We tell you a lot about how wonderful Maine is, but every now and then we like to even things out a bit. Maine dark history dates way back and with that history comes stories. These stories have been passed down from generation to generation and become more spooky along the way. Massachusetts has the witch trials, but here are a few reasons why we think Maine is the scariest state.
- We have haunted lighthouse tales.
stumayhew / Flickr To help stave off the loneliness of his isolated wife, the caretaker of the light in the early 1800s, had a piano shipped to the island to keep her occupied. However, she only knew one song and played it incessantly. Eventually the caretaker could take no more, went a bit insane and destroyed the piano with an axe. Next he killed his wife and, finally, himself. Today, local folks have claimed to have heard the lone song coming from the lighthouse.
- Stephen King has made his home here.
lawrence_evil / Flickr Wrought-iron bat fences and all. There’s got to be something spooky about Maine if it inspires tales as scary as King’s. His Maine home is located in Bangor and comes with all the touches you’d imagine. Spider-webs and bats adorn his front gates. Though his literary Maine towns are fictional, they have the feel of small-town Maine which presumably comes from living in and loving Maine.
- We’ve got abandoned places, which make imagining scary stories easy.
ranax / Flickr Fort Gorges on a grey day will have you wondering what ghosts still make it a home. In addition to feeling quite deserted and isolated, the area is quiet which makes it easy to come up with your own scary stories about its past.
- Some of our small towns seem eerily similar to those mentioned in Stephen King books.
uselessnomore / Flickr King’s towns are fictional, but any King-loving Mainer has tried to guess where he drew his inspiration. Some say that Dexter feels like the small town of Derry. Derry was featured in “It,” “Insomnia,” and “11/22/63,” among others.
- We make the cut to be included in scary films.
lawrence_evil / Flickr Bangor’s Mount Hope Cemetery was used for a scene in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary.”
- We have an under water ghost town.
pfly/ Flickr In 1949, the Central Maine Power Company bought the land and then flooded the Flagstaff Plantation. Folks moved away to nearby Stratton and Eustis, but the buildings and memories were all left behind. Many people have said Flagstaff Lake reminds them of Dark Score Lake featured in Stephen King’s “Bag of Bones.”
- We have the most foggy, eerie roads.
supercell / Flickr In any season, our coast will bring a veil of fog making for some pretty spooky trips.
- In 1976, Mary Catherine Olenchuk’s unsolved murder happened in Maine.
Cindy Cornett Seigle/ Flickr In 1976, Mary Catherine Olenchuk was vacationing with her mother and sisters at their home in Ogunquit. She left on a friend’s bicycle to head into town for a pack of gum and The New York Times. She never returned. What happened?
Here are some theories: After being promoted to Brigadier General, Mary’s father oversaw a program called “Operation CHASE.” The controversial effort included dumping munitions and chemical weapons into the ocean. There had been threats against his family and many people assumed Mary had been kidnapped. When a random call never came, it was clear that something more nefarious had happened.
About two weeks after disappearing, Mary’s body was found in a Kennebunk barn. Despite being decomposed and buried under some hay, it was clear she had been strangled. Her bike was found at a nearby hotel. Sadly, both of Mary’s parents have passed away and there have been no real breaks in the case. It is still open and is one of a few unsolved mysteries being re-examined by Maine police.
- We have roads haunted by crying brides.
jinterwas / Flickr On a wooded road in Millinocket, a newlywed couple traveled on a dark winter night. The story tells us that the groom was drunk and lost control of the car, hitting a telephone pole which killed him. After the young bride crawled from the wreckage and made her way back to the snowy road, she waited for hours for someone to drive by to help her. However, the conditions of the night meant that nobody was traveling and the woman never received help.
It is reported that she has remained in the same place in her wedding gown where she eventually froze to death. Travelers on the road have reported seeing the woman in the white gown on Brownville Road. She can still be seen wandering along the side of the road searching for help that never came. Some even claim to have actually spoken to the woman. In these situations, she tells the driver of her situation but as the vehicle approaches closer the woman suddenly disappears.
- Maine has had reports of alien abductions.
allagashbrewing / Flickr In August of 1976, four men ventured into the Allagash Wilderness for two weeks of camping. As they enjoyed the Northern Maine wilderness one night, they noticed a bright light that seemingly tracked them as they paddled on the water. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.
Until two nights later when it came back. As they watched from their small boat, the bright light shot out and beamed down upon them again. They began paddling back to shore. Rather than arriving back on shore and pulling the boat inland, the next thing they remember is simply being back. The light was gone.
The campfire, set just recently, had completely burned out as if they had been gone for hours. Over the next six days of the trip, the light never reappeared. When they returned, they told friends and family of the strange light and then moved on.
However, in 1988 two of the men began having terrible nightmares. The frightening dreams included images of four men sitting naked on a bench, feeling terrified. They enlisted the help of UFO researcher, Ray Fowler, who hypnotized them and recorded them each telling a tale of being abducted and probed during their 1976 Allagash trip.
Later, they each passed polygraph tests.
- This bug lives here.
kilarin / Flickr It’s a Bold Jumping Spider and it has the ability to jump more than four times its own body length.
- But one lighthouse has an even more deadly (and definitely true) story.
waynesphotos / Flickr In 1710, the Nottingham Galley crashed along the rocks of Boon Island, off the coast of York. Of the 14 men on board, only 10 made it back. Forced to survive for 24 days while stranded on the island, those who were not killed turned to cannibalism to ensure they made it back.
Which of these scares you the most? Do the ghost tales of Maine’s dark history keep you up at night? Do you know of any other Maine ghost or real life scary stories.
stumayhew / Flickr
To help stave off the loneliness of his isolated wife, the caretaker of the light in the early 1800s, had a piano shipped to the island to keep her occupied. However, she only knew one song and played it incessantly. Eventually the caretaker could take no more, went a bit insane and destroyed the piano with an axe. Next he killed his wife and, finally, himself. Today, local folks have claimed to have heard the lone song coming from the lighthouse.
lawrence_evil / Flickr
Wrought-iron bat fences and all. There’s got to be something spooky about Maine if it inspires tales as scary as King’s. His Maine home is located in Bangor and comes with all the touches you’d imagine. Spider-webs and bats adorn his front gates. Though his literary Maine towns are fictional, they have the feel of small-town Maine which presumably comes from living in and loving Maine.
ranax / Flickr
Fort Gorges on a grey day will have you wondering what ghosts still make it a home. In addition to feeling quite deserted and isolated, the area is quiet which makes it easy to come up with your own scary stories about its past.
uselessnomore / Flickr
King’s towns are fictional, but any King-loving Mainer has tried to guess where he drew his inspiration. Some say that Dexter feels like the small town of Derry. Derry was featured in “It,” “Insomnia,” and “11/22/63,” among others.
Bangor’s Mount Hope Cemetery was used for a scene in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary.”
pfly/ Flickr
In 1949, the Central Maine Power Company bought the land and then flooded the Flagstaff Plantation. Folks moved away to nearby Stratton and Eustis, but the buildings and memories were all left behind. Many people have said Flagstaff Lake reminds them of Dark Score Lake featured in Stephen King’s “Bag of Bones.”
supercell / Flickr
In any season, our coast will bring a veil of fog making for some pretty spooky trips.
Cindy Cornett Seigle/ Flickr
In 1976, Mary Catherine Olenchuk was vacationing with her mother and sisters at their home in Ogunquit. She left on a friend’s bicycle to head into town for a pack of gum and The New York Times. She never returned. What happened?
Here are some theories: After being promoted to Brigadier General, Mary’s father oversaw a program called “Operation CHASE.” The controversial effort included dumping munitions and chemical weapons into the ocean. There had been threats against his family and many people assumed Mary had been kidnapped. When a random call never came, it was clear that something more nefarious had happened.
About two weeks after disappearing, Mary’s body was found in a Kennebunk barn. Despite being decomposed and buried under some hay, it was clear she had been strangled. Her bike was found at a nearby hotel. Sadly, both of Mary’s parents have passed away and there have been no real breaks in the case. It is still open and is one of a few unsolved mysteries being re-examined by Maine police.
jinterwas / Flickr
On a wooded road in Millinocket, a newlywed couple traveled on a dark winter night. The story tells us that the groom was drunk and lost control of the car, hitting a telephone pole which killed him. After the young bride crawled from the wreckage and made her way back to the snowy road, she waited for hours for someone to drive by to help her. However, the conditions of the night meant that nobody was traveling and the woman never received help.
It is reported that she has remained in the same place in her wedding gown where she eventually froze to death. Travelers on the road have reported seeing the woman in the white gown on Brownville Road. She can still be seen wandering along the side of the road searching for help that never came. Some even claim to have actually spoken to the woman. In these situations, she tells the driver of her situation but as the vehicle approaches closer the woman suddenly disappears.
allagashbrewing / Flickr
In August of 1976, four men ventured into the Allagash Wilderness for two weeks of camping. As they enjoyed the Northern Maine wilderness one night, they noticed a bright light that seemingly tracked them as they paddled on the water. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.
Until two nights later when it came back. As they watched from their small boat, the bright light shot out and beamed down upon them again. They began paddling back to shore. Rather than arriving back on shore and pulling the boat inland, the next thing they remember is simply being back. The light was gone.
The campfire, set just recently, had completely burned out as if they had been gone for hours. Over the next six days of the trip, the light never reappeared. When they returned, they told friends and family of the strange light and then moved on.
However, in 1988 two of the men began having terrible nightmares. The frightening dreams included images of four men sitting naked on a bench, feeling terrified. They enlisted the help of UFO researcher, Ray Fowler, who hypnotized them and recorded them each telling a tale of being abducted and probed during their 1976 Allagash trip.
Later, they each passed polygraph tests.
kilarin / Flickr
It’s a Bold Jumping Spider and it has the ability to jump more than four times its own body length.
waynesphotos / Flickr
In 1710, the Nottingham Galley crashed along the rocks of Boon Island, off the coast of York. Of the 14 men on board, only 10 made it back. Forced to survive for 24 days while stranded on the island, those who were not killed turned to cannibalism to ensure they made it back.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Maine Dark History July 13, 2022 Chris Dodge What are some other spooky stories of Maines’s dark history? Maine has a dark history with plenty of scary stories to keep you up at night. The long dark hours we find here in Maine give tribute to just how scary our state can be. To dig into the past and uncover some of the horrifying stories of years gone by may require a brave soul up for the task. So here are a few more recommendations if you dare to continue. For any good origin story of horror, one of the best places to start is where someone else ended. These two graveyards in a small town in Maine are filled with scary stories that will make your hair stand on end. Urban myths can be just a story, or they can hold more truth than you know. Check out these 9 urban legends and investigate for yourself to see if they are true. Want to go and visit one of these haunted sites? If you dare to enter just make sure nothing visits you back. These little-known haunted places might want to be avoided. If you want to take it on the road then allow us to suggest this haunted road trip to see the most out of your spooky adventure. If you prefer to take your ghost stories in groups and not be stuck alone with a ghost then this haunted trolly ride might be perfect for you. If the gory side of horror is more of your thing then make sure to dig into more of Maine’s dark history with these unsolved murder stories. Maine certainly has its share of terrifying stories. From murders to the paranormal Maine’s dark history has enough scares in it to give you goosebumps.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Maine Dark History
July 13, 2022
Chris Dodge
What are some other spooky stories of Maines’s dark history? Maine has a dark history with plenty of scary stories to keep you up at night. The long dark hours we find here in Maine give tribute to just how scary our state can be. To dig into the past and uncover some of the horrifying stories of years gone by may require a brave soul up for the task. So here are a few more recommendations if you dare to continue. For any good origin story of horror, one of the best places to start is where someone else ended. These two graveyards in a small town in Maine are filled with scary stories that will make your hair stand on end. Urban myths can be just a story, or they can hold more truth than you know. Check out these 9 urban legends and investigate for yourself to see if they are true. Want to go and visit one of these haunted sites? If you dare to enter just make sure nothing visits you back. These little-known haunted places might want to be avoided. If you want to take it on the road then allow us to suggest this haunted road trip to see the most out of your spooky adventure. If you prefer to take your ghost stories in groups and not be stuck alone with a ghost then this haunted trolly ride might be perfect for you. If the gory side of horror is more of your thing then make sure to dig into more of Maine’s dark history with these unsolved murder stories. Maine certainly has its share of terrifying stories. From murders to the paranormal Maine’s dark history has enough scares in it to give you goosebumps.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Maine has a dark history with plenty of scary stories to keep you up at night. The long dark hours we find here in Maine give tribute to just how scary our state can be. To dig into the past and uncover some of the horrifying stories of years gone by may require a brave soul up for the task. So here are a few more recommendations if you dare to continue. For any good origin story of horror, one of the best places to start is where someone else ended. These two graveyards in a small town in Maine are filled with scary stories that will make your hair stand on end. Urban myths can be just a story, or they can hold more truth than you know. Check out these 9 urban legends and investigate for yourself to see if they are true. Want to go and visit one of these haunted sites? If you dare to enter just make sure nothing visits you back. These little-known haunted places might want to be avoided. If you want to take it on the road then allow us to suggest this haunted road trip to see the most out of your spooky adventure. If you prefer to take your ghost stories in groups and not be stuck alone with a ghost then this haunted trolly ride might be perfect for you. If the gory side of horror is more of your thing then make sure to dig into more of Maine’s dark history with these unsolved murder stories. Maine certainly has its share of terrifying stories. From murders to the paranormal Maine’s dark history has enough scares in it to give you goosebumps.
