9 Haunted Cemeteries In Maine That Even Brave Locals Hesitate To Visit Alone

A cemetery is creepy enough during the day. Add a little fog and a story about someone who never quite left, and suddenly every sound makes you turn around.

I’ve wandered through old burial grounds in Maine, reading names carved into stones that have stood for centuries, and there’s something about those quiet paths that always gets to me. The history alone is fascinating, but the local legends make things even more interesting.

One grave has a mysterious boot-shaped stain that supposedly refuses to disappear. Another is linked to two little girls whose laughter people claim they can still hear.

Then there’s the strange story of a whistler who supposedly answers visitors. Of course, nobody can prove these ghostly encounters happened, but that hardly makes the stories less intriguing.

I’d recommend visiting during daylight, although I admit the thought of exploring at dusk is tempting.

Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor

My first visit to Mount Hope Cemetery ended with me walking a little faster than usual, and I am not ashamed to admit it. This grand old place sits at 1048 State Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, United States, and it covers roughly 300 acres of hills, ponds, and stone art.

Founded in 1834, Mount Hope is the second oldest garden cemetery in the country. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

During the day, it feels like an outdoor museum, with carved monuments and winding lanes perfect for a slow stroll.

Things get spookier as the sun goes down. Visitors talk about shadowy shapes slipping between tall headstones and then vanishing.

The most famous tale is about a Woman in Black who wanders at dusk near spots overlooking the Penobscot River, dressed in clothes from the 1800s.

Some guests report sudden cold spots, faint whispers, and soft crying when nobody else is around. Many say the feeling of being watched grows strongest near the graves of Civil War soldiers.

Movie fans will love knowing that parts of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary were filmed here.

Another well-known resident is Al Brady, a 1930s gangster who some believe still roams the grounds. My tip is to arrive in late afternoon so you can enjoy the views in daylight first.

Wear comfy shoes, because the hills are real. By the time the shadows stretch out, you will understand why Bangor locals rarely linger here solo.

Buck Cemetery, Bucksport

Some monuments get moss. One in Bucksport got a mystery that has kept people talking for generations.

Buck Cemetery sits at the corner of Main and Hinks Streets in Bucksport, Maine, United States, right in the heart of this pleasant riverside town.

The star attraction is the tall granite obelisk honoring Colonel Jonathan Buck, the founder of Bucksport. Local legend says that in the town’s early days, Buck condemned a woman accused of witchcraft.

Before her sentence was carried out, she supposedly cursed him and promised her mark would stay on his tombstone forever.

Years after Buck was gone, a dark stain showed up on his monument. It looks a lot like a woman’s lower leg and foot, or maybe a boot.

People have scrubbed and scrubbed, yet the shape keeps coming back, which only makes the curse story more popular.

Different versions of the tale add their own spooky twists. In one, she vows to dance on his grave for all time.

No matter which version you hear, the boot-shaped mark is right there for you to see with your own eyes.

Visiting is easy because the cemetery is along a main road, so you can park nearby and walk right up. I suggest pairing the stop with a stroll along the Bucksport waterfront walkway.

Snap a photo of the stain, but please keep your hands off the stone. Some legends are best left un-scrubbed, and this one clearly refuses to wash out.

Old Parish Cemetery, York

Crows seem to have a favorite hangout in York, and it happens to be a very old grave. Old Parish Cemetery sits at the corner of York Street and Lindsay Road in York Village, York County, Maine, United States.

Locals also call it Old York Cemetery or First Parish Cemetery.

It ranks among the oldest burial grounds in Maine, with stones dating as far back as 1657. Early settlers and Revolutionary War veterans rest here under carved slate markers.

Reading the old lettering is like flipping through a history book written in stone.

The spot everyone asks about is known as the Witch’s Grave. Local lore links it to Mary Nasson, a woman from the 1700s with a witchy reputation.

A heavy stone slab covers the grave, and stories disagree on why.

Some say the slab was meant to keep her spirit in place. Others believe it simply stopped grazing cows from wandering over the plot.

Either way, people claim the slab always feels warm, even on chilly days, and crows often gather close by.

After dark, visitors describe drifting mists, cameras acting up, and shadowy figures moving between the stones. I recommend coming in daylight, then exploring the nearby Old York Historical Society buildings for more colonial stories.

York Village is easy to walk, with charming shops and old homes. Just do not be surprised if a crow gives you a long, knowing stare on your way out.

Eastern Cemetery, Portland

Portland’s oldest public burial ground has seen more than 350 years of city life roll past its iron fence. Eastern Cemetery sits at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Congress Street in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood of Portland, Maine, United States.

Established in 1668, it connects directly to Portland’s early English settlement. More than 4,000 marked graves fill the grounds, and experts estimate around 3,000 more are unmarked.

Revolutionary War soldiers and captains from the War of 1812 are among those resting here.

History buffs will notice that the layout tells its own story. Different groups of early residents were placed in different sections, showing how the town was organized long ago.

It is a quiet lesson in local history right in the middle of a busy neighborhood.

Look for the Dead House, a receiving tomb built in 1871 and restored between 2014 and 2016. Back in the day, it held coffins through the frozen winter months until the ground softened.

Yes, that name alone gives me goosebumps.

Over the centuries, people have reported figures drifting among the tombstones, especially on misty evenings. The cemetery is a regular stop for guided ghost tours, which I highly recommend for safe and story-packed access.

Afterward, wander over to the Portland Observatory nearby for a great view. Munjoy Hill is lively and friendly by day, but once the fog settles over those old slate stones, even longtime Portlanders tend to cross the street.

Anderson Cemetery, Windham

Knock, knock. Who is there?

According to some visitors at Anderson Cemetery, nobody you can see. This historic site sits off River Road in Windham, Maine, United States, and it also goes by the names Old Smith Burying Ground and Smith Anderson Cemetery.

It holds the title of Windham’s first public cemetery, with the earliest recorded burial from 1744. Many founding families of the town rest here.

The most eye-catching feature is the Anderson Family Crypt, built right into the side of a hill.

That crypt is the center of most of the strange reports. People say they hear clear knocking from inside when nobody else is nearby.

It is the kind of sound that makes you check your own pockets for a phone buzz.

The odd stories do not stop there. Visitors claim parked cars have rolled several feet on their own, and some return to find doors standing wide open.

Others say doors they left unlocked were somehow locked when they came back.

Paranormal investigators report recorded voices, glowing orbs in photos, drifting mists, and even the faint image of a man’s face in pictures. My advice is to visit in daylight, park carefully, and respect posted hours.

Windham is a pleasant drive from Portland, so it makes an easy side trip. Keep your car keys close, though, because around here, even your vehicle might have plans of its own.

Brown Cemetery, Windham

Giggles are not what most people expect to hear in a graveyard. At Brown Cemetery, that is exactly what some visitors claim to notice.

This small, quiet burial ground sits at 12 Chute Road, Windham, ME 04062, United States, just a short drive from Anderson Cemetery.

The cemetery dates back to the late 1700s, and many of its stones are sunken or leaning after centuries of Maine winters. Dozens of graves are marked, but locals believe many more lie unmarked under the grass.

That adds a hushed, mysterious feeling to the place.

The best-known legend involves two young girls, Mary and Catherine Chute. Stories say they went missing more than two hundred years ago while playing nearby.

They were never found, and memorials for them were later placed in the cemetery.

Since then, folks have shared reports of two little girls in colonial-style dresses. They are said to skip, laugh, and play among the stones before fading away.

Unlike some scary tales, many visitors describe this presence as playful and sweet rather than frightening.

Because the site is small and peaceful, I suggest a calm daytime visit. Move slowly, read the old names, and keep your voice low as a sign of respect for the neighbors and the history.

It pairs nicely with a drive along the quiet country roads of Windham. If you hear soft laughter behind you, maybe just smile and wave.

Oak Hill Cemetery, Bucksport

Bucksport earns a second spot on this list, and honestly, this little town knows how to keep a story alive. Oak Hill Cemetery sits at the corner of McDonald and Franklin Streets in Bucksport, Maine, United States.

It is peaceful and green, but one unsolved mystery hangs over it.

The tale centers on Sarah Ware, a local woman who went missing one evening in 1898. She was found about two weeks later, and the case shocked the whole community.

A man was put on trial, yet nobody was ever convicted.

Here is where the story gets truly unusual. Part of her remains was reportedly kept as evidence at the Ellsworth Courthouse for about a century.

In 1998, it was said to be returned to her resting place at Oak Hill, though people still debate the details.

Reports of Sarah’s spirit often come from nearby Silver Lake. Hikers on the trails around the water say they have glimpsed a pale figure moving along the shore.

Many describe the sight as more sad than scary.

For visitors, I recommend combining a respectful cemetery stop with a walk around Silver Lake on a crisp fall afternoon. The colors are lovely, and the quiet trails give you time to think about the history.

Afterward, you can easily pop over to see the Buck monument too. Between these two sites, Bucksport might be Maine’s most mysterious small town per square mile.

Western Cemetery, Portland

Picture families arriving with shovels to move a loved one, only to find nothing there at all. That puzzling piece of history belongs to Western Cemetery, located at 4 Vaughan Street in the West End neighborhood of Portland, Maine, United States.

It sits close to the beautiful Western Promenade.

As Portland’s second oldest cemetery, it served as the city’s main burial ground until 1852. Its 12 acres hold an estimated 6,600 marked and unmarked graves.

Revolutionary and Civil War veterans, Irish immigrants, and notable African American residents all rest here.

The cemetery went through long stretches of neglect, which some believe left its residents a little restless. Over the years, families tried to relocate relatives and discovered certain graves completely empty.

Even the tomb of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s parents was reportedly found bare.

Visitors describe shadows flickering between the stones and faint voices carried on the breeze. It is the sort of place where you keep glancing over your shoulder.

Still, the setting is lovely, with rolling ground and views toward the Promenade.

Enter through the Daveis Memorial Gate, added in 1914, and take your time reading the old markers. I like to visit late morning, then stroll the Western Promenade to admire the grand homes and wide views.

Bring a camera and good walking shoes. Just keep in mind that around here, a missing headcount is part of the legend.

Evergreen Cemetery, Portland

Whistle a tune at Evergreen Cemetery, and you might just get an encore. This sprawling, beautiful place sits at 672 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine, United States.

It is the largest cemetery in the city and a favorite spot for walkers and bird watchers.

Founded in 1855, Evergreen covers 239 acres and was modeled after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts. Winding carriage paths loop past calm ponds, old trees, and impressive carved monuments.

More than 50,000 people rest here, making it a huge slice of Maine history.

Do not miss the Wilde Memorial Chapel, a striking granite chapel built in 1902. Its stonework looks especially dramatic in late afternoon light.

Nearby ponds often reflect the trees like a quiet painting.

Now for the spooky part. During one nighttime investigation, paranormal researchers reported a spirit nicknamed The Whistler.

It supposedly whistled back again and again whenever they asked, which sounds charming until you are the one standing in the dark.

Other hushed stories add to the cemetery’s eerie reputation, and many locals prefer to visit with company once the sun drops. For the best experience, come on a fall afternoon when the leaves glow and the paths are busy with friendly walkers.

Pack water, since the grounds are large, and grab a map at the entrance. When the light fades, wrap up your visit, and leave the late-night concerts to The Whistler.