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Tourism & Recreation

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Feds award $2.5M to BigRock Mountain for new chairlift

Laurie Schreiber August 18, 2022

The existing lift is over 50 years old. The new lift will feature technology such as a touchscreen interface that eases system operations and maintenance. 

  • $25M expansion planned for Oxford Casino

    Staff May 2, 2016

    Casino developer Churchill Downs Inc. announced plans to build a hotel as part of a $25 million expansion at Oxford Casino.

    Staff May 2, 2016

  • Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens plots multimillion-dollar expansion

    April 29, 2016

    The Boothbay-based Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens has unveiled the goals of a 20-year master plan that includes the construction of a new 22,000-square-foot glass conservatory, expanded gardens and year-round visitation.

    April 29, 2016

  • Rockland panel, Maine Lobster Festival squabble over park use

    April 27, 2016

    The Rockland Harbor Management Commission is challenging how long the popular Maine Lobster Festival will be able to use a trio of parks on the city's waterfront.

    April 27, 2016

  • Conservation projects in Maine to receive $922K support

    Staff April 25, 2016

    The state of Maine will receive $922,876 from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to support conservation and recreation projects across the state.

    Staff April 25, 2016

  • Oxford Casino expansion tabled by town officials

    April 24, 2016

    The expansion would double the restaurant and bar capacity of the casino, in addition to adding a 106-room hotel on three upper floors above the casino and a first-floor 275-seat multipurpose room.

    April 24, 2016

  • Westbrook candlepin bowling alley closing after nearly eight decades

    April 22, 2016

    A 16-lane candlepin bowling alley that has drawn both competitive and casual bowlers for the past 77 years will be calling it a day, as the Westbrook-based Colonial Bowling Center will be closing after a farewell tournament on May 7.

    April 22, 2016

  • Tallest building in Rockland a hotel with nautical flair

    April 20, 2016

    A $2.9 million, five-story, 26-room boutique hotel on Rockland's Main Street is slated to open during the first week of May after nearly two years of construction.

    April 20, 2016

  • Portland craft beer scene gets global props

    April 15, 2016

    This week, the independent travel publication Matador Network placed Portland at the top of its list of the world's best cities for craft beer — joining global brew capitals like Munich, Germany, the home of Oktoberfest, and Denver, Colo., home of

    April 15, 2016

  • No need to leave the party with Portland launch of Drizly

    April 15, 2016

    There's a new, spirited addition to on-demand delivery services in Portland as Drizly, a Boston-based technology firm, officially launched its beer, wine and spirits delivery service in Portland on Thursday.

    April 15, 2016

  • USDA takes Maine up on 30 million pounds of blueberries

    April 15, 2016

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken the state of Maine up on its January offer to sell 30 million pounds of wild Maine blueberries. The state's offer comes after two back-to-back seasons of near record-breaking crop yields.

    April 15, 2016

  • New owner of Ledges by the Bay plans $300K in upgrades

    Laurie Schreiber April 14, 2016

    ROCKPORT — The family-owned Ledges by the Bay — a lodging complex overlooking Penobscot Bay on Route 1 — sold for more than $2 million to a New Jersey-based hotel operator, in a deal that closed March 29.

    Laurie Schreiber April 14, 2016

  • Casco Bay Island Ferry Service nabs $296K grant for parking upgrades

    April 12, 2016

    It's about to get a whole lot easier to find parking among the hustle and bustle of the Casco Bay Island Ferry Service in Portland.

    April 12, 2016

  • Falmouth serves as launch pad for Flagship Premium Cinemas

    April 12, 2016

    Summer movie season in Falmouth will kick-off in style this year. Cambridge, Mass.-based Flagship Cinemas announced that Falmouth will be the first to debut the company's upscale theatres.

    April 12, 2016

  • Court upholds Secretary of State's casino petition rejection

    April 8, 2016

    Maine Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy has upheld a decision by Secretary of State Matt Dunlap in March to reject a citizen petition seeking to give voters the right to vote on allowing a new casino in southern Maine.

    April 8, 2016

  • New downtown store caters to Bangor adventurers by land and sea

    April 8, 2016

    Bike, kayak and paddleboard rental company Explore Bangor will hold its grand opening last weekend, and the Bangor-based company's owner is bracing for a busy debut.

    April 8, 2016

  • New program to boost Maine Woods tourism businesses

    April 4, 2016

    A group of partners that includes the Northern Forest Center have launched the Tourism Innovation Program with the goal of providing funding for tourism businesses in the Moosehead Lake and Katahdin Iron Works regions.

    April 4, 2016

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Today's Poll

Does cruise ship season help your business?
Poll Description

Sponsored by Kennebunk Savings Bank

Maine's cruise ship season is in full swing, running from late September through early November. Thousands of passengers are expected to visit Portland, Bar Harbor, Eastport or Rockland.

This week alone, Portland is set to welcome around 16,000 cruise ship passengers.

But as the season ramps up, it's bringing mixed reviews. Some locals brace for the crowds and many business owners say cruise ship visitors don't spend much while in the port. Other business owners argue that, even if cruise ships don't benefit their own coffers, they still benefit the overall economy.

When we asked this question in 2023, Mainebiz respondents, 21% said the visits bring customers and revenue, while only 18% said the visits don't help their business.

More than half of the respondents, 53%, said cruise ships benefit the overall economy, 

More Information