Roosevelt park on track to hit record for number of visitors

The year 2026 could well be a record for the Roosevelt Campobello International Park (RCIP.) The number of visitors to the park, if the current trend continues through the end of the season, could hit an all-time high. Last year saw 262,000 visitors and 2026 is running 12.5% ahead of 2025. It's likely that the number will exceed 290,000 by the time the park closes on October 17, beating the current record of 270,000 set in 2024.

These numbers are significant, especially considering that nearly every visitor crosses the FDR Memorial Bridge from Lubec. The 64‑year‑old bridge is in need of major repair or replacement, an issue getting a lot of attention on both sides of the border.

A closer examination of the park's visitor numbers provides some insights. While it is too early to analyze 2026 data, the park undertook a survey of visitors over the prior three years. They found that approximately 85% of all visitors come from the U.S., with Canadians making up about 14%. Other nationalities accounted for a little over 1%. Visitors came from all U.S. states and territories and from all Canadian provinces and territories.

About 50% of all visitors originated from the Northeast, with a third from New England and 20% from Maine. New Brunswickers accounted for 5% of total visits, a number equaled by both Florida and Texas.

At a time of strained relations between the Canada and the U.S., a record number of Americans are visiting this symbol of friendship and cooperation on Canadian soil.

Bruce Thompson, manager of visitor services at RCIP, says, "This is shaping up to be a really good year." The RCIP staff work hard to promote the park and to offer attractive activities, he notes. They provide plenty for visitors to do, beyond touring the Roosevelt Cottage and Visitors Center. More than 7,000 guests partook of Eleanor's Tea, held twice daily throughout the summer, and another 500 had cocktails at FDR's Happy Hour, offered every other Thursday evening. Docents and guides offer walks and talks, in both the historical and natural parts of the park. School groups, seniors' tours and cruise ship passengers are all part of the mix of visitors enjoying this celebrated part of Campobello. The park actively supports Fogfest, the Bay of Fundy International Marathon and other island events. Its miles of trails bring hikers and bikers to panoramic views of Lubec, West Quoddy and Grand Manan. And there's no admission fee.

Visitors cite many reasons for coming to Campobello, even if it is not always the primary destination. Visiting local family and getting way from the southern heat figure prominently in their responses. There is still plenty of interest in the Roosevelt legacy, but the very things that attracted the Roosevelts to the island are also a draw to the current generation of visitors. "Rest, retreat and rejuvenation," says Thompson, "were what drew the Roosevelts to their beloved island. These are equally important now, and that's what the park strives to provide."