Part of life is moving on, and Maine’s history is rife with this sort of transition. People settle, then leave. Homes built and left behind. Moments lived and memories created. These abandoned places in Maine prove that better than anything. Some are eerily beautiful, some are downright spooky. Take a look at this list and plan a trip to see them before nature completes the process.
- These two rusting hulks of steel and shattered dreams were used to transport lumber through the remote North Woods…
John Lutz / Flickr …but now they sit silently as a reminder of an era past. Find them near the northwest end of Chamberlain Lake in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway State Park.
Read more about The Eagle Lake and West Branch Railroad. You can also read more about this abandoned railroad with our article right here. This cool sight is something you have to see to believe and luckily Thiel Tube went ahead for you and made this fabulous video:
Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Maine 04401, USA
- A Civil War-era monument of crumbling granite and wild brush, Fort Gorges stands sentinel in the Casco Bay, guarding the entrance to Portland Harbor.
Corey Templeton / Flickr Only accessible by private boat, you’ll need a kayak (or a friendly lobsterman) to reach it.
Learn more about Fort Gorges. If you can’t make it by boat at least check out this stunning arial video of Fort Gorges by Escape Velocity:
Fort Gorges, Portland, ME 04101, USA
- North of Camden, on the road to Belfast, lives this almost Seussian wreck of a home.
Mark Plummer / Flickr A nightmare of jagged angles, it’s a wonder this wooden structure is still standing. Camden, ME, USA
- Riddled with graffiti rather than bulletholes, these days Battery Steele on Peaks Island is more avante garde art space than WWII artillery installment.
Don Shall / Flickr But that doesn’t make it any less creepy. Take the ferry over to explore its dark and cavernous rooms and wildly overgrown roof, and don’t miss the beautifully weird Sacred and Profane festival that takes place annually on the Saturday after the October harvest moon.
Find out more about Battery Steele. Battery Steele, Peaks Island, ME 04108, USA
- Abandoned barns are a dime a dozen here in Maine. You can’t drive a few miles down a country road without seeing some dilapidated, weatherbeaten structure slumping into itself.
Chris Goldberg / Flickr This West Gardiner barn is short a wall, but the silo is still (barely) standing strong. West Gardiner, ME 04345, USA
- Maine’s geography makes it the first stop on the world destruction tour if one of our frenemies across the pond decided to attack us.
Wikipedia Fears ran especially high during the Cold War, which made the decision to build the Loring Air Force Base in Limestone a very strategic one. Today, the hangers echo with only the sounds of nesting birds, and the nuclear storage vaults hold only the shadows of secrets.
Read more about Loring Air Force Base.
- On January 24, 1963, a United States Air Force Boeing B-52C Stratofortress went down over Maine while flying a training mission.
Gerald Azenaro / Flickr Of the nine crew members, only the pilot and navigator survived. Elephant Mountain, near Moosehead Lake about six miles from Greenville, is the final resting place of its shredded fuselage. A half-mile hike will get you to the wreckage, where a stone memorial commemorates the seven fallen soldiers.
Learn more about the Elephant Mountain wreck. Elephant Mountain, Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04464, USA
- Following its transfer from military to state use in 1901, the nearly 200-year-old Kennebec Arsenal in Augusta became a facility to house the mentally ill.
The B’s / Flickr One look at the imposing granite structure and you can almost hear the cries of the tortured souls who called this place home. It’s definitely earned its place among the creepiest abandoned houses in Maine. It closed its doors for good in 2004, but has recently been slated for redevelopment.
Check out more about the Kennebec arsenal. We found some stunning photos of this eerie place, we do not suggest you go here since it is being monitored and trespassing is prohibited but we do have a creepy video for you to see what it was like not too long ago:
Augusta, ME 04330, USA
- A remnant of Maine’s lumbering heritage, the old Moulton’s Mill in Newfield was originally built in 1790 and was in operation until the later part of the 20th century.
oferdavidi / Flickr Like many of Maine’s mills, the saws have long gone silent, and the trees have started to take their revenge. It’s a cool experience to visit this abandoned place in Maine and see how nature truly does retake things!
Find out more about Newfield. Newfield, ME, USA
- We don’t know much of anything about this once-grand mansion in Frankfort…
Mark Plummer / Flickr …but years of neglect have given it a seriously Stephen King vibe. If you like visiting abandoned houses in Maine, you’ve got to put this one on your list.
Read more about Frankfort, Maine. Frankfort, ME, USA
We’ve just scratched the surface here. Share some of your own local places that nature is out to reclaim.
John Lutz / Flickr
…but now they sit silently as a reminder of an era past. Find them near the northwest end of Chamberlain Lake in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway State Park.
Read more about The Eagle Lake and West Branch Railroad. You can also read more about this abandoned railroad with our article right here. This cool sight is something you have to see to believe and luckily Thiel Tube went ahead for you and made this fabulous video:
Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Maine 04401, USA
Corey Templeton / Flickr
Only accessible by private boat, you’ll need a kayak (or a friendly lobsterman) to reach it.
Learn more about Fort Gorges. If you can’t make it by boat at least check out this stunning arial video of Fort Gorges by Escape Velocity:
Fort Gorges, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Mark Plummer / Flickr
A nightmare of jagged angles, it’s a wonder this wooden structure is still standing.
Camden, ME, USA
Don Shall / Flickr
But that doesn’t make it any less creepy. Take the ferry over to explore its dark and cavernous rooms and wildly overgrown roof, and don’t miss the beautifully weird Sacred and Profane festival that takes place annually on the Saturday after the October harvest moon.
Find out more about Battery Steele.
Battery Steele, Peaks Island, ME 04108, USA
Chris Goldberg / Flickr
This West Gardiner barn is short a wall, but the silo is still (barely) standing strong.
West Gardiner, ME 04345, USA
Wikipedia
Fears ran especially high during the Cold War, which made the decision to build the Loring Air Force Base in Limestone a very strategic one. Today, the hangers echo with only the sounds of nesting birds, and the nuclear storage vaults hold only the shadows of secrets.
Read more about Loring Air Force Base.
Gerald Azenaro / Flickr
Of the nine crew members, only the pilot and navigator survived. Elephant Mountain, near Moosehead Lake about six miles from Greenville, is the final resting place of its shredded fuselage. A half-mile hike will get you to the wreckage, where a stone memorial commemorates the seven fallen soldiers.
Learn more about the Elephant Mountain wreck.
Elephant Mountain, Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04464, USA
The B’s / Flickr
One look at the imposing granite structure and you can almost hear the cries of the tortured souls who called this place home. It’s definitely earned its place among the creepiest abandoned houses in Maine. It closed its doors for good in 2004, but has recently been slated for redevelopment.
Check out more about the Kennebec arsenal. We found some stunning photos of this eerie place, we do not suggest you go here since it is being monitored and trespassing is prohibited but we do have a creepy video for you to see what it was like not too long ago:
Augusta, ME 04330, USA
oferdavidi / Flickr
Like many of Maine’s mills, the saws have long gone silent, and the trees have started to take their revenge. It’s a cool experience to visit this abandoned place in Maine and see how nature truly does retake things!
Find out more about Newfield.
Newfield, ME, USA
Mark Plummer / Flickr
…but years of neglect have given it a seriously Stephen King vibe. If you like visiting abandoned houses in Maine, you’ve got to put this one on your list.
Read more about Frankfort, Maine.
Frankfort, ME, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Buildings in Maine June 07, 2022 Danielle Schwartz What is one of the best hikes to an abandoned place in Maine? One of the best hikes to abandoned places in Maine is a short walk up to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth to see an old abandoned mansion. Yes, you can definitely hike to abandoned places in Maine. Head to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth for an amazing cliff walk by the beach that will take you right to an abandoned mansion. Along the way, you’ll also get to see the state’s largest lighthouse, sweeping ocean views, and the beautiful castle-like mansion that was built in the 1880s. It’s a rare hike that includes both nature and history - a rare and welcome combination. Are there any historical sites you can hike to in Maine? An interesting hike is The Old Pond Railway Trail in Hancock, Maine. There are several ways to hike to historical sites in Maine. One such interesting hike is The Old Pond Railway Trail. You’ll walk along a historical railroad in Hancock, Maine. Formerly the rail for the Maine Shore Line Railroad Company, the train used to take tourists along the water. That means the views along the trail are just beautiful. Enjoy the whole atmosphere, including the pond and forest. Does Maine have any natural wonders? There are many wonderful natural wonders in Maine like:
Thunder hole in Acadia The Desert of Maine in Freeport The Debsconeag Ice Caves in Millnocket These and many more are listed in our 8 incredible natural wonders of Maine list.
Yes, there are many lovely natural wonders in Maine. You’ll love exploring all the different types of unique spots in the state. Dagget Rock in Phillips is an incredible sight, and has been in this spot since the Ice Age! For major adventurers, there is the exciting Gulf Hagas, which features a waterfall that you can kayak over. If you’re experienced in water sports like this, this is the spot for you. For a true wonder, head to Debsconeag Ice Caves in Millinocket. You’ll find snow and ice here no matter what time of year it is, making it a real shock during the warmer months of the year. It’s a great escape in the summer season when you want a break from all the heat.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Buildings in Maine
June 07, 2022
Danielle Schwartz
What is one of the best hikes to an abandoned place in Maine? One of the best hikes to abandoned places in Maine is a short walk up to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth to see an old abandoned mansion. Yes, you can definitely hike to abandoned places in Maine. Head to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth for an amazing cliff walk by the beach that will take you right to an abandoned mansion. Along the way, you’ll also get to see the state’s largest lighthouse, sweeping ocean views, and the beautiful castle-like mansion that was built in the 1880s. It’s a rare hike that includes both nature and history - a rare and welcome combination. Are there any historical sites you can hike to in Maine? An interesting hike is The Old Pond Railway Trail in Hancock, Maine. There are several ways to hike to historical sites in Maine. One such interesting hike is The Old Pond Railway Trail. You’ll walk along a historical railroad in Hancock, Maine. Formerly the rail for the Maine Shore Line Railroad Company, the train used to take tourists along the water. That means the views along the trail are just beautiful. Enjoy the whole atmosphere, including the pond and forest. Does Maine have any natural wonders? There are many wonderful natural wonders in Maine like:
Thunder hole in Acadia The Desert of Maine in Freeport The Debsconeag Ice Caves in Millnocket These and many more are listed in our 8 incredible natural wonders of Maine list.
Yes, there are many lovely natural wonders in Maine. You’ll love exploring all the different types of unique spots in the state. Dagget Rock in Phillips is an incredible sight, and has been in this spot since the Ice Age! For major adventurers, there is the exciting Gulf Hagas, which features a waterfall that you can kayak over. If you’re experienced in water sports like this, this is the spot for you. For a true wonder, head to Debsconeag Ice Caves in Millinocket. You’ll find snow and ice here no matter what time of year it is, making it a real shock during the warmer months of the year. It’s a great escape in the summer season when you want a break from all the heat.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
One of the best hikes to abandoned places in Maine is a short walk up to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth to see an old abandoned mansion.
Yes, you can definitely hike to abandoned places in Maine. Head to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth for an amazing cliff walk by the beach that will take you right to an abandoned mansion. Along the way, you’ll also get to see the state’s largest lighthouse, sweeping ocean views, and the beautiful castle-like mansion that was built in the 1880s. It’s a rare hike that includes both nature and history - a rare and welcome combination.
Are there any historical sites you can hike to in Maine?
An interesting hike is The Old Pond Railway Trail in Hancock, Maine.
There are several ways to hike to historical sites in Maine. One such interesting hike is The Old Pond Railway Trail. You’ll walk along a historical railroad in Hancock, Maine. Formerly the rail for the Maine Shore Line Railroad Company, the train used to take tourists along the water. That means the views along the trail are just beautiful. Enjoy the whole atmosphere, including the pond and forest.
Does Maine have any natural wonders?
There are many wonderful natural wonders in Maine like:
- Thunder hole in Acadia
- The Desert of Maine in Freeport
- The Debsconeag Ice Caves in Millnocket
- These and many more are listed in our 8 incredible natural wonders of Maine list.
Yes, there are many lovely natural wonders in Maine. You’ll love exploring all the different types of unique spots in the state. Dagget Rock in Phillips is an incredible sight, and has been in this spot since the Ice Age! For major adventurers, there is the exciting Gulf Hagas, which features a waterfall that you can kayak over. If you’re experienced in water sports like this, this is the spot for you. For a true wonder, head to Debsconeag Ice Caves in Millinocket. You’ll find snow and ice here no matter what time of year it is, making it a real shock during the warmer months of the year. It’s a great escape in the summer season when you want a break from all the heat.