This northern Maine sanctuary sees thousands of visitors every year

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 1, 2026

A massive natural sanctuary hidden away in a northern Maine town of just 300 draws more than 5,000 visitors a year. Mizpah in Grand Isle has helped thousands find peace amid life’s hardships at no cost for more than 30 years, and its founder’s family is ensuring the tradition continues. The site’s founder, Richard Corbin, was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin disease at just 22 years old. He was given less than a year to live. He made a promise to God that he would build a place for cancer survivors if he survived. He started building Mizpah in 1991 on 15 acres. He survived for nearly 50 years after that diagnosis and saw Mizpah grow to 109 acres. He died in 2015 at 71 years old.