06/09/2026
Do You Know How We Got Our Name?
I get asked this question all the time, especially by guests who are surprised to find out we're in Maryland and not Maine!
The story goes back to my grandparents, Philip and Joan Schaefer, who founded what was originally known as Bar Harbor Campground. Our park is located just off Long Bar Harbor Road in Abingdon, Maryland, which is where the name originated.
Of course, the name has caused a little confusion over the years. We completely understand why people assume we're located in Bar Harbor, Maine. In fact, every season we have several guests accidentally book with us thinking they're headed to a campground in a completely different state!
But here's the interesting part.
Back in the 1960s, marketing looked a lot different than it does today. There was no internet, no social media, and certainly no Google search. If you wanted people to find your business, one of the best places to be was near the top of the phone book listings.
My grandparents realized that if they called the campground Long Bar Harbor Campground, it would be listed farther down the page. So they dropped the word "Long" and named it Bar Harbor Campground instead, helping it appear closer to the top of the campground listings and making it easier for future customers to find.
As the campground evolved over the years, the name eventually became Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina, but the Bar Harbor name remained.
Marketing may have changed a lot since the 1960s, but our name has become part of our history. Even though it causes a little confusion from time to time, we wouldn't change it. It's a reminder of the creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit that helped my grandparents build this place more than six decades ago.
Thanks for being part of our story.
– Carolyn Kalambihis
Granddaughter of Philip & Joan Schaefer
Third-Generation Steward, Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina
