Guests enjoying tea and popovers on the Jordan Pond House lawn in Acadia National Park
The Jordan Pond House, the only restaurant within Acadia National Park, is located on the southwest end of the Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island. It was originally built in the 1870s and operated as a restaurant by Thomas and Nellie McIntire from 1895 until they retired in 1945. John D. Rockefeller Jr. purchased they property and restaurant in 1928, though the McIntires continued to run it. He donated everything to Acadia National Park in 1940, then started a company to run the business after the McIntires retired. The building burned down in 1979, so the one standing today is a modern replacement. This is one of the most popular and congested stops in the park, for not only can you get a meal, but this is also the location to begin both a hike around Jordan Pond and to the top of the North and South Bubbles (mountains).
There are two parking lots at the Jordan Pond House. The first that you come to is reserved for restaurant patrons only, and a little farther down the Park Loop Road is a parking lot that is open to the general public (a walking path connects it to the restaurant). However, both parking lots are bound to be packed, so to avoid circling endlessly while waiting for somebody to leave, it is highly advised that you take the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus instead of driving.
The big draw to the Jordan Pond House is the traditional afternoon fare of tea and popovers—light, hollow muffins—served outdoors on the lawn. Summer season hours are typically from 11 AM to 9 PM, and while popovers are served at any time, it is from 11:30 AM to 4 PM that the place is packed. Waits can be up to two hours, with the average wait time being 45 minutes. One of the employees told me that the popovers are tasty, but that he wouldn’t wait 45 minutes for them. However, there are plenty of people who are willing to do so.
The restaurant also has a regular menu and indoor seating. Dinner is served as well, though the crowds are minimal. I stopped by at dinner time and the place was nearly empty. For more information, hours, menus, and to book a reservation, visit the Jordan Pond House website.
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Last updated on August 21, 2023
