stephen king tour

10 Spots Every Stephen King Fan Must Go in Bangor, Maine

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If you’re a big Stephen King fan, you may already know that Maine serves as a source of much inspiration and setting for the king of horror himself. In fact, Stephen King actually spends much of his time at his home in Maine and was born and grew up in Maine. King describes in this beautiful and harrowing essay why Bangor, of all places, was chosen as home. This makes Maine the perfect spot for a self-guided Stephen King tour of all the places that gave him inspiration for his nightmare-inducing novels and the movies that branched off from them, the places where several films were shot, and possibly even where you can see and meet Stephen King himself if you’re lucky.

If you’re read several of Stephen King’s novels , you may realize that he utilizes the fictional town of Derry quite often in his books. The fictional town of Derry is based on King’s very own home of Bangor, Maine and, for this reason, many King fans visit Bangor every year to see pages come to life. There are plenty of places for King fans to see what exactly makes Stephen King tick.

Stephen King Tour

If you find yourself in Maine, Bangor is well worth the trip (even not as a King fan) and I’ve put together a self-guided Stephen King tour to Bangor.

Stephen King Tour Map

Stephen King’s Home

Address: 47 west broadway,  bangor.

You may be surprised to learn this, but you can walk right up to Stephen King’s home in Bangor, Maine. The address is public knowledge and it is pretty common knowledge that King himself is known to come out and talk to fans frequently. I take that as a sign that he doesn’t seem to mind us commoners.

His house is exactly what I would picture Stephen King’s home looking like. It’s a blood-red Victorian home surrounded by a black iron fence adorned with gargoyles and bats.

Pet Sematary Filming Locations

Mount hope cemetery, address: 1048 state st.

Ever watched Pet Sematary? Then you’ve set your eyes on Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine. If you’ll remember, Stephen King himself appeared in the original Pet Sematary. He plays the minister at the cemetery presiding over the funeral of Gage.

Even if one weren’t a King fan, Mount Hope Cemetery is definitely worth a visit. It’s one of the nation’s oldest garden cemeteries and is almost 200 years old.

Carrie Inspiration

Inside of Mount Hope Cemetery, you’ll also find a gravestone with the name Carrie on it. It is rumored that this was the inspiration behind the character, and of course, novel Carrie . I don’t know if this has ever been proven true by King himself, but cool nonetheless.

IT Filming Locations & Inspiration

Thomas hill standpipe, address: 41 thomas hill rd.

The Thomas Hill Standpipe is walking distance from Stephen King’s own home. It served as the inspiration in King’s novel It as the haunted and dangerous water tower. There’s a small park located where the Thomas Hill Standpipe is located and it is rumored that King wrote a lot of the book while seated on the park bench here.

The Standpipe dates back to 1897 and is honestly one of the coolest looking water towers I’ve ever seen.

Paul Bunyan Statue

Address: 519 main st.

Remember when this giant Paul Bunyan statue came to life in It and attacked Richie? This also happened in the new It: Chapter Two (2019) movie. The statue is also mentioned in King’s novel Insomnia .

Sewer Drain at Union and Jackson Street

Did you ever find yourself avoid walking around sewers and any other openings in the ground in fear of Pennywise grabbing you? Just me then? I’ve finally gotten over that weird habit for the most part. So much so that I even visited the sewer drain in which Pennywise lured Georgie in the movie It .

Want to visit it too? Just head to the corner of Union and Jackson Street in Bangor. This very specific sewer drain is said to have inspired King’s imagination even though it really doesn’t look any different than any other.

Interested in a more specialized tour of Bangor dedicated to Stephen King fans? Check out SK tours !

Stephen King Bookstore – Gerald Winters & Son

Address: 48 main street, geraldwinters.com.

In 2008, Gerald Winters opened up a bookstore dedicated to Stephen King novels and King memorabilia. It was the best place to find limited editions, one-of-a-kind items such as manuscripts and screenplays, t-shirts, and other memorabilia.

It was the little surprises along that way while exploring Bangor – the odes to Stephen King – that made me realize how loved by the locals he must be.

Union and Second Street

Head to the corner of Union and Second Street to find a mural of what I assume are important figures to Bangor and you’ll find none other than Stephen King amongst them.

Stephen King and Molly (aka the thing of evil) Bench

Strolling in downtown Bangor, I noticed lots of little bits of public art, but this bench definitely caught my eye. And, yes, that’s King’s dog – Molly, aka The Thing of Evil.

Stephen King Tour Overview

Any Stephen King fan will surely find Bangor magical and a perfect spot to visit as a lover of his books and movies. I hope this self-guided Stephen King tour leads you on a haunting and nostalgic journey through Bangor.

PLANNING A TRIP?

Find accommodation , read accommodation reviews , and check flight prices. Book attractions, tickets, or guides in advance. Research using these guides or read my other Stephen King posts. See my packing list .

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Ashley Hubbard

Ashley Hubbard is a writer, photographer, and blogger based in Nashville, Tennessee. When she's not searching out the strange and unusual things in life, she's searching out vegan food and is passionate about sustainability, animal rights, and social justice.

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I have read some Stephen King but I’m definitely not an expert. I actually had no idea he was from Maine, or that he drew so much inspiration from his local surroundings. However that might be a subconscious thing for all authors! I have to say though that his house (gate in particular) is SO extra and I would have expected nothing less 😛

I’m a huge Stephen King fan and definitely want to take this tour!! I am so enamored of him as a writer and all the other members of his family. I’d like to just stand outside his house and breathe the same air they breathe, hoping some of their creativity would run off on me. Well, actually, I’d like to go inside the house and watch him write, but I’ll settle for the tour. Less creepy. 😉

I’ve read a lot of Stephen King novels in the last decade, including “Pet Sematary,” so I would love to do this tour. I had forgotten that so many spots are in Maine! Pretty cool that you can walk right up to his house, though. Did he come out when you were there?

I can already imagine myself there. Such a cool place.

I actually love the good side of this article, this was a very motivational post.

Diane Weyant

Hi, We will be visitng on Saturday Nov. 14th and Sunday Nov 15th.

Is there a guided Stephen King tour on Saturday November 14th? It seems SK tours does not offer a tour on Saturday or Sunday.

Thank you. Diane Weyant

SK doesnt live in that house any longer. The new owners dont mind visitors as long as you stay on the sidewalk!

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Release Date: May 21st, 2024

From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER. “You like it darker? Fine, so do I,”  writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in  You Like It Darker , readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again. “Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to  Cujo , a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful. King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

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