Stephen King Tour in Maine: Bangor Locations from It & Pet Sematary

Bangor is Derry.

For millions of Constant Readers, the streets of Bangor, Maine, are layered with the fictional geography of Stephen King’s most famous haunted town. King lived in Bangor for decades, and the city’s canals, standpipes, and Victorian mansions seeped directly into his work.

This guide takes you to the real-world locations that inspired It, Pet Sematary, Insomnia, and more.

The House on West Broadway

Location: 47 West Broadway, Bangor

It is arguably the most famous writer’s home in the world. The striking red Victorian mansion is instantly recognizable by its wrought-iron fence, decorated with bats, spiders, and a three-headed dragon.

The History: King bought the house in 1980. It served as the family home where he wrote novels like It and Tommyknockers.
Today: The Kings no longer live here full-time, and the house has been converted into a private archive for his work.
Visiting: It is a private residence/foundation. You can take photos from the sidewalk, but please be respectful. Do not ring the doorbell or trespass.

The Standpipe (The Standpipe in It)

Location: Thomas Hill Standpipe, Jackson Street

This massive shingled water tower, built in 1897, dominates the Bangor skyline. In It, this is the Standpipe where Stan Uris sees the drowned boys.

The Look: It looks less like a water tower and more like a castle turret or a giant chess piece.
Visiting: The promenade around the base is open to the public and offers great views of the city. The tower itself is open for tours only a few times a year (usually quarterly).

The Barrens (Kenduskeag Stream)

Location: Kenduskeag Stream Trail (near Franklin Street)

The “Barrens” in It—the tangled wilderness where the Losers Club builds their dam and fights the rock war—is real. The Kenduskeag Stream cuts right through the heart of Bangor.

The Vibe: Walking the trail, especially where the vegetation gets thick near the I-95 overpass, feels uncannily like the book.
The Canal: Downtown, the stream flows through concrete canals. These are the canals where Ben Hanscom sees the mummy on the ice in It.

Mount Hope Cemetery (Pet Sematary)

Location: State Street, Bangor

One of the oldest garden cemeteries in the United States, Mount Hope is beautiful, rolling, and atmospheric.

The Movie Connection: The original 1989 Pet Sematary movie filmed scenes here. Stephen King himself played the minister in the funeral scene shot on these grounds.
The Inspiration: King used to walk here when he worked at the nearby university. The names on the stones and the setting served as deep inspiration.
Gage Creed: While the actual “Pet Sematary” isn’t here, the cemetery is the resting place for the character Gage Creed in the film.

The Paul Bunyan Statue (It)

Location: Main Street (near the Cross Insurance Center)

Bangor claims to be the birthplace of the lumber industry, and this 31-foot fiberglass giant proves it.

The Scare: In It, the statue comes to life and attacks Richie Tozier.
The Photo Op: It’s harmless in real life (we think). It’s the most popular selfie spot in the city.

The Drain (Jackson & Union)

Location: Corner of Jackson and Union Streets

While there are many storm drains in Bangor, the intersection of Jackson and Union is widely cited by local lore (and tour guides) as the inspiration for the drain where Georgie meets Pennywise.

Warning: Do not reach in.

Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium

Location: 13th Street

A field of dreams in the middle of the city. Stephen King donated nearly a million dollars to build this state-of-the-art Little League stadium in the early 90s for the local kids. It’s a testament to his love for the community (and baseball).

Taking a Tour

While you can visit these spots on your own, SK Tours of Maine offers a dedicated, narrated bus tour. They have exclusive stories and know exactly where every fictional event maps to a real-world location. Tours run seasonally and book up quickly during peak season.

Beyond Bangor

King’s Maine extends well beyond Derry/Bangor:

Durham: The Pet Sematary house and road are here, though on private property.
Chester (Castle Rock): The fictional Castle Rock is loosely based on several Maine towns, including this one.
Bridgton: Setting for The Mist, the grocery store (now remodeled) was a real location.
Owls Head: King’s primary residence for many years, offering views that appear in various works.

Practical Tips for Your Tour

Timing: Allow 3-4 hours to visit all the Bangor sites at a comfortable pace.
Best approach: Start at the house on West Broadway, then work your way downtown to the standpipe, Barrens, and Paul Bunyan statue.
Parking: Downtown Bangor has metered parking and a few free lots. The King house area has residential street parking.
Respect: Remember that many locations are private property or working businesses. Take photos from public areas only.
Food and drink: Downtown Bangor has excellent restaurants and breweries. Fiddlehead Restaurant and Geaghan’s Pub are local favorites.

The King Legacy

Stephen King hasn’t just written about Maine—he’s given back to it. Beyond the baseball stadium, he’s funded libraries, scholarships, and community projects throughout Maine. His work has put Bangor on the literary map and brought countless visitors who might never have discovered this corner of Maine.

Walking these streets, you begin to understand why King’s horror works so well. Maine has genuine darkness—harsh winters, isolation, dying mill towns, and the weight of history. King took that authentic backdrop and added monsters. The monsters may be fictional, but the setting is absolutely real.

“The place had a hold on him… It was Derry that was his town, now and forever.” — It