Maine Is a Literary Pilgrimage for Fans of Stephen King

Many visit Maine for its natural beauty and seafood, but it is also known as a premier literary destination. For who? For the King of Horror, of course! Stephen King fans travel to this state in droves, seeking out the towns that inspired the stories they so love. 

Why This Destination Is Perfect for Stephen King Fans

It’s rare for an entire state to be synonymous with a specific type of media. There are some that come close, with Washington heavily correlated with the "Twilight" saga and Indiana tied to "Stranger Things." But those are specific works, rather than an author. Stephen King is unique in this, as it’s hard to think of anyone else whose work has put their home state on the map as much as he has for Maine. 

A man who grew up and lived in Maine for most of his life, King used the northeastern state as a setting for a large majority of his works. In fact, some of his most famous pieces have been heavily influenced by specific cities in Maine ("It," "Pet Sematary," "The Mist," etc.), and some iterations of these works have been adapted for film and television and were shot in the state as well. 

But to be clear, much of his work takes place in fictionalized towns in Maine. So, some places have direct influences, and some do not. Most of them are small towns with a distinct New England feel, one that often turns sinister as the novel unfolds. King is, of course, famous for finding the underbelly of these small towns, showcasing different sides of morality and how fear becomes the root of most conflict. 

What You Can See and Experience on this Literary Pilgrimage in Maine

The choices below are concrete places to visit, rather than a vague region that served as inspiration (as, again, there are a few stories King wrote about when an idea struck him, but it’s less a place to visit and more something that happened to him while living in Maine). All of the following are important to Stephen King's literary progression, including his residences and the stimuli for his work. Filming locations for adaptations are not used, as this is about his written work. 

1. Bangor

Bangor was famously the inspiration for Derry from "It." Multiple locations within the real town were reflected in the fictionalized Derry, but true Stephen King fans know there’s more to Bangor than "It."

• The Paul Bunyan Statue: Directly referenced in "It" when Pennywise possesses the Statue to attack Richie. 
• The Storm Drain: At the point where Jackson and Union Street intersect, this drain inspired the spot where Pennywise kidnaps Georgie in "It."
• The Standpipe: Inspired the Derry standpipe in "It," where multiple scenes take place. 
• Kenduskeag Stream: Referred to as The Barrens in "It."
• Mount Hope Cemetery: One of the oldest cemeteries in the United States, it influenced locations in both "Pet Sematary" and "It."
• The Shawn T Mansfield Stadium: A little league field where King coached his son. Later, he wrote about the location in his essay, "Head Down."
• Stephen King’s House: Although King and his family no longer live at this house at 47 West Broadway, where he wrote the majority of his famous works, the house is still a magnet for King fans due to the fact that it still looks the same, with red paint, an ornate iron fence with creepy critters on it, and dramatic architecture. Today, the house is a center for a nonprofit and houses King’s archives. The neighboring house is also used as a writer’s retreat. 

2. Durham

The Runaround Pond was used as inspiration for lake/pond scenes in "The Body" (later turned into the famous movie "Stand by Me"), "The Dead Zone," and "Revival."

3. Veazie

The name of the R.M. Flagg Kitchen Store is used as the inspiration for King’s villain Randall Flagg in "The Dark Tower," "The Stand," and "The Eyes of the Dragon."

4. Orrington

King lived at 664 River Road in Orrington during the 70s, and the graveyard behind the house partially inspired the storyline for "Pet Sematary."

5. Orono

This is where the University of Maine is, the college where King got his degree in English. 

6. Bridgton

Multiple aspects of this town were utilized as the inspiration for the town from "The Mist": the look of the town, the lake bordering the town, the fog, and that supermarket. But King didn’t stop there, with Bridgton also serving as the inspiration for the town in his novel "Under the Dome."

7. U.S. Route 1

This was the route of the walkers in "The Long Walk."

8. Lovell

Stephen King owns a home in Center Lovell on Kezar Lake (not his primary residence), and the area influenced his novel "Bag of Bones."

Looking to walk a mile in Stephen King’s shoes through Bangor? Or perhaps, you’re looking for a road trip that’ll inspire your next novel? Plan your trip to Maine using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner!