Desert of Maine

Intro

The Desert of Maine is an iconic destination located in Freeport, Maine going through a total revitalization. We hope to reacquaint local visitors with this unique historical attraction and give first time visitors a memorable experience they’ll talk about for years to come. In our first three years of renovation, we’ve opened our new mini golf course, added new educational and hands-on exhibits across our property, added new cabins to our campground, and streamlined our operations to improve our visitor experience. This year we plan to build on this momentum! We are seeking a passionate group of staff who can commit to our entire season, from May through October to help us deliver a world-class experience for our visitors.

You would become a core member of our small, close-knit team. What we are trying to pull off is ambitious, so we move fast and we occasionally break things. We operate more like a startup than the 100-year-old business we are, but we offset the inevitable weeks of hard work and moments of stress with a deep appreciation for workplace humor. We are looking for someone who wants to be part of (re)building something special. Breathing new life into this beloved destination gets us out of bed every day because we think the stories that echo here, stories of sustainable land use and environmental resilience, are particularly pressing now. We hope you will be drawn to the magic of this place and help us create a (not-so-hidden) gem on Maine’s coast for tourists and locals alike.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, our Visitor Experience staff position is a dynamic role focused on our core goal of helping visitors with all aspects of their visit. Staff in this position cross-train on many of the visitor-focused duties at the Desert of Maine including welcoming visitors at our Welcome Center; operating our gift shop, snack bar, and mini golf course; and orienting visitors and answering questions throughout the property. The role also includes the possibility to drive our 1800s-style electric train and facilitate our Sand Art activity, though scheduling for those two roles are subject to staff meeting certain requirements and training.

Admissions and Retail

  • Sell admission tickets and annual passes, answer questions about the history, exhibits, and campground. Direct visitors to additional resources when needed.
  • Execute opening and closing to keep the Welcome Center operating smoothly
  • Assess gift shop inventory, restock and re-organize displays regularly, assist visitors with gift shop purchases

Snack Bar

  • Prepare and serve items from our small menu including scooped ice cream, grilled sausage, kettle corn, fresh-made lemonade and more.
  • Maintain a clean and organized foodservice environment. Prepare the snack bar for opening or closing and ensure all cleaning protocols have been followed.
  • As of 2025, serve canned beer and wine in the evenings, follow proper procedures for handling alcoholic beverages and performing ID checks.

Mini Golf

  • Greet visitors, sell tickets, interact with them after their round of mini golf
  • Manage the inventory of putters, balls, and other supplies; ensure all features of the course are operating correctly

Train Driver (for interested staff with valid drivers license and 1 year driving experience)

  • Greet and welcome visitors, answer questions, and assist visitors in getting on and off the train as needed
  • Safely transport visitors from one stop to the next while being mindful of surroundings

Sand Art Facilitation

  • Independently setup and break down supplies for regular Sand Art activity
  • Facilitate Sand Art for all ages, assist visitors in creating a take-home bottle

Qualifications

  • Experience in retail, hospitality, tourism, food service, or cultural institutions
  • Experience with and enthusiasm for working in a team environment
  • Off-the-charts customer service, communications, and interpersonal skills with ability to interact with diverse audiences
  • Comfortable operating POS systems, computers, and phones
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and followthrough
  • A long history of over-achievement, attention to detail, and consistent personal growth throughout your entire school and work history.
  • A burning desire to make an impact at a mission-driven organization. It may alternate between being exhilarating and a little overwhelming, but the right candidate will relish the challenge.

Other Information

This position will start part-time in May and move to full-time June through October, with required weekend and holiday shifts throughout the season. The hourly rate will range between $15-$20 per hour. Access to reliable transportation is required. Individuals working in this role must meet the state minimum age requirement to serve alcohol. As part of the role, we need someone who can lift boxes (up to 30lbs), operate a small golf cart EV, walk across loose sand, climb our various exhibits, perform tasks which include fine motor skills such as applying barcode labels and preparing food, and operate a laptop computer and Point of Sale device. This work will involve some repeated lifting and bending.

The Desert of Maine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and in which personnel processes and hiring practices are inclusive, fair, and merit-based. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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