Hauntings and Mysteries in Acadia National Park
As one of the most popular national parks in America, Acadia National Park in
Bar Harbor, