French-Acadian roots in Fort Kent, a border town on the St. John River
The Saint John River flows north of Fort Kent, separating the historically French-Acadian town from the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Fort Kent was originally built as a military post during the Aroostook War, a 19th-century dispute over the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick. Although a treaty later set the river as the border, Canadian influence still shapes Fort Kent’s cultural identity today. “We see a lot of cross traffic. People either work on one side, or they just want to have dual citizenship so they can travel back and forth and visit their families,” says Lydia Kieffer-Till, a broker with Kieffer Real Estate who has a decade of experience in the industry. More than a border, the river is a destination for outdoor recreation and runs along downtown Fort Kent, a hub for local businesses and events. “They’ve done a great job building out the community,” Kieffer-Till says.
Year-round fun on the river and at the Lonesome Pine Trails ski resort
Hundreds of anglers gather at the Saint John River each August to compete in the Fort Kent International Musky Derby. Paddle boaters explore the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-mile waterway between Old Forge, New York and Fort Kent. Riverside Park has a boat launch for water access and features a playground, picnic areas and athletic fields. A community pool and a 9-hole course at the Fort Kent Golf Club round out the town’s warm-weather offerings. “Year-round recreation is definitely one of the highlights of this destination,” Kieffer-Till says.
Aroostook County is one of Maine’s snowiest regions. Fort Kent’s average annual snowfall of just over 5 feet gives winter sports enthusiasts plenty of powder to explore. Snowmobilers ride the Saint John Valley Heritage Trail, while skiers and snowboarders frequent the Lonesome Pine Trails. “The ski mountain is right in town, which is super unique because the kids can get off the school bus at the ski hill and walk home,” Kieffer-Till says. For ice skating, Jalbert Park has an outdoor rink with skates and snowshoes available to rent.
Housing options range from New England-style homes to country retreats
Residential streets near downtown feature a mix of housing styles. Neo-Colonial, Cape Cod, raised ranch, and ranch-style homes are common. Some sit on tree-lined lots that give residents a sense of privacy. Development is sparse away from the town’s center. Out there, winding roads pass custom-built properties and country retreats with acres of land. “There are some really picturesque locations there,” Kieffer-Till says. Home prices typically range from $100,000 to $300,000, though properties with significant acreage can sell for $350,000 to $580,000. Fort Kent’s median lot size is roughly half an acre, and its CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10 is below the national median of 4.
Shops, restaurants and essential services in downtown Fort Kent
Downtown has a mix of locally owned businesses and chains. Residents can browse the shelves at Bogan Books and stock up on gear at Up North Outdoors before grabbing essentials at Family Dollar and Hannaford. The dining scene includes Swamp Buck Restaurant and Lounge, a laidback spot with rustic charm and American comfort food. Rock’s Family Diner is known for homemade whoopie pies and poutine, while First Mile Brewing has an industrial tasting room for craft beverages and pizzas. Hardware stores, pharmacies and the Northern Maine Medical Center ensure residents have access to necessary services in town.
Annual sled dog races and Ploye Festival highlight local traditions
Fort Kent hosts the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, an annual competition. “When the dogs leave town, they put snow right on Main Street, and there are people lining the street to cheer them on,” Kieffer-Till says. National biathlon and cross-country skiing competitions are held at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, a recreational facility with trails that residents can access year-round.
French Acadian refugees introduced the ploye, a buckwheat flatbread often compared to a pancake or crepe, to the St. John Valley in the 18th century. It remains one of the region's signature dishes, and Fort Kent's Ploy Festival invites spectators to watch as the world’s largest ploye is made on a 12-foot-wide griddle before it's served to the crowd.
MSAD 27 offers dual enrollment courses through UMaine at Fort Kent:
Fort Kent is part of Maine School Administrative District 27. Students can attend school in town at the B-plus-rated Fort Kent Elementary School, C-plus-rated Valley Rivers Middle School and C-rated Fort Kent Community High School. All three schools are within a quarter mile of the University of Maine at Fort Kent, which partners with Fort Kent Community High School to offer dual enrollment courses that students can take at the high school for college credit.
U.S. Route 1 starts here, near a border crossing into New Brunswick
This is a car-dependent area with few sidewalks and no public transportation. U.S. Route 1 begins in Fort Kent, and a granite monument near the border marks it as America’s First Mile. The Clair-Fort Kent Bridge crosses the St. John River, forming a border crossing between the United States and Canada. “You’ve got border patrol and the logging industry there, so Irving Woodlands employs a number of people that live in that area,” Kieffer-Till says. Irving Woodlands is part of J.D. Irving, Limited, a Canadian company with forestry operations in northern Maine. Residents are about 58 miles from Presque Isle and Presque Isle International Airport, where JetBlue provides daily service to Boston Logan International Airport.
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Sally Stimpson
