City of Presque Isle, Maine

Nestled in the heart of Aroostook County – “The Crown of Maine” —you’ll find the bustling city of Presque Isle, also affectionately referred to as P.I. Settled in 1828 and incorporated as a city in 1940, Presque Isle gets its name from the French term “almost an island”, because of the way the Aroostook River and Presque Isle Stream border the land.

Not only does Presque Isle have a thriving business community and a rich, history-filled agriculture background, the “Star City” is easy to travel to, with the Presque Isle International Airport offering flights to Newark, a flight hub, twice daily.

Home To Two Colleges

Presque Isle is home to two colleges. The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) campus is situated on Main Street. With four top rankings from U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges list, UMPI not only offers a well-rounded education to its students, but also connects with the community with many programs, including community memberships to its indoor pool.

Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), located on the beautiful open spaces of the former Presque Isle Air Base, has recently been recognized as having one of the top nursing programs in the state. When the weather is too harsh to exercise outside, community members can take advantage of their Smith Wellness Center with updated exercise equipment and an indoor track.

Hike, Ski, Bike, and Play!

However, there is plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the fresh northern Maine air. The Nordic Heritage Center maintains miles of biking, walking, and cross-country ski trails, with free ski lessons to youth, and low-cost equipment rentals. It has hosted several world championship events, with more than 300 countries participating, and has year-round training opportunities for athletes in the area.

For a bit more speed, Quoggy Jo Ski Area is a small surface-lift ski area with one trail lift, and ample opportunities for beginners to get some alpine ski experience under their belt, and more advanced skiers an opportunity to hone their skills.

For those who want to stay closer to amenities, the city has a four-mile-long bike path that weaves through urban areas. Perfect for walking and jogging, the two-way path has benches to sit on along the way and connects to a picnic area at Riverside Bicentennial Park along the banks of the Presque Isle Stream.

This park has seen several improvements in recent years, including new playground equipment and the cherished Splash Pad, a chlorinated water recirculation system with 24 spray elements—definitely a destination for children (and parents) alike when the temperatures soar.
In the immediate area of the Riverside Park is the Sergent Family Community Center (SFCC), a new 30,000-square-foot facility with a Teen Center, an all-purpose room, and a Senior Room. Within the building is the William “Bill” Haskell Memorial Gymnasium 12,000-square-foot gym with a basketball, pickleball, and volleyball courts, surrounded by a three-lane walking track that is free to the community.

A History Buffs’ Delight

Also during the summer months, a County favorite—the Northern Maine Fair—takes place. Generally held around the first week of August, the fair has many exhibits, including livestock, horticulture, and other traditional fair exhibits. There is also a horse show, harness racing, truck pulls and a demolition derby.
For those who love history, Presque Isle has some special places to visit. Near the Aroostook State Park is the Double Eagle II Balloon Site, a historic one-acre park commemorating the launch site of the first manned hot-air balloon site to make a Transatlantic crossing in 1978.

Just down the road from the balloon site is the James School, a restored one-room schoolhouse that is open to the public every Sunday with special events on Independence Day.

And did you know that Presque Isle is the center of our solar system? Well, not exactly, but the city hosts the sun, located in UMPI’s Preble Hall, and the innermost planets of the second-largest solar system models in the world. At a scale of 1:93 million, the Maine Solar System’s dwarf planet, Pluto, is located at the Houlton Information Center.

When Your Appetite Strikes, P.I. Is Ready

Presque Isle not only has plenty of things to do, but it also has some fantastic places to eat. The Irish Setter Pub on Main Street has a well-rounded menu of many delicious treats from Irish Pizza—a tortilla topped with Swiss Cheese, sauerkraut, corned beef and Thousand Island dressing—to bangers and mash.

Confectionately Yours is a charming bakery as well as a cafe with a rotating menu weekly of hearty soups, a panini of the day, and crepes. The homey atmosphere has made this a local favorite, but make sure you save room for dessert!

If you’re in the mood for pizza, try Pat’s Pizza on North Street. Their fresh dough pizza and special sauce are trademarks of this chain of pizzarias in Maine. From the moment you step foot into their hopping restaurant, you’ll feel right at home.

Another fantastic place for take-out pizza and sandwiches is the Sandwich Shop. Located near UMPI, it has been a long-standing favorite among the college crowd—so much so that college graduates likely still remember the phone number to place an order.

Ready To Take A Rest?

For those who are familiar with the Northeastland Hotel will be delighted to learn that it is currently undergoing a major transformation. Now owned and operated by Ignite Presque Isle, the non-profit group is working to update the entire hotel, and is currently under construction with a new taproom and restaurant.

There are a few other hotels in Presque Isle—the Hampton Inn, Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center, and SureStay by Best Western—which are conveniently located near snowmobile trails. For those who travel to take advantage of the winter sport, members of the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club spend hundreds of hours every season grooming and maintaining area trails.

However, when the snow has melted and the warmer months are upon Presque Isle once more, adventurers have several campground options to lay their heads. The Aroostook State Park was the first state park created in Maine and has many campsites nestled in their woods for tenters and campers. The park now has nearly 800 acres with fishing in Echo Lake and 3 miles of hiking trails, from easy to difficult, depending on your skill level.

Another unique camping experience in Presque Isle is Arndt’s Aroostook River Lodge and Campground. They support RV camping, and also have bunkhouses and log cabins, depending on your level of adventure. They also offer canoe and kayak rentals in the warmer months and, in the winter, the snowmobile trail runs right through their property.
No matter what your interests, no matter what season you find yourself in Presque Isle, you’re guaranteed to have many great adventures. To borrow the tagline from UMPI, Presque Isle is most definitely “North of Ordinary.”

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