15 Spine-Chilling Destinations Every Stephen King Fan Must Visit

3. Bangor, Maine – The Real-Life Derry

Stephen King’s fictional town of Derry, Maine, is a setting that appears in many of his most famous works, including IT, Insomnia, Dreamcatcher, and 11/22/63. While Derry itself is fictional, its eerie small-town feel is heavily based on King’s real-life hometown of Bangor, Maine. If you visit Bangor, you’ll quickly recognize key landmarks that have become synonymous with IT, making it a must-see destination for King fans. One of the most iconic sites is the massive Paul Bunyan statue in downtown Bangor, which makes a terrifying appearance in IT, where Pennywise brings it to life to terrorize Richie. Another well-known location is the Thomas Hill Standpipe, a towering water reservoir that closely resembles the haunted water tower in the novel. Fans can also visit the Kenduskeag Stream, which served as the inspiration for The Barrens, where the Losers' Club first encounters Pennywise. Perhaps the most famous landmark in Bangor is King’s actual home. His Victorian mansion, surrounded by black wrought-iron gates adorned with bats, spiderwebs, and gargoyles, looks like something straight out of a horror novel. While it’s not open to the public, it’s become a popular pilgrimage site for fans. Recently, King and his wife announced plans to turn the home into an archive and writer’s retreat for aspiring horror authors. Featured In: IT (2017 & 2019 films, 1990 miniseries)