Carpenter speaks to Houlton Rotary

    HOULTON — Mike Carpenter is a living example of “I have a dream.”
    His father was a blacksmith, so he grew up with horses. In 1989, he went to Acadia and saw the stables and from then on, went every year. 
    In 2007, Carpenter saw an ad looking for someone to run the operation starting in 2008. On Oct. 2, he got the contract for the next 10 years.
Contributed Photo/Michael Clark
ROTARY GUEST — At a recent meeting of the Houlton Rotary Club, Mike Carpenter told Rotarians about the “Carriages of Acadia.” Mike and his daughter, Emily, operate the horse-drawn carriage tours of Acadia National Park’s carriage roads. Pictured from left are Craig Bean, Rotarian and Carpenter.
     In 2009, his daughter Emily graduated from UMO and joined him in the family business. 
    In 2010, they carried nearly 20,000 people over the 50 miles of beautiful carriage roads that wind through the hills and vistas of Acadia. 
    The tours have become very popular with people near and far. For five months a year, Carpenter’s weekends are filled with playing with his horses and making money in a majestic place working with his daughter. His dream is fulfilled.