Born in Portland [1], Stephen King came to Orono to attend college and has remained in the area ever since. His home, a creepy Victorian with a wrought-iron spider gate on West Broadway, is a must-see for any serious fan. But nothing really captures the spirit of the books like the wildly popular Tommyknockers and More (800/916-6673 or 207/947-5205, www.bangorcvb.org [2], $12), a monthly bus tour given by the local visitors bureau.
The “master of horror” has been a huge booster of the city, filming many of the movie adaptations of his books here. Among the sites on the tour is the cemetery featured in the film Pet Sematary, in which King himself had a cameo as a minister, and many of the sites that inspired It, including “the barrens,” the canal, and the standpipe where Pennywise the Clown may still lurk.
The tour’s schedule is sporadic, though you can count on its being offered at least once a month in summer. Due to the its popularity, advance reservations are required.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/maine/portland-and-the-south-coast/portland
[2] http://www.bangorcvb.org