Mainepedia
Culture & History Guide

The Mainepedia Guide to Haunted Maine

Explore the eerie side of the Pine Tree State, from coastal spirits to haunted inns and legendary curses.

Maine is a state of breathtaking beauty, but beneath the picturesque lighthouses and charming villages lies a darker history. With its jagged coastline, dense forests, and centuries of maritime tragedies, Maine has earned its reputation as one of the most haunted states in New England.

From the inspiration for Stephen King’s “Derry” to isolated islands where madness took hold, this guide explores the supernatural side of Vacationland.

Lighthouse Legends

Lighthouses are symbols of safety, but they are also places of extreme isolation. It’s no surprise that many of Maine’s beacons are rumored to have spectral residents.

Seguin Island Light (Georgetown) Perhaps the most famous ghost story in Maine. In the mid-1800s, a keeper brought his wife to this desolate island. To keep her entertained, he bought her a piano. She only had one piece of sheet music, which she played endlessly. Driven mad by the repetition and isolation, the keeper strangled his wife and then took his own life. Visitors and subsequent keepers have reported hearing phantom piano music drifting on the wind. Read the full story here.

Wood Island Light (Biddeford Pool) This light was the scene of a tragic murder-suicide in 1896 involving a local sheriff and a drunken drifter. Since then, strange occurrences have been reported: moaning sounds, shadows darting across rooms, and locked doors flying open.

Owl’s Head Light (Owls Head) A gentler spirit is said to reside here. The “Little Lady” is often felt in the kitchen or seen looking out the window. She is known to rattle silverware and sometimes even tuck the blankets around sleeping keepers.

Haunted Inns & Hotels

For those brave enough to sleep with the lights off, several historic Maine inns offer more than just a bed and breakfast.

The Kennebunk Inn (Kennebunk) Built in 1799, this inn is reportedly home to “Silas,” a mischievous spirit who was once a clerk there. Silas is known for his pranks: moving wine glasses, rattling dishes, and occasionally teasing the staff. He seems harmless, preferring to entertain rather than terrify.

The Lucerne Inn (Dedham) This grand inn overlooking Phillips Lake has a tragic legend. A woman is said to have jumped to her death from one of the rooms after discovering her husband with another woman. Guests have reported cold spots, the scent of roses in the dead of winter, and the feeling of being watched.

The Herbert Grand Hotel (Kingfield) With its 1920s speakeasy vibe, The Herbert is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Guests have reported seeing a little girl in the hallways and a spectral dog. The hotel embraces its spooky reputation, often hosting ghost hunters.

The Captain Lord Mansion (Kennebunkport) Even luxury B&Bs have their secrets. This beautiful mansion is said to be haunted by the wife of Captain Lord, who died before the house was completed. She is occasionally seen walking the spiral staircase or in the Lincoln Room.

Historic Haunts

Fort Knox (Prospect) This massive granite fortification on the Penobscot River never saw battle, but that hasn’t stopped the ghost stories. Paranormal groups have recorded EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and video evidence of apparitions in the dark, echoing tunnels. “Fright at the Fort,” a Halloween event, plays on this spooky reputation. Explore the haunting of Fort Knox.

The Old Gaol (York) As one of the oldest prison buildings in America (dating back to the 1700s), the Old Gaol has seen its share of misery. Visitors often report a heavy feeling of dread, being touched by unseen hands, and hearing faint cries from the dungeon cells. A “White Witch” is also said to roam the grounds.

Wiscasset Jail Museum (Wiscasset) Built in 1811, this grim stone fortress was designed to be escape-proof. It housed privateers, murderers, and debtors in harsh conditions. Legend says the spirits of former inmates still pace the ground-floor cells, and staff have reported inexplicable noises and cold drafts.

Roadside Mysteries

Route 2A (The Haynesville Woods) Immortalized in the Dick Curless country hit “A Tombstone Every Mile,” this stretch of road in Aroostook County is legendary for its danger and its ghosts. Drivers have reported seeing a woman standing by the roadside, begging for a ride. When they stop to help, she vanishes.

