Side Trips in Ogunquit

About 8 miles north of Ogunquit (bear right from Route 1 onto Route 9 just north of the beach town of Wells) is the Wells Reserve at Laudholm (tel. 207/646-1555), a historic saltwater farm owned by the nonprofit Laudholm Trust since 1986. The 1,600-acre property—locals just call it “Laudholm farm”—was originally the summer home of 19th-century railroad baron George Lord but is now used for estuarine research. The farm has 7 miles of trails through diverse ecosystems, which range from salt marsh to forest to dunes. A visitor center in the regal Victorian farmhouse will get you oriented. 

Tours are available, or you can explore the grounds on your own. Admission costs $7 per adult daily from Memorial Day through Indigenous Peoples Day, $2 per guest 6 to 16. You pay by donation the rest of the year. There’s never an admission charge to the grounds or visitor center, and the 7 miles of trails here are open daily from 7am to dusk. The visitor center is open 10am to 3pm daily (closed Sat–Sun in the off-season).

The farm is reached by turning east from Route 1 on Laudholm Farm Road at the blinking light just north of Harding Books. Bear left at the fork, then turn right into the farm’s entrance.