Down East, also known as Downeast Maine, represents the rugged and picturesque easternmost coastal area of the state, primarily spanning Hancock and Washington Counties along the border with Canada. This region is celebrated for its maritime heritage, remote wilderness, and ties to early Acadian history, making it a haven for those seeking unspoiled natural beauty and a slower pace of life away from more developed parts of New England. Its name originates from sailing terminology, where ships traveled "downwind" eastward, and today it evokes images of fishing villages, dramatic tides, and a burgeoning creative economy amid ongoing gentrification.
The Down East area includes several distinct sub-regions that
highlight its coastal and inland diversity:
Hancock County: A
rural coastal zone featuring islands, bays, and access to major
attractions like Mount Desert Island.
Washington County: The
easternmost county, known for its blueberry fields, remote communities,
and proximity to the Canadian border.
Mount Desert Island: A
prominent island hosting Bar Harbor and much of Acadia National Park,
connected to the mainland by a bridge and renowned for its granite peaks
and forested trails.Additional highlights include Moose Island (home to
Eastport), Deer Isle (famous for its artistic communities and lobster
fisheries), and Cobscook Shores, offering over 14 miles of pristine
shoreline for outdoor exploration.
Down East boasts a collection of charming coastal towns and villages
that draw visitors with their historic charm, working waterfronts, and
access to nature. Some of the primary tourist hotspots include:
Bar Harbor:
A vibrant gateway town on Mount Desert Island, bustling with shops,
restaurants, and as the main entry point to Acadia National Park; it's
situated along Frenchman’s Bay and offers stunning harbor views.
Blue
Hill: A quaint artistic enclave known for its galleries, bookstores, and
scenic peninsula views.
Bucksport:
Features a lively downtown and working waterfront; it was voted USA
Today’s top seaside small town in 2021 for its blend of history and
modern amenities.
Castine: A historic village with colonial
architecture, home to Maine Maritime Academy and overlooking Penobscot
Bay.
Calais: Positioned along the St. Croix River, serving as a
border town with bridges to New Brunswick, Canada, and rich in
cross-border culture.
Cooper: A small, rural community emphasizing
quiet countryside living.
Eastport: The easternmost city in the U.S.,
located on Moose Island with views across to Canada; it's ideal for
whale watching and has a strong arts scene.
Ellsworth: A picturesque hub along the Union
River, about 30 minutes from Bar Harbor, acting as a convenient base for
exploring the region with its shops and eateries.
Frenchboro: A
serene island village on Long Island, accessible by ferry, known for its
lobster co-op and hiking trails.
Hancock: Offers a mix
of coastal and inland experiences near Taunton Bay.
Jonesport: A
fishing town with a focus on lobstering and boat-building traditions.
Lubec: The easternmost town in the continental U.S., featuring West
Quoddy Head Light—the first spot in America to see the sunrise—and
trails along bold coastlines.
Machias: Nestled in the blueberry belt,
famous for its annual Wild Blueberry Festival and revolutionary history
as the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution.
Mount Desert: Encompasses parts of Acadia and offers upscale retreats.
Orland: A gateway town with river access and proximity to Bucksport.
Penobscot: Known for its Native American heritage and scenic river
valley.
Southwest Harbor: A quieter alternative to Bar Harbor on
Mount Desert Island, with yachting facilities and access to park trails.
Tremont: Features Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and peaceful coastal
vibes.
Winter Harbor: A fishing community along the Schoodic
Peninsula, reachable via the scenic byway, with lobster pounds and art
galleries.
Other notable spots not in the original list but worth
mentioning for completeness include Grand Lake Stream (a hub for fishing
guides), Milbridge (in wild blueberry country), and Stonington (Maine's
largest lobster port).
Beyond the towns, Down East shines with natural wonders. A standout
is
Acadia
National Park, the first national park established east of the Mississippi
River in 1916. It draws crowds during peak summer months but rewards
visitors year-round with breathtaking coastal scenery, granite mountains
like Cadillac (the tallest on the East Coast), diverse hiking trails,
carriage roads for biking, and crystal-clear lakes. Located roughly 30
minutes south of Ellsworth via Route 3 on Mount Desert Island near Bar
Harbor, it encompasses ocean vistas, forests, and inland gems, making it
one of Maine's most iconic spots for outdoor enthusiasts.
Additional
must-see sites include West Quoddy Head State Park for its candy-striped
lighthouse, Roosevelt Campobello International Park (FDR's summer
retreat, requiring a passport for the Canadian side), Machias Seal
Island for puffin colonies, and the Schoodic National Scenic Byway for
dramatic rockbound drives.
Accessing Down East typically involves flying into Bangor International Airport (about 40-60 minutes from Ellsworth or Bar Harbor) or the smaller Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport for regional flights. Driving is common via U.S. Route 1 from southern Maine, offering scenic coastal views, or from Canada across bridges in Calais or Lubec. Amtrak's Downeaster train serves up to Brunswick, requiring a car rental or bus transfer for the final leg. Ferries connect to islands like Deer Isle or Frenchboro.
Navigating the region is best by car to reach remote areas, with Route 1 and side roads like Route 3 providing access. Renting a bike is ideal for Acadia's carriage roads. Boats or ferries are essential for island-hopping or tours, and guided services—such as Registered Maine Guides in Grand Lake Stream—help with off-the-beaten-path adventures. Download a regional map for planning, as cell service can be spotty in rural zones.
Immerse yourself in the area's natural spectacles, from the world's highest tides (up to 25 feet in places like Cobscook Bay) to historic lighthouses and preserved heritage sites in the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area. Key sights include Cadillac Mountain for sunrise views, the bold coast trails in Lubec, and cultural spots like blueberry barrens in Machias.
Venture out on a boat tour to spot whales, seals, or puffins around Machias Seal Island, or embark on a fishing excursion for Atlantic salmon or striped bass in the region's rivers and bays. Hiking in Acadia offers over 120 miles of trails, while kayaking, birdwatching, and hunting (with guides) provide thrills. Attend seasonal events like the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in August for music, crafts, and berry-picking. In winter, try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in less-crowded parks.
Savor fresh seafood like lobster rolls and clams from local pounds, alongside Down East's signature wild blueberries—try them in pies, jams, or at festivals. Towns like Bar Harbor and Ellsworth feature farm-to-table restaurants, while Milbridge's blueberry processors offer tours and tastings. Don't miss traditional Maine fare such as chowder or whoopie pies.
Enjoy craft beers from microbreweries in Bar Harbor or Ellsworth, or sip local wines and ciders infused with blueberries. Coastal pubs offer relaxed atmospheres with ocean views, and non-alcoholic options include fresh-pressed juices from regional farms.
Exercise caution on winding coastal roads, especially in fog or rain. Watch for tides when beachcombing to avoid being stranded, and use insect repellent against blackflies in summer. In remote areas, carry a map and inform someone of your plans. Wildlife encounters (like moose) require distance, and always check weather for outdoor activities. Border crossings to Canada need valid ID or passports.
Introduction to Downeast Maine and Acadia
Downeast Maine, often
stylized as "Down East," encompasses the easternmost coastal regions of
the state, primarily Hancock and Washington counties, stretching from
roughly the Penobscot River to the U.S.-Canada border. This area,
including towns like Bar Harbor, Machias, Jonesport, Eastport, and Mount
Desert Island, is characterized by its rugged coastline, dense forests,
and maritime culture, deriving its name from 19th-century sailing
terminology where ships from western ports like Boston traveled
"downwind" eastward. The term culturally aligns with the historical
French territory of Acadia, evoking a sense of remote, working-class
coastal life with a distinctive accent—marked by dropped "r"s, turning
"Bar Harbor" into "Bah Ha-bah." Acadia National Park, nestled within
this region on Mount Desert Island and extending to parts of the
Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut, spans over 47,000 acres of
protected land featuring granite peaks, woodlands, lakes, and ocean
shores. Established as the first national park east of the Mississippi
River, it represents a pinnacle of conservation born from private
philanthropy, blending natural splendor with a layered human history.
Indigenous History: The Wabanaki Legacy
Human habitation in
Downeast Maine dates back over 12,000 years, with the Wabanaki
Confederacy—comprising Algonquian-speaking nations such as the
Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Abenaki—considering the
region, including Mount Desert Island (known as Pemetic, or "the sloping
land"), as ancestral homeland. Archaeological evidence, including shell
heaps (middens) from over 5,000 years ago, reveals seasonal encampments
where people hunted game, fished salmon and seals, gathered berries and
clams, and crafted birchbark canoes and bark-covered shelters. They
wintered along the coast to escape harsh inland conditions and summered
inland, with some groups possibly specializing in coastal or inland
lifestyles. In the early 17th century, chieftain Asticou led the Mount
Desert Island district under the Mawooshen confederacy, with Castine
(Pentagoet) serving as a key gathering point. Fur trading with Europeans
began around 1615, but devastating diseases like smallpox, cholera, and
influenza, combined with warfare, decimated populations to about 10% by
the 1620s. The American Revolution split Wabanaki lands across borders,
and the confederacy formally dissolved around 1870 under government
pressure, though cultural ties persisted. In the 19th century, Wabanaki
people sold ash and birch bark baskets to tourists, performed dances,
and guided canoe trips in areas like Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay. Land
claims were settled in 1980 and 1991, and today, tribes maintain
reservations, participate in festivals like the Bar Harbor Native
American Festival (started 1989), and harvest sweetgrass in the park.
European Exploration and Early Conflicts
European contact
intensified in the 16th century, with Italian explorer Giovanni da
Verrazzano sailing along the coast in 1524 under the French crown,
followed by Portuguese Estêvão Gomes in 1525 for Spain and Jean Alfonse
in 1542, who noted fur trade opportunities in Penobscot Bay. In 1580,
Portuguese navigator Simon Ferdinando guided an English expedition. The
pivotal moment came in 1604 when French explorer Samuel de Champlain,
guided by two Wabanaki, landed on Mount Desert Island on September 5,
describing its bare, rocky summits and naming it "Isles des Monts
Déserts" (Island of Barren Mountains). In 1613, French Jesuits founded
the first French mission in America on the island, building a fort,
planting corn, and baptizing locals, but it was razed by English Captain
Samuel Argall from Virginia, marking the onset of French and Indian
Wars. The island served as a navigational landmark for 150 years amid
French-British contests. In 1688, Antoine Laumet (Sieur de la Mothe
Cadillac) received a 100,000-acre grant including the island from Louis
XIV, residing briefly before abandoning it; the land was ceded to
England in 1713. Overlapping French and British claims led to conflicts,
such as in Castine.
Colonial Settlement and the Revolutionary Era
After the British victory at Quebec in 1759 ended French control in
Acadia, the region opened to English settlers. In 1760, Massachusetts
Governor Francis Bernard secured a royal grant for Mount Desert Island
and offered free land, attracting families like Abraham Somes and James
Richardson, who founded Somesville in 1761. Post-Revolutionary War, the
western half was granted to Bernard's son John, and the eastern to
Cadillac's granddaughter Marie Therese de Gregoire, who sold to
nonresident landlords. Downeast remained one of Maine's last settled
areas due to its harsh climate and remoteness; early British colonists
aimed for farming but pivoted to fishing for survival. By 1820,
occupations included farming (wheat, rye, corn, potatoes), lumbering,
fishing, and shipbuilding. The American Revolution featured the first
naval battle in Machias in 1775, where locals captured the British sloop
Margaretta. After the War of 1812, Eastport stayed under British
occupation until 1818, the last U.S. territory returned.
19th
Century Economic and Cultural Shifts
By 1850, maritime industries
dominated, with fish racks, shipyards, and sea-linked trades supplanting
agriculture. Herring and anchovies built fortunes in Eastport and Lubec,
granite quarries in Stonington supplied national construction, and
Princeton hosted the world's largest leather tannery. Artists from the
Hudson River School, such as Thomas Cole and Frederic Church, painted
the island's scenery in the mid-1800s, drawing "rusticators"—urban
visitors seeking rustic escapes who boarded with locals in simple
accommodations. Steamboat service from Boston began in 1868, and by
1880, 30 hotels operated, elevating tourism as the primary economy. The
1880s-1890s "Gilded Age" saw wealthy families like the Rockefellers,
Morgans, Fords, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Astors construct lavish
"cottages," shifting from rustic to opulent summers, aided by developers
like Charles T. How. This era waned with the Great Depression and World
War II.
Establishment and Development of Acadia National Park
Conservation efforts ramped up in the early 20th century amid threats
from development and sawmills. Landscape architect Charles Eliot
proposed preservation, and in 1901, George B. Dorr ("Father of Acadia"),
Charles W. Eliot, and others formed the Hancock County Trustees of
Public Reservations, acquiring 6,000 acres by 1913. Donated to the
federal government, President Woodrow Wilson created Sieur de Monts
National Monument on July 8, 1916—the first from private lands. It
became Lafayette National Park in 1919 (named for Marquis de Lafayette)
and Acadia National Park in 1929 to reflect broader expansion, including
the Schoodic Peninsula donation. John D. Rockefeller Jr. financed 57
miles of carriage roads (45 maintained today) from 1915-1940, with
Beatrix Farrand designing plantings. Trails, begun by civic groups
pre-1916, define the park's network. Arthur Stupka served as the first
NPS naturalist in 1932.
20th Century Challenges and Modern Era
Downeast remained Maine's least developed region through the 20th
century due to its isolation. A devastating fire on October 17, 1947,
scorched over 10,000 park acres (plus 7,000 outside), destroying 67
cottages on Millionaires' Row, 170 homes, and five hotels; it was
battled by multiple agencies and locals. Regrowth fostered deciduous
forests, boosting autumn colors and biodiversity. The park's boundary
was legislated in 1986. Fishing persists as a core economy, alongside
emerging creative industries and gentrification in areas like Greater
Portland. The Downeast Maine National Heritage Area, established in
2022, preserves historic sites in Hancock and Washington counties,
highlighting the area's role as America's northern Atlantic frontier and
ties to Canada. Today, Acadia attracts millions for hiking, boating, and
wildlife viewing, while Downeast emphasizes sustainable tourism, outdoor
recreation, and resource-based industries like forestry and lobster
fishing, embodying a resilient blend of history and nature.
Downeast Maine, often stylized as "Down East" or "Downeast," refers
to the easternmost coastal region of the U.S. state of Maine, extending
from Penobscot Bay in the west to the Canadian border in the east. This
area primarily encompasses Hancock and Washington Counties, covering a
vast expanse of rugged coastline, islands, and inland wilderness. The
term "Downeast" originates from 19th-century sailing terminology, where
ships traveling from Boston to Maine would sail downwind and eastward,
giving the region its nautical flavor. Geographically, it spans
approximately 3,500 square miles, characterized by a deeply indented
shoreline, dense forests, numerous bays, and a mix of marine and
terrestrial ecosystems that support industries like lobster fishing,
blueberry farming, and ecotourism.
Topography and Landforms
The topography of Downeast Maine is dominated by a glacially sculpted
landscape, shaped by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the last Ice Age,
which ended about 12,000 years ago. This resulted in a jagged coastline
with steep cliffs, rocky headlands, and thousands of islands and islets
scattered offshore. Inland, the terrain transitions to rolling hills,
low mountains, and extensive peat bogs, with elevations rarely exceeding
1,000 feet. Key features include:
Coastal Peninsulas and Bays:
Prominent peninsulas like Schoodic and Quoddy Head jut into the
Atlantic, framing large bays such as Frenchman Bay, Cobscook Bay, and
Machias Bay. These bays are influenced by some of the highest tidal
ranges in the world, up to 25 feet in the Bay of Fundy adjacent to the
region, leading to dynamic intertidal zones rich in marine life.
Islands: Over 2,000 islands dot the coast, including larger ones like
Mount Desert Island (home to Acadia National Park) and smaller,
uninhabited rocky outcrops. These islands feature granite bedrock,
spruce-fir forests, and exposed ledges.
Inland Features: Moving away
from the coast, the landscape includes vast tracts of boreal forest,
interspersed with lakes and rivers. Notable bodies of water include
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge's wetlands and the St. Croix River,
which forms part of the U.S.-Canada border. The region is part of the
Appalachian Plateau, with subtle ridges and valleys carved by glacial
erosion.
Hydrology and Climate
Downeast Maine's hydrology is
intricate, with a network of rivers, streams, and lakes feeding into the
Atlantic. Major rivers include the Narraguagus, Machias, and Dennys,
which originate in the forested interior and empty into tidal estuaries.
Lakes such as Grand Lake and Sysladobsis Lake are glacially formed
depressions, often surrounded by blueberry barrens—vast, open fields of
lowbush blueberries that turn vibrant red in autumn.
The climate is
maritime temperate, moderated by the Gulf of Maine, with cool summers
(averaging 60-70°F) and cold, snowy winters (20-30°F). Fog is frequent
due to the cold Labrador Current meeting warmer air, creating a misty
atmosphere that enhances the region's mystique. Annual precipitation is
around 45-50 inches, supporting lush vegetation but also leading to
erosion along the unstable coastlines.
Ecosystems and Unique
Features
Ecologically, Downeast sits at the transition between
northern boreal and eastern deciduous forests, featuring a mix of
spruce, fir, birch, and maple trees. Coastal areas host salt marshes,
eelgrass beds, and rocky shores teeming with seabirds, seals, and
invertebrates. Inland, moose, black bears, and bald eagles thrive in the
wilderness. The region's isolation has preserved large swaths of
undeveloped land, making it a hotspot for conservation, with areas like
the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land offering pristine hiking amid
heath barrens and peatlands.
Acadia National Park, established in 1919 as the first national park
east of the Mississippi River, is nestled within the heart of Downeast
Maine, primarily on Mount Desert Island, with additional sections on the
Schoodic Peninsula and smaller islands like Isle au Haut. Covering about
49,000 acres, it represents a microcosm of Downeast's geography,
blending dramatic coastal scenery with mountainous interiors. The park's
location on the Gulf of Maine places it in a biogeographic transition
zone, influencing its diverse landscapes.
Topography and
Geological Formations
Acadia's terrain is a testament to ancient
geological processes and recent glaciation. The park's bedrock consists
of granites and metamorphic rocks formed 400-500 million years ago
during the Acadian Orogeny, a mountain-building event. The Cadillac
Mountain Granite, one of the oldest intrusions at ~420 million years,
forms the park's highest point: Cadillac Mountain at 1,530 feet, the
tallest peak on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Glaciers from the Wisconsinan
stage (ending ~15,000 years ago) carved U-shaped valleys, fjards
(shallow fjords like Somes Sound—the only fjord on the East Coast), and
rounded summits known as "balds."
Key landforms include:
Mountains and Ridges: A chain of 26 mountains, including Champlain,
Pemetic, and Sargent, with steep eastern slopes dropping to the sea and
gentler western sides.
Coastline: 64 miles of shoreline featuring
pink granite cliffs, cobble beaches (like Thunder Hole, where waves
crash dramatically), and sea caves eroded by surf.
Valleys and
Basins: Glacial erratics (boulders like Bubble Rock) and moraines dot
the landscape, while valleys hold freshwater ponds and wetlands.
Hydrology and Climate
Acadia boasts over 20 lakes and ponds, such as
Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake, formed in glacial basins and connected by
streams. The park's watersheds drain into the Atlantic, with tidal
influences creating rich intertidal habitats. Climate mirrors
Downeast's: foggy, with mild summers and harsh winters, but
microclimates vary—summits are cooler and windier, while sheltered coves
are warmer. Annual rainfall is about 55 inches, fostering diverse
vegetation.
Ecosystems and Unique Features
As a convergence of
boreal and deciduous forests, Acadia supports spruce-fir stands on
higher elevations and oak-maple groves lower down, alongside heathlands
and subalpine zones. Wetlands, including bogs and marshes, host
carnivorous plants like pitcher plants. The park's biodiversity includes
over 1,000 plant species, migratory birds, and marine mammals. Unique
geological sites include the Anvil (a balanced rock) and sea stacks
along the Ocean Path.
Downeast Maine refers to the eastern coastal region of the state,
roughly from Ellsworth eastward through Hancock and Washington Counties,
characterized by its remote fishing villages, foggy harbors, and wild
landscapes. Acadia, centered on Mount Desert Island, includes Acadia
National Park—a jewel of granite peaks, carriage roads, and shorelines
established in the early 20th century through efforts like those of
George Dorr. This area's history of indigenous Wabanaki presence,
colonial settlements, shipwrecks, and Gilded Age estates has spawned a
tapestry of haunted legends rooted in tragedy, curses, and unexplained
phenomena. Many abandoned places, from crumbling mansions to forgotten
trails, amplify the eerie atmosphere, often blending with ghostly tales.
Below, I delve into prominent haunted legends and abandoned sites,
drawing from historical accounts and reported experiences.
Haunted Legends
The folklore of Downeast and Acadia is steeped in
spectral encounters, often tied to the region's harsh maritime life,
untimely deaths, and natural isolation. These stories span centuries,
with witnesses reporting apparitions, strange sounds, and cursed
artifacts.
The Ghost of George Dorr (The Father of Acadia)
George Dorr, dubbed the "Father of Acadia," dedicated his life to
creating the national park in the early 1900s, collaborating with
figures like John D. Rockefeller to acquire lands and build trails. He
resided at his family estate, Old Farm—a lavish 30-room mansion near
Compass Harbor in Bar Harbor. Dorr passed away at age 91 while hiking
the Compass Harbor Nature Trail, and without heirs, the mansion was
destroyed. His spirit is said to linger on the trail, sometimes
accompanied by his caretaker's ghost. Hikers report seeing an elderly
man in period attire wandering the path, evoking a sense of guardianship
over the land he loved. This legend underscores the park's origins,
blending benevolence with eternal unrest.
Prospect Harbor
Lighthouse Hauntings
Located in the northern reaches of Acadia
National Park in Downeast Maine's Prospect Harbor—a fishing village
dating back to the 1800s—this lighthouse was first built of granite in
1850 and rebuilt in wood in 1891. Now restricted to the public and often
enveloped in thick fog, it's reputed for paranormal activity. A statue
of a sea captain mysteriously shifts positions, facing the stairs or the
ocean. Guests at the adjacent Gull Cottage (used for Navy personnel)
have experienced doors slamming, the scent of pipe tobacco, and shadowy
figures—believed to be former keepers or victims of local shipwrecks.
These hauntings reflect the perilous seafaring history of the area,
where lost souls from foggy disasters are said to seek solace.
Devil's Oven Sea Cave
Hidden along the shoreline of Mount Desert
Island in Acadia National Park, Devil's Oven is a treacherous sea cave
accessible only by kayak at low tide, with no trails or signs marking
its location. Legend portrays it as a portal to the underworld, where
ancient rituals involved burning evil individuals alive, their souls
drawn into the abyss. Modern accounts describe flashing red lights
emanating from the cave at night, daytime echoes of chanting or cries,
and brimstone-scented walls evoking infernal imagery. Its dangers—risk
of drowning from rising tides and lack of safety features—amplify the
forbidden allure, making it a site where the natural and supernatural
converge in peril.
The Haunting of Ledgelawn Inn
In Bar Harbor
on Mount Desert Street, the shingle-style Ledgelawn (originally Ledge
Lawn) was built around 1900 by architect Fred Savage for Samuel and
Fanny Schermerhorn Bridgham, a childless couple known for their
hospitality. After passing through owners like the Shannons and McCaggs,
it became an inn before serving as employee housing. The central ghost
is Mary Margaret, a young woman who, jilted by her fiancé, donned her
wedding dress and hanged herself from a third-floor beam using her veil.
Her family discovered her disfigured body, face twisted in a grotesque
smile. Her apparition—a dark-haired woman in white, often partially
invisible—floats through Room 326 and hallways, swaying veils or making
eye contact with an unnerving grin. Other spirits include Catherine, a
pregnant maid who died falling down backstairs (possibly murdered), and
a drowned boy hiding in cupboards. A 2000 incident involved caretaker
Mike Gallant witnessing lights turning on autonomously and Mary Margaret
gliding toward him, filling the floor with dread. This tale, popularized
in Marcus LiBrizzi's Ghosts of Acadia, highlights themes of social
disgrace and lingering grief in Gilded Age society.
Nelly
Butler's Apparition in Sullivan
In the Downeast town of Sullivan, the
ghost of Eleanor "Nelly" Hooper Butler, who died years earlier with her
infant, began haunting Captain Abner Blaisdell's home in 1799. Phenomena
included shaking beds, slamming doors, flying objects, and a cellar
voice identifying as Nelly. Her full apparition appeared to witnesses,
preaching gospel and conversing; even a judge documented the sightings.
Attempts to exorcise her failed, and her spirit is believed to persist,
marking one of America's earliest recorded poltergeist cases tied to
maternal loss.
Jonathan Buck's Cursed Tomb and Sarah Ware's Ghost
in Bucksport
Bucksport, near the Downeast edge, hosts two intertwined
legends. Colonel Jonathan Buck's granite tombstone bears an indelible
leg-shaped stain, attributed to a witch's curse after he sentenced her
to death—her final words manifesting the mark. Nearby, Silver Lake is
haunted by Sarah Ware, murdered in 1898; her decapitated body was found
in bushes, head stored separately for a century before reunion. Her
unsolved killing leaves her spirit wandering the lake, sometimes under
its waters after a dam submerged her original grave.
General
Camping and Park Hauntings
Across Acadia, campers report wailing
sounds, old men with mossy beards, black cats with glowing red eyes, UFO
sightings, and a ghostly bride who hanged herself. These diffuse legends
evoke the park's wild, ancient aura, possibly linked to indigenous
rituals or lost hikers.
Abandoned Places
Many abandoned sites
in the region carry haunting undertones, remnants of boom-and-bust eras
from tourism to military outposts. These forgotten spots invite
exploration but often pose risks from decay or overgrowth.
Ruins
of George Dorr's Estate (Old Farm)
At Compass Harbor in Acadia, the
skeletal stone foundations and brickwork of Dorr's once-grand mansion
remain after it burned post-1944 due to disrepair. The easy,
less-than-a-mile trail—starting from a parking lot off Rt. 3—winds
through tall trees to the ruins, including a former pool, patio, and
granite steps descending to a private beach with rocky outcroppings.
This site, evoking a fairy-tale decay, ties directly to Dorr's ghost
legend, blending abandonment with spectral presence.
Ghost Trails
and Phantom Paths in Acadia
Acadia boasts over 150 miles of official
trails, but dozens of "ghost trails"—abandoned paths from the late 19th
and early 20th centuries—lie hidden, blocked by brush and omitted from
maps. Built by rusticators and village societies, peaking pre-WWII, many
were neglected during the war or destroyed in the 1947 wildfire.
Examples include routes to Great Hill (a 640-foot peak with vanished
1917 paths) and Anemone Cave (aka Devil's Den or Cave of the Sea), a
tide-pool-filled sea cave popular in the 1870s but closed around 1970
for ecological reasons. Enthusiasts keep these secret for exclusivity,
adding a legendary mystique—hikers describe a thrill of discovery amid
overgrowth, with names like Devil's Den hinting at eerie folklore.
Anemone Cave
Once a star attraction on Mount Desert Island, this
sea cave—filled with anemones and accessible at low tide—was abandoned
decades ago, with signs removed and maps updated to exclude it. Its
closure stemmed from overuse damaging the ecosystem, but legends of its
"Devil's Den" moniker evoke supernatural vibes, tying into broader cave
hauntings like Devil's Oven.
Abandoned Military Forts and Other
Ruins
Downeast Maine features forsaken military sites, such as
colonial outposts and midcentury batteries, marvels of engineering now
overgrown. Examples include forts in Bucksport and Castine, with
crumbling walls whispering of wartime ghosts. Nearby, the Abandoned
House of Eagle Lake in Acadia—a derelict structure by the water—adds to
the roster, though details are sparse. Ghost towns, ruined mills, and
crash sites dot the landscape, as explored in regional guides.
These
legends and sites weave a narrative of Maine's resilient yet shadowed
past, where nature reclaims human endeavors and the veil between worlds
thins. Visitors are advised to respect park rules, as many areas are
hazardous or protected.