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Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Population: 8,856
Located in York County
Old Orchard has an incredible past, dating back to 1653. Its first white settler, Thomas Rogers established "Garden by the Sea" in 1657. The "old" apple orchard from which the town took its name, a landmark to sailors for many years, was on high land above the long sand beach. The owner of the orchard saw the potential for a summer resort and built the first Old Orchard boarding house.
That was just the beginning. As more people found leisure time, and wanted to escape the hurly-burly of life, they looked to Maine, and specifically to Old Orchard. Accommodations and attractions of all sorts were built to bring in the tourists. Hotels, stores, amusement parks, racetracks and various other diversions were built to attract the masses, which came to include entertainers like Duke Ellington, public figures like Charles Lindbergh and wealthy families like the Fitzgerald's and the Kennedy's.
This trend has continued to grow, and now tourists come from all over the world, but especially from Canada. In order to preserve some of the town's history, there was a conscious effort to revitalize the downtown area and its immediate surroundings. This has resulted in new Victorian lighting, wide, brick, tree-lined sidewalks and an outside dining courtyard complete with fountain in Town Square and a newly renovated Town Hall.
In order to make Old Orchard even more attractive to the visitor, and to help residents travel more effective, Old Orchard has organized the return of a seasonal AMTRAK train service from Boston.
Old Orchard may have retained a sense of the old, but they are forward thinking, and have planned 400 foot extension of the pier to provide whale watch cruises, dinner cruises with casino style gambling, and various water sports.
Old Orchard Beach is a community in which residents and tourists alike may take full advantage of a restful day on our seven-mile stretch of wide-open beach. Enjoy any of the 25 rides and arcade games at Palace Playland, our seaside amusement park. Funtown/Splashtown USA is home to one of the largest wooden roller coasters in the country as well as a new ride featuring a 200 feet free fall descent.
If one is looking for the "quieter side" of Old Orchard Beach, try camping, hiking or biking in the nearby state park, canoeing and bird watching in the saltwater marsh nature center area of Scarborough/Pine Point. There are few experiences that can compare to the peacefulness and privacy of strolling the sands of Old Orchard Beach looking for seashells.
We have nationally recognized Schools of excellence! The town operates its educational program for grades K through 12 under its own supervision. All schools, Jameson, Loranger Middle School and the High School have either been refurbished, rebuilt, or newly constructed within the last twenty years.
Homes range in style, price and size, and can accommodate a buyer from any income level. From a single-wide manufactured home for $29,000 with two bedrooms all the way to a large executive style home with five bedrooms, an in-ground heated pool and an ocean view for $500,000 to everything in between, including some land, there is something to please everyone.
With all this and more, how come you haven't left your seat yet? Come for yourself and see why this is such a great place to live!
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