Goose Rocks Beach (formerly known as "Beachwood"), is a public beach located in the town of

Kennebunkport Kennebunkport is a resort town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,629 people at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. The town center, the area in and around Dock Squa ...

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

United States, bordered by

Cape Porpoise Cape Porpoise is a small coastal village in the town of Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, and was the original English settlement of the town. It is located northeast of Dock Square and southwest of Goose Rocks Beach. The village occupies th ...

, Maine (another neighborhood of Kennebunkport) to the southwest, and Granite Point (a coastal neighborhood of

Biddeford Biddeford ( ) is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddefo ...

, Maine ) to the northeast. The village is inhabited mainly by summer residents from surrounding states and Canadian provinces. The Little River, which forms a border between Kennebunkport and Biddeford, empties into Goosefare Bay, the body of water that faces Goose Rocks Beach. Goose Rocks is unofficially bounded by the Batson River to the south-west, Route 9 to the northwest, and the Little River to the northeast. In 2009 Goose Rocks Beach was the subject of a lawsuit which multiple beach-front property owners filed against the town of Kennebunkport, claiming that they owned the beach in front of their homes up to the high tide water line. Goose Rocks Beach was the site of the O'Hara Watercolor School run by American watercolor painter

Eliot O'Hara Eliot O'Hara (June 14, 1890 – July 30, 1969) was an American artist and educator known for his masterful watercolors, especially his impressionistic landscapes. The Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Maine has over 120 of his watercolors, repr ...

from 1930 to 1947. The school and many other buildings burned down in the

Great Fires of 1947 The Great Fires of 1947 were a series of forest fires in the State of Maine in the United States that destroyed a total area of of wooded land on Mount Desert Island and statewide. Collectively, the fires killed a total of 16 people. This disas ...

Features and Attractions

Goose Rocks Beach is celebrated for its natural beauty and gentle waves, making it a family-friendly destination for outdoor activities. Stretching three miles, the beach is ideal for walking, sunbathing, and observing wildlife such as seals and shorebirds.

Paddleboarding Paddleboarding is a water sport in which participants are propelled by a swimming motion using their arms while lying or kneeling on a paddleboard or surfboard in the ocean or other body of water. Paddleboarding is usually performed in the open ...

and

kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...

are also popular activities, with rental gear and beginner classes available. The beach's serene atmosphere and expansive sands provide ample space for picnics and games, making it a favored spot for families. Educational opportunities such as marine-themed science camps for children enhance its appeal.

Practical Information

Visitors require parking permits during the summer season, from Memorial Day to

Labor Day Labor Day is a Federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the Labor history of the United States, American labor movement and the works and con ...

. Pet access is restricted during peak hours (9 AM to 6 PM) in the summer. While the beach lacks public restroom facilities, its tranquility and scenic charm continue to attract locals and tourists alike.

Notes

References

* http://www.kennebunkport.org/beaches.htm * http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/4aa/4aa539.htm * https://rootsprinceton.com/explore-goose-rocks-beach-in-kennebunkport/ Geography of York County, Maine {{maine-geo-stub