Camp Tall Pines, Poland, ME

Introduction / Overview

Deep in the heart of Maine’s stunning lake region lies a truly special place: Camp Tall Pines. While the name might evoke images of a traditional family campground, this facility, nestled on the scenic shores of Lower Range Pond in Poland, Maine, is primarily dedicated to a noble and essential mission. Since 1993, Camp Tall Pines has been proudly owned and operated by Special Olympics Maine, transforming it into a year-round vacation and recreational facility specifically designed for persons with intellectual disabilities. This unique focus ensures that every aspect of the camp—from its facilities to its programs—is geared towards providing a welcoming, accessible, and life-enriching experience for campers from across the entire state of Maine.

Established in 1968, the camp has a rich history of serving the community. It offers not just a beautiful natural setting, but also a philosophy centered on 'vacation'—a place where people can relax, choose their own activities, and simply enjoy the company of others. For many Maine families and agencies providing services to individuals with intellectual disabilities, Camp Tall Pines is a cherished and invaluable resource. It is a place where every visitor, regardless of ability, can fully engage with the joy of a Maine waterfront retreat. The reviews speak volumes, with visitors describing it as a “most wonderful place to spend time with family and friends” and simply a “Beautiful place,” underscoring the tranquility and positive atmosphere it provides.

Location and Accessibility

Camp Tall Pines boasts a prime location in Poland, Maine (zip code 04274), one of the state’s most picturesque towns, famous for its springs, historical resorts, and abundant natural beauty. The facility is situated on 5.5 acres of land directly on Lower Range Pond, providing direct waterfront access that is central to many of the camp’s activities.

The physical address for the camp is given as ME-26, Poland, ME 04274, USA. This places it along a major state route, Maine State Route 26, which ensures excellent road accessibility from across the region. The camp is easily reachable from the larger population centers of Lewiston-Auburn (L-A) and is a convenient drive from Portland, making it practical for agencies and families across Southern and Central Maine to transport campers.

The setting itself is a major draw. The camp is surrounded by Maine’s iconic tall pines, offering a peaceful, wooded environment that feels secluded while still being accessible. Its waterfront position on Lower Range Pond offers swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities within a safe and managed environment. The camp is part of a larger recreational area, with neighbors like Camp Connor and Poland Spring Campground nearby, reinforcing its identity as a hub for outdoor recreation in the Poland region. This idyllic location contributes significantly to the tranquil and positive experience noted by visitors.

Services Offered

The core services of Camp Tall Pines are structured to provide comprehensive, accessible vacation opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, both during the dedicated summer season and throughout the year on a scheduled basis.

Specialized Overnight Camping: Offers a formal Summer Season from June through August, consisting of ten one-week (Monday through Friday) vacation opportunities tailored for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Year-Round Vacationing: Available on a first-come, first-served basis for non-summer season use, allowing for spring, fall, and winter retreats.
Accessible Accommodation: Features two self-contained, wheelchair-accessible cabins. These fully insulated and heated cabins include three bedrooms, a kitchen/dining area, a living room, a bathroom, and laundry facilities, comfortably sleeping up to nine individuals each.
Group Cottages: Offers two seasonal open-room cottages, each with eight beds, electricity, a bathroom, a mini-refrigerator, and monitor heaters (available May-October).
Recreational Facilities: Includes a Seasonal Recreation Hall with gender-specific bathrooms for games, arts & crafts, movies, and music (available May-October), as well as a large Seasonal Kitchen ideal for cooking for large groups.
Agency Scheduling: Available for use by any school or agency providing services to persons with intellectual disabilities, requiring a camper-to-staff ratio of no less than 3 to 1, with supervision being the responsibility of the sending school or agency.

Features / Highlights

Camp Tall Pines’ most distinguishing features are its commitment to accessibility, its dedication to the Special Olympics Maine mission, and the variety of recreational opportunities it provides in a beautiful Maine setting.

Operated by Special Olympics Maine: This ensures that the camp’s mission is rooted in serving the needs of the intellectual disability community, providing a safe, understanding, and inclusive environment.
Waterfront Access on Lower Range Pond: Direct access to the pond facilitates popular waterfront activities like swimming, boating (canoeing), and fishing, all managed for safety.
Comprehensive Seasonal Activities: Offers a wide array of activities throughout the year, including arts and crafts, basketball, board games, puzzles, bocce, boating, campfires, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and tennis. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, ice fishing, sledding, and snowshoeing.
Philosophy of Relaxation: The entire camp operates on a “vacation” philosophy, encouraging campers and their support staff to relax and plan their own daily activities, fostering independence and enjoyment.
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins: The availability of fully equipped, heated, and accessible cabins makes the facility viable for campers with mobility challenges and extends its usable season well beyond the summer months.
Supportive Environment: The requirement for sending agencies to provide a high staff-to-camper ratio ensures adequate support and supervision, giving families and support providers peace of mind.

Contact Information

For booking inquiries, scheduling group use, or to learn more about the Special Olympics Maine programs at this facility, please use the following contact details:

Physical Address: ME-26, Poland, ME 04274, USA

Phone: (207) 998-2592

Mobile Phone: +1 207-998-2592

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

Camp Tall Pines is exceptionally suitable for Maine residents, particularly those within the intellectual disability community and the agencies that serve them, because it fills a crucial gap in recreational and vacation services within the state. For local users, this facility represents far more than just a typical campground; it is a specialized retreat where accessibility and inclusion are the highest priorities.

Its location in Poland, ME, provides a classic Maine experience—quiet woods, a beautiful pond, and clean air—yet remains easily accessible from Central and Southern Maine. The year-round operations and fully equipped, accessible cabins mean that therapeutic and recreational programming is not limited to the summer months. Furthermore, being run by Special Olympics Maine ensures the utmost professionalism, dedication, and understanding of the unique needs of its clientele.

Whether local agencies are looking for a venue to host enriching activities or families are seeking a dependable, beautiful, and safe environment for specialized vacation time, Camp Tall Pines offers an unparalleled combination of beautiful Maine scenery and deeply committed, high-quality, inclusive services. It truly is a wonderful and beautiful Maine place dedicated to enriching the lives of its guests.