Maine has no shortage of old buildings, historic cemeteries, and stories that have been passed down for generations. Some are easy to explain. Others are harder to account for, and that's where things get interesting.
If you're looking for haunted places in Maine, York is a good place to start. Centuries of history have left the town with a few strange legends of its own, from an unusual grave in the Old Burying Ground to stories surrounding one of America's oldest surviving colonial jails. Venture farther into Maine, and there are plenty more. You don't have to believe in ghosts to enjoy the stories.
Venture out a bit, and there are even more stories to hear. You don't have to believe in ghosts to enjoy the stories.
York Has a Few Ghost Stories of Its Own
One of York's best-known ghost stories starts with a grave.
Mary Nasson died in 1774 at just 29 years old and was buried in the Old Burying Ground. Her grave has a distinctive headstone with a carved image of her face, and a large stone slab over the grave. Over time, a legend developed that Mary was a witch and that the heavy stone was meant to keep her from rising from the grave.
But that version has one problem. Historical research has found no evidence that Mary Nasson was considered a witch during her lifetime. The witch story came later and became part of the folklore surrounding her grave. That distinction matters, and it makes the story even more interesting. There is a real woman, a real grave, a real 18th-century headstone, and a legend that took on a life of its own.
Then there's the Old York Gaol. York's Gaol Hill prison complex dates back to 1656. The existing complex includes a 1719 prison, 1763 cells, a kitchen, guard rooms, and a 1799 Debtors' Prison. The Old Gaol was the primary prison for the Province of Maine and York County during the colonial era.
It also has a reputation for being a little more interesting after dark.
Old York Historical Society hosts After Dark at the Old Gaol in October. The guided tour covers the prison's history and the people who spent time there. Visit Maine also includes the Old Gaol in its list of Halloween haunts. If walking through an old colonial prison with a flashlight sounds like a good October evening, York has you covered.
Old York also has more Halloween events planned for 2026. On October 15 and 22, the “Gone, But Not Forgotten” lamplight tours bring stories of Revolutionary-era York to life in the Old Burying Ground. Later in the month, Jefferds Tavern hosts a Dungeons & Dragons Halloween adventure, followed by trick-or-treating through Old York’s historic buildings and the Lighting of the Pumpkins on October 30.
More Haunted Places in Maine
In nearby Kennebunkport, the Gideon Merrill House has one of the area's more memorable ghost stories. The house dates to the 18th century and later became connected to the Kennebunkport Playhouse. Local lore says two ghosts, known as Ned and Nellie, made themselves known to people who lived in or visited the house.
Local stories describe Nellie in a gray dress with a wide white collar. She has reportedly appeared on stairways, in bedrooms, and even in an attic window. Ned's appearances are a little less friendly. Accounts preserved by the Kennebunkport Historical Society also describe unexplained sounds, doors opening and closing, and the sense that someone else was in the room.
Farther up the coast, Fort Knox in Prospect has a paranormal reputation of its own. The Civil War-era fort has more than 150 years of history behind its stone walls, and some of the stories connected to the place are a little harder to explain. Fort Knox hosts after-hours ghost investigations with the 207 Paranormal Ghost Trackers, who use night vision, motion detectors, and sound recording equipment as they search the fort for evidence of paranormal activity. Ghosts of Fort Knox Guided Tours run on select Saturday nights from spring through October, so check the schedule before you plan a visit.
One Stop for Stephen King Fans
And if we're talking about haunted places in Maine, we have to give Stephen King a nod. His connection to Maine horror is hard to miss. King lived in Bangor for decades, and the city became the inspiration for Derry, the fictional Maine town that appears throughout his work. Fans can visit Bangor locations associated with his books and films, from the storm drain linked to the opening of It to Mount Hope Cemetery, which appeared in the 1989 adaptation of Pet Sematary. His former home on West Broadway has become another Bangor landmark, complete with an iron gate decorated with bats and spiders.
Bangor isn't haunted because Stephen King wrote about it. That's not quite how this works. But it certainly doesn't hurt the city's spooky reputation.
Stay in York for a Haunted Maine Getaway
If ghost stories, old buildings, and Halloween events are part of your ideal fall getaway, York makes a convenient place to stay.
Anchorage Inn is in York Beach, close to the historic sites, restaurants, and October events that make this part of Maine interesting after summer has passed. Between ghost tours and historic sites, there’s still plenty of fall scenery around York to explore, too. You can spend the day exploring the historic side of York Village, take an evening tour of the Old Gaol, or make a short trip to another southern Maine town with a story of its own.
Whether you leave believing the legends or simply enjoying the stories, York has plenty to offer once the sun goes down.
Book your stay at Anchorage Inn and come see what York has to say after dark.
