Friendly community among acres of nature
Steep Falls is a small village in the town of Standish, where people can enjoy acres of nature, and where neighbors often become friends. “They’ve all been wonderful people who’ve contributed so much to the library and to my knowledge of the town,” says Paula Paul, director of the Steep Falls Library and resident since 1982. Paul notes that patron interactions are a highlight of her job and fondly remembers an artist from Holland. “Oh my god, it was my favorite time when he would come in. I just hoped no one else would come in so we could just talk.” When not at the library, locals can explore the Steep Falls Wildlife Management Area and part of the Presumpscot Land Trust. There is only one restaurant in town, and the nearest grocery store is more than 5 miles away, so residents must travel for most amenities.
Wildlife Management Area and Village Preserve
Residents of Steep Falls are no strangers to the neighborhood’s wildlife, with the Steep Falls Wildlife Management Area (WMA) spanning over 4,000 acres in the northern part of the village. “I’ve actually been walking my dog through snowmobile trails in the wintertime and saw a bobcat, a great big bobcat that looked me right in the eye, and I just kept walking,” Paul says. Locals can hike, canoe and hunt in most of the WMA, except parts protected by the Standish Sanctuary. Adjacent to the WMA is the Steep Falls Village Preserve, which is part of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust and has about 1 mile of well-maintained trails ideal for taking a walk in the summer or skiing in the winter. Families can bring their kids to the playground at Mill Street Park, which also features an ice-skating rink and a basketball court. Another popular destination is the Steep Falls Library, which Paul says is the “hub of town.” Besides an extensive collection of books, it offers people a quiet space to work and a telehealth cubical outfitted by Maine Medical. Patrons can speak with a local expert about their genealogy, join a book club and attend a story hour. “It’s a pretty busy little place,” Paul says.
Library fundraisers and community events
Steep Falls Library hosts several fundraisers throughout the year, including an annual plant sale held every May and the Cornhole Tournament that occurs every August, which Paul says is the “most fun day.” Every November, the library partners with Wanda’s Angels, a local nonprofit that rescues animals, to put on the Holiday Craft Fair with baked goods, raffles and crafts. The Village Park Gazebo is another community gathering space, hosting the Summer Concert Series in July and August and the Steep Falls Farmers’ Market, which runs on Saturday mornings from May to October. “It basically is a flea market,” Paul says. “It’s not really a farmers market; there are not many vegetables or things like that, but there are a lot of crafters.”
Older homes along Main Street
The heart of the village is filled with a mix of older homes, ranging from Colonial and Dutch Revivals from the 19th century to minimal traditional houses and Cape Cods from the early 20th century. As it gets closer to the village’s gazebo, properties sit close together on grassy lawns decorated with trees, bushes and shrubbery. The rest of Steep Falls features secluded homes on large lots surrounded by dense trees. Newer construction, including Cape Cods and ranch styles built between the 1980s and 2000s, is common. Prices typically fall between $325,000 and $500,000. “Steep Falls is probably the last affordable part of Standish as the development pressure continues to come out here from Portland,” says Zach Mosher, planning director for Standish. Steep Falls receives a CAP Index Crime Score of one out of 10, compared to the national average of four out of 10.
Stores and restaurants are a short commute
There is only one restaurant in Steep Falls, Dan’s, a sandwich shop that opened in 2022. Otherwise, Paul says that people travel to the surrounding towns for a bite to eat. “There are several options close by,” she says, highlighting a few favorites in Cornish, about 9 miles away. Fairground Sports Bar and Grill is known for its unique selection of pizzas, such as The Zeus (Favorite of the Gods), while Bay Haven Lobster Pound specializes in seafood. At Krista’s, patrons can enjoy an eclectic menu that ranges from seared sea scallops to a jalapeño burger in a colorful atmosphere. Locals must travel about 7 miles to Hannaford in Standish for groceries, while Target, Walmart, Lowe’s and Home Depot are all about a 20-mile drive.
Steep Falls students attend Bonny Eagle
The village is part of the Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 6, also known as Bonny Eagle School District. Students can complete kindergarten through third grade at Steep Falls Elementary School, which receives a C from Niche. George E. Jack School earns a B and teaches fourth and fifth grade. Both Bonny Eagle Middle and Bonny Eagle High School score a C-plus. Bonny Eagle High features a capstone graduation requirement, which can focus on community service, developing a personal skill or exploring a career field.
Cars needed to reach nearby amenities
Standish and Steep Falls are part of the Mountain Division Alliance. This organization is working on creating a paved bike path that will connect Portland to Fryeburg called the Mountain Division Trail, which received approval to convert dormant railroads in the village into an interim trail in 2023. Until that is completed, residents will mostly rely on cars to get around, driving on major thoroughfares, Main Street and State Route 113 to reach the surrounding amenities and Portland, Maine, about 25 miles away. Locals fly out of Portland International Jetport, about 22 miles away, and the nearest emergency room is at Maine Medical Center, about a 23-mile drive.
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Tippett
Video By
Jonathan Bradley
