Decades ago, I went to Acadia National Park for the first time to drive my mare on the world-famous carriage roads. I parked at the Wildwood stabling area, off-loaded my horse and harnessed up. Thus my husband and I began my dream-come-true drive. No cars, no trucks, no pavement — just miles of the most perfect footing and stunning scenery to be experienced anywhere.
In those days, detailed maps were not easy to come by. Computers and Google searches were a long way into the future. So, on we drove, exploring whatever road or trail we came upon. Some of the driving paths led to “private” signs or closed gates. I could not figure out where I could go or should not go. I had no idea at the time that the park property was separate from the private abutting acreage, which was owned by the Rockefeller family. It was an understandable confusion, since the carriage roads and trails formed a beautifully seamless system with the park.
Not knowing any better, I wrote to the owner to ask for clarification about the confusing access to the carriage driving roads. The last thing I wanted to do was to intrude into a place that was off limits to the public. I soon received a friendly reply from Peggy Rockefeller’s secretary, giving me the phone number of the caretaker and instructing me to call ahead anytime to have the Long Pond gate opened for me. That way, instead of navigating from the public stables, I could just drive directly in and park at the best driving and picnic site in the carriage trail system.
“Just please lock the gate again when you leave,” I was advised. And so, that is how I unexpectedly received, what was for me, the Keys to the Kingdom.
The private Long Pond carriage roads went through open mowed fields alongside the pond, which meant that no matter how bad the deer flies might be in the woods, my mare would not be harassed by them here, and we could unharness and all have a relaxing picnic overlooking the water. From then on, our “picnics” became more of a gastronomic event, as was fitting for the setting, occasion, and most of all, the handiness of the nearby truck. We now had ice chests, champagne glasses, white linen, elaborate desserts and fine china. The feast began with the ritual toast to Peggy, our Grantor of Wishes that we had not even thought of making. Did her ears happily tingle just a bit? I hope so.
I sometimes encountered Peggy in later years when driving at Acadia, as she was walking the carriage roads with a friend. She would step aside so that we could pass and look with delight as we drove on, waving and exclaiming, “Enjoy!” The sight of us driving by seemed to give her more pleasure than we were having!
It was such a contrast to today’s world of diminishing public access to private land. The phrases, “keep out,” “private property,” “no trespassing” and the all-encompassing, “liability concerns,” once rare in Maine, are becoming common.
The recent announcement of the gift of this land to the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve is an unprecedented act of kindness and generosity. The genuine pleasure derived by the givers in granting to everyone the experience of what one family could have kept for itself has multiplied the power of this gift many times over. My good mare is long gone, as are the other driving horses who came after, but the gift is forever.
Thank you, David Rockefeller and family. And thank you, Peggy, for the unforgettable memories.
Carole Whelan is a lifelong horsewoman and artist who farms and gardens in Hope.