Monday, April 29, 2024

Stephen King's House: The Spooky Heart of Bangor, Maine

stephen king house

In the past, she has been known as an activist for the LGBTQ+ community and dabbled in the restaurant industry for a time. In truth, much of the Overlook Hotel’s exterior was filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, Oregon. The interior of the hotel was primarily inspired by the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite.

The Stephen King Archives

Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. BANGOR, Maine (CBS/AP) -- Stephen and Tabitha King are ready for the next chapter for their Victorian mansion that stands behind a wrought iron gate festooned with winged creatures and spiderwebs.

Mainely Murders, Kennebunk

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Pet Sematary, It, The Green Mile, or maybe Night Shift would be good options. Any way you turn the page, I know for certain, I will be hiding it in the freezer when the plot becomes too scary. Beautiful Bangor, Maine, home to Stephen King, his family, and his fictional town of Derry.

The Birthplace of Horror: Stephen King’s House

In terms of his professional writing career, King’s breakthrough came with the publication of his first novel, “Carrie,” in 1974. He had started writing “Carrie” while he was a college student but had initially thrown away an early draft. His wife, Tabitha, retrieved it from the trash and encouraged him to continue.

I don’t know if this has ever been proven true by King himself, but cool nonetheless. Even if one weren’t a King fan, Mount Hope Cemetery is definitely worth a visit. It’s one of the nation’s oldest garden cemeteries and is almost 200 years old. If you find yourself in Maine, Bangor is well worth the trip (even not as a King fan) and I’ve put together a self-guided Stephen King tour to Bangor. The van stops at the corner of Jackson and Union Streets which looks like many other intersections across the U.S.

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stephen king house

Another must-see area is his personal library, where he keeps his extensive collection of books and reference materials. The shelves are lined with a vast array of genres, from horror to non-fiction, showcasing his eclectic tastes and varied interests. One of the highlights of the tour is Stephen King’s writing space, where he has crafted some of the most chilling stories in literary history. The room is adorned with his awards, collectibles, and personal mementos, providing a glimpse into his writing process.

In 2017, a little ahead of the new It movie, a red balloon appeared in one of the house’s windows. Stephen King’s former Bangor house has also become one of the most-photographed celebrity homes in the US. It’s not hard to miss the Victorian mansion, which was already on the property since it was built in 1858. The left side tower was believed to be added in 1895, and the large front porch in 1912.

But Stephen King still occasionally greets fans outside that home, said Stu Tinker, operator of SK Tours of Maine, which takes visitors to sites around Bangor that inspired the author. The house next door, which the Kings bought in 2004, would provide housing for up to five writers in residence at a time. The short story Trucks, which was the precursor for the movie Maximum Overdrive, is believed to be inspired by Dysart’s Restaurant & Truck Stop in Hermon, Maine. They take a classic truck stop and amp it up to the max, offering great food, a fun pub atmosphere, and gas pumps to fill up your car before you leave.

Bangor Opera House

Over the course of two years, Steel designed and built 350 feet of fencing and two large gates, including the double gate at the front of the property. He let his imagination run wild with the design of the front gate, and utilized some of the unique skills his teacher, Hurwitz, had taught him, like hot-carving creature heads. Fans of the writer make pilgrimages to the residence to take photos by the creepy gate out front, where wrought-iron spiders, winged creatures, and reptiles guard the entrance. While horror fans may be disappointed that visits will be restricted, and would certainly line up around the block for a full-on public museum, that’s precisely what the Kings hope to avoid. The historical mansion is located in a residential area at 47 West Broadway, so limiting crowds is a necessary courtesy for the neighbors. One of King’s most well-known writing rituals is his love for a specific writing tool, his Waterman Fountain Pen.

The house next door will serve as the retreat for writers and will only host up to five writers at a time. The Kings shared that their reason for repurposing the house was that they no longer spent as much time there as they used to. Steel was discovered at a show in Lovell in the same year the Kings moved to Maine. In 2020, Stephen King hired sculptor Josh Landry to sculpt a dead ash tree into a towering wooden bookcase mounted on human legs that features several birds, a cat, and a likeness of King’s beloved dog Molly.

King's archives were formerly held at the University of Maine, the writer's alma mater, and will now be moved to the Bangor home. Writers, scholars, and Stephen King fanatics will now be able request to see these materials—but only by appointment. His father, Donald King, was a merchant seaman, and his mother, Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King, was a homemaker. King’s parents separated when he was very young, and he and his brother David were raised by their mother. Ruth, as King would later call her, had a profound influence on his early life and writing career, encouraging him to pursue his passion for storytelling. If you don’t have time for that, enter ‘47 West Broadway’ in your GPS and it’ll take you right to the center of the Stephen King universe.

Danny has “the shining,” which are psychic premonitions that give him insight into the sinister history of the hotel. The hotel’s dark aura begins to weigh heavily on Jack’s psyche causing him to lash out in dangerous violent frenzies that threaten his wife and son. The Shining is a good read for fans who enjoy psychological thrillers that merge with horror. King’s The Dark Tower series has been an active part of his journey as a writer for more than four decades.

The iconic settings inside Stephen King’s house have captured the imagination of readers and moviegoers alike. From the Red Room that inspires “The Shining” to the wrought-iron gate from “Pet Sematary,” every detail feels like a part of Stephen King’s hauntingly beautiful world. Over the years, King’s writing rituals and creative process have been the subject of countless interviews and articles. His method of writing has inspired aspiring writers all over the world to follow in his footsteps and develop their own unique routines. While on the tour, Tinker was reading Night Shift and connecting the dots from short stories to novels for his eager guests. Many characters and their future stories were born in the shorts you find in this collection.

Ashley Hubbard is a writer, photographer, and blogger based in Nashville, Tennessee. When she's not searching out the strange and unusual things in life, she's searching out vegan food and is passionate about sustainability, animal rights, and social justice. Find accommodation, read accommodation reviews, and check flight prices.Book attractions, tickets, or guides in advance.

The tour also includes the iconic settings from his novels, such as the haunted hotel from The Shining, and the town of Derry from It. These locations served as inspiration for his stories and are a testament to his vivid imagination. One of the most iconic spots in the house is the study where Stephen King works. The table where he writes, complete with a claw-footed chair, sits by the window looking out at the trees outside. The desk is decorated with playful figurines that provide inspiration for his work.

Stephen King’s influence on popular culture can be seen in the numerous collectibles and memorabilia that celebrate his work. From limited-edition signed books to rare movie adaptations, these artifacts highlight his immense talent and success. A visit to his house in Bangor, Maine provides an opportunity to get unique souvenirs and join the fan club of this literary icon. Stephen King is not just a household name in the literary world but a pop culture phenomenon. Collectibles and memorabilia related to his remarkable career are highly sought after and cherished by fans worldwide.

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