Long-lost places can always give off an eerie vibe. Deep in forgotten forests, nature seems to consume and reclaim what once was. Abandoned places can be shrouded in mystery. These are the things that draw us to them and the things that keep us coming back for more. It may be the history or the allure of these dark locations but one thing is for sure. The abandoned Fort Baldwin in Maine is a must-see for anyone visiting Popham.

Most people in Maine have heard of Popham; it is a widely popular beach and fort area that is fun for the whole family. While everyone is soaking up the sun with their feet in the sand or exploring the old coastal fort at Popham State Park most of them don't know that is looming in the forest nearby. Right across the water from the old Fort Popham is an area where hidden away is another fort, sitting long forgotten in the woods.
Curtesy of Sarah Dodge
Fort Baldwin was used during World War I and World War II in an effort for coastal defense. Although the defense of our Maine coast was thankfully never needed, this now disarmed fort sits as a testament that most of the world was at war during the early part of the 20th century.
Grass has grown up around the structures, and trees now tower around the abandoned fort.
Management/ Tripadvisor
It seems almost out of place in the middle of a forest. The stillness and quiet that can be found there is almost eerie. Take a walk up and down the stairs and visit the vacant rooms.
Four structures can be found along a linear path leading to each one.
Curtesy of Sarah Dodge
Every building has several rooms to explore and we suggest bringing a flashlight because it will be pitch black in some of the inner rooms.

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Unlike other abandoned places, there is not much graffiti in the fort.
Curtesy of Sarah Dodge
The level of preservation in these structures is almost unreal. The brick looks perfectly preserved as well as a few other features of the fort.
Exploring the woods around the fort is a great option while you are there too.
Curtesy of Sarah Dodge
They are a little bit more hidden but if you look around you can find the massive concrete slabs that once held huge mounted guns. The cannons are no longer there of course, but the rails are, and you can imagine how big the guns really were.
One of the coolest structures is the tower.
Curtesy of Sarah Dodge
Soaring high above all of the other buildings and just left in the middle of the woods sits the observatory tower. This was used to call out the location the cannons would be shooting. Now this abandoned building sits unable to clearly see over the trees that have grown around it. The door is locked now but in times past you could even climb the stairs to the top of the tower.

Fort Baldwin is lost to the forest and to history. Many people do not know this abandoned fort in Maine exists. If you go enjoy the incredibly well-preserved structures and make sure to be respectful so many others can enjoy them for years to come. If you want a closer look at these amazing structures then check out this Adventuring in the Moment video. 

If you want to explore more creepy and abandoned places in Maine then check out this hike to a crashed plane!

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More to Explore

Fort Baldwin

Chris Dodge | February 09, 2023

What are the best abandoned places to see in Maine?

Some of the best abandoned places in Maine are:

  • Fort Georges in Portland, which is a fort on an island and you can only get to this old fort by boat.
  • Loring Air Force Base in Limestone 
  • The Old Moulton’s Mill in Newfield 

For our top four favorite abandoned places check out:

 

What are the best creepy stories in Maine?

For creepy stories in Maine check out our top picks:

 

This article includes stories about lake monsters, a witch's curse, haunted places, and much more. 

What makes Maine so scary?

Here are just some of the many reasons Maine is a scary place:

  • It gets dark early in the winter
  • There are lots of remote places
  • A long history gives room for a lot of dark things in the past
  • Lots of ghost stories
  • The silence places deep within the woods
  • Steven King lives in Maine

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Fort Baldwin, ME 04562, USA