As a massive fan who’s voraciously consumed every Stephen King/Richard Bachman novel written to date, our Maine trip became a nostalgic pilgrimage into the very essence of King’s literary universe.

The amazing SK tour through Bangor with a knowledgeable tour guide takes you through the real-world inspirations behind King’s most chilling tales. Key highlights –  Mount Hope Cemetery, the haunting backdrop of “Pet Sematary”, the streets of Bangor (aka “Derry”), where Pennywise the Clown still seems to lurk, King’s iconic Victorian mansion, its wrought-iron fence adorned with bats and spiderwebs, The Franklin Laundry, Paul Bunyan statue and tons of everyday Maine locales transformed into the stuff of nightmares from the mind of the genius. 

I think this is a must-do for any King fan who wants to experience the fictional town of Derry.

Its spurred a renaissance of sorts for me re-reading King starting with his masterpiece autobiography – ‘On Writing’. Good times ahead.

King’s iconic Victorian mansion
Pennywise sighting amidst Bangor (Derry) traffic ( corner of Jackson and Union Streets)
Mount Hope Cemetery i.e. The Pet Sematary
Inspiration for Randall Flagg (The Stand)
Thomas Hill Standpipe from It
Had to try the Moxie ( official soft drink of Maine and instant sugar coma inducer to some)

By ingvay7