Colonel Buck’s Tomb (Bucksport) In a cemetery on Route 1, the tomb of Colonel Jonathan Buck bears a mysterious stain in the shape of a woman’s leg. Legend says Buck ordered a witch to be burned, and her leg rolled out of the fire. She cursed him, promising to always “dance upon his grave.” Despite attempts to clean or replace the stone, the leg stain allegedly always returns.

The Stephen King Connection

You can’t talk about haunted Maine without mentioning the master of horror. Take our tour of Stephen King’s Maine.

Mount Hope Cemetery (Bangor) This historic garden cemetery was a filming location for the original Pet Sematary movie. It’s a beautiful place to walk, but it also has its share of ghost stories, including sightings of Civil War soldiers.

The Stephen King House (Bangor) While not “haunted” in the traditional sense, the iconic red Victorian mansion with the bat-winged gate is a spiritual center for horror fans. It inspired the layout of the house in It and stands as a monument to the creepy creativity that Maine inspires.

Ghost Tours

Several companies offer guided tours of Maine’s haunted locations:

  • Spirits Alive (Portland): Walking tours of Portland’s Eastern Cemetery and historic waterfront, focusing on documented supernatural encounters.
  • Kennebunkport Ghost Tours: Explore the haunted history of this coastal village, including the Captain Lord Mansion.
  • Bangor Ghost Walks: Tours through the areas that inspired Stephen King, plus genuine local hauntings.

Planning a Paranormal Visit

If you’re hoping for a supernatural encounter:

  • Stay overnight: Book a room at one of Maine’s haunted inns. Many embrace their reputations and will tell you which rooms have the most activity.
  • Bring equipment: Ghost hunters often use EMF detectors, audio recorders, and infrared cameras. Even skeptics find it adds to the experience.
  • Visit off-season: Haunted locations are often more atmospheric (and less crowded) in fall and winter.
  • Respect the sites: Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these are historic locations. Don’t trespass, damage property, or disturb others.

The Maine Mystique

There’s a reason Maine has inspired so much horror fiction. Maine’s combination of isolation, harsh weather, deep forests, and maritime history creates an atmosphere ripe for the supernatural. When fog rolls in off the ocean, when the wind howls through old lighthouses, when you’re alone on a dark road in the North Woods—it’s easy to believe that Maine harbors secrets beyond our understanding.

Whether the ghosts are real or products of imagination, they’ve become part of Maine’s cultural heritage. The stories persist because they resonate with something in the landscape itself—something ancient, something wild, something that watches from the shadows of the Pine Tree State.

Beyond the Famous Hauntings

Maine has dozens of lesser-known haunted locations worth exploring:

  • The Joshua Chamberlain House (Brunswick): Home of the Civil War hero who reportedly still walks the halls.
  • Fort Popham (Phippsburg): Unfinished Civil War fortification where strange lights and sounds have been reported.
  • Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village (New Gloucester): The last active Shaker community has a peaceful atmosphere, but the surrounding areas have their own stories.
  • Boon Island Light (offshore): Site of a 1710 shipwreck where survivors resorted to cannibalism. The island is said to be haunted by the victims.

Creating Your Haunted Itinerary

For a weekend focused on the supernatural, check out our complete Haunted Road Trip itinerary, or follow this quick overview:

Day 1: Start in York with the Old Gaol and Colonel Buck’s tomb in Bucksport. Stay overnight at a haunted inn.

Day 2: Explore Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows, then head to Bangor for the Stephen King tour and Mount Hope Cemetery.

Day 3: Venture to the coast for Seguin Island (summer only) or Portland’s Eastern Cemetery walking tour.

The Skeptic’s Perspective

Not everyone believes in ghosts, and that’s fine. Even skeptics can appreciate these locations for their history, architecture, and atmosphere. The stories add a layer of narrative that enhances visits—whether you’re seeking proof of the paranormal or simply enjoying a good tale.

Maine’s haunted sites work on multiple levels: as historical landmarks, as examples of period architecture, as windows into difficult chapters of history, and yes, as potential encounters with something beyond explanation. Whatever you believe, these places offer experiences that linger in memory long after you leave.

More mysterious Maine experiences: