Ocean Park, ME

Established in 1881, Ocean Park is a unique seaside community on the southern coast of Maine that was founded as a Methodist summer camp and religious retreat during the height of the nineteenth-century camp meeting movement. Created by the Ocean Park Association, the community was designed as a place where families could escape the growing industrial cities, enjoy the fresh sea air, and combine recreation with spiritual renewal. While many similar camp meeting communities gradually disappeared or evolved into conventional resort towns, Ocean Park has retained much of its original character and continues to be guided by the principles upon which it was founded.

Centered around its historic Temple, broad village green, and tree-lined streets of cottages, Ocean Park developed into a close-knit seasonal community where education, music, worship, and family life have remained central traditions for well over a century. Unlike many coastal destinations that grew primarily around commerce or tourism, Ocean Park has always emphasized community, simplicity, and the natural beauty of the Maine coast. Today, its carefully preserved cottages, welcoming public spaces, and enduring traditions make it one of New England's most distinctive historic summer communities, offering visitors a glimpse into an era when the seaside was valued as much for reflection and fellowship as it was for recreation.