ocean. Access 45 miles of historic carriage roads or 120 miles of hiking trails right from the stables. After working with draft horses all day, you can relax in the employee housing area set back away from the stables and patrons or go out and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, whether on top of a mountain, in the woods, in a lake, or on the ocean. Learn all about the history of this fascinating park that everyone falls in love with. Employees get 2 days off in a row to further enable exploration of the area. Wildwood Stables is a bus stop for the Island Explorer, a free bus service running from June to October (exploreacadia.com).
We are seeking applicants who are passionate about horses and understand what is needed to support them. We live, work and recreate together. This requires a level of maturity and professionalism. We prefer applicants who have worked in similar environments and know what to expect from this living/working dynamic.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Contact us for any specific needs. We are unable to hire H2B and J-1 workers.
Our operating dates are from mid-May until mid-October.There are opportunities for late season/Fall employment (August to mid to late October). We give preference to applicants who can commit to the entire season.
Employees will receive an employee park pass that can be used anywhere in the park for the duration of our season.
The Island Explorer free bus system stops at the stables. For a schedule and map of stops in and around Acadia got to www.exploreacadia.com
Throughout the season we have group dinners in the kitchen/lounge or at the employee fire pit.
Shared campers with power, water, and sewer or single occupancy off-grid cabins. 2 bathhouses with toilet/sink/shower and kitchen/lounge with basic staples.
Housing is provided at no cost. There are several shared campers with 2-3 employees in each. Campers have a queen bedroom and a bunk room, kitchen, bath and living area. Linens, dishes and cooking utensils are provided. Cabins are single occupancy with a bed, chair and place to store clothes. There is limited power to them. They have small covered front porches. Linens are provided.
There are 2 stand alone bathroom buildings each consisting of a sink, toilet and shower.
There is a stand alone kitchen/lounge building stocked with basic groceries. Employees are responsible for cooking their own meals. There is internet available here. On occasion there is issue with the signal, but overall it is good. There is little to no cell coverage.
At present, there is no laundry facility on site. There are several laundromats in the surrounding towns.
Fly into Bangor and ride the Downeast Shuttle to Bar Harbor or arrange for us to pick you up at the airport. There are also flights to the Bar Harbor/Trenton airport.
Car-free travel/living is possible thanks to the free Island Explorer shuttle, exploreacadia.com which runs from late June to mid October.
Acadia National Park is approximately a 4.5 hour drive to Boston, 3 hours to Portland, Maine and 8.5 hours to New York City.
Acadia National Park and the surrounding areas have endless activities to enjoy. Aside from Acadia National Park’s over 120 miles of hiking trails, and over 45 carriage trails; there are kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, fishing and rock climbing opportunities in the park. There are scenic flights available just off island. The Island Explorer can take you to the Schoodic Peninsula, part of Acadia National Park, not attached to Mount Desert Island as well as take you into Bar Harbor for shopping, dining, music, museums and more.
Email info@acadiabycarriage.com for an application.
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