Park's Organization

Baxter State Park is the result of Governor Percival P. Baxter's dream to provide Maine citizens with a protected, pristine, and wild sanctuary. Parcels of land were added incrementally from 1931 to 1962, totaling 201,018 acres. Since then, the Authority has purchased and been gifted additional acreage to bring the Park to its current size of 209,501 acres. In addition to various gifts of land, Governor Baxter also left two sizable trust funds to carry out the operation and maintenance of the Park without the need for state funding. While Baxter State Park bears the name "State," it is administered separately from the Maine State Park system and free from the Bureau of Parks and Lakes/Dept. of Conservation. The Baxter State Park Authority, a three person authority consisting of the Attorney General, the Director of the Maine Forest Service, and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, has full power to manage the Park and exercise of all Trust obligations. About 40% of the costs of park operations are financed from a combination of entrance fees, camping, and wood products revenues. The remaining 60% provided by revenues from trusts established by Percival Baxter in 1945, and again through his will after his death in 1969 to provide funds for the care and maintenance of Baxter State Park. Park operations are also assisted by donations from independent trusts and organizations such as the Baxter Park Wilderness Trust, and the Friends of Baxter State Park. The Baxter State Park Authority also accepts numerous donations from individuals every year. The Authority operates the Park through a Park Director and administrative staff consisting of a Chief Ranger, Park Naturalist, Business Manager, and Resource Manager. The Park employs 22 year round staff and 39 seasonal employees to protect, maintain, and operate the Park. Park operations are also supported by Maine Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association, and other contracted personnel to prepare firewood bundles, perform road maintenance, forest harvesting, management operations, and other maintenance work. The development of park policy and operations procedures is assisted by a number of advisory committees including the Baxter State Park Advisory Committee, the Scientific Forest Management Area Advisory Committee, the Baxter Park Research Committee, and the Baxter Park Investment Committee.These dedicated volunteer committees are composed of a variety of individuals who possess Park experience or specific technical expertise with regard to park operations. The committees operate at the pleasure of the Authority and provide helpful advice on emerging Park policy or operational concerns.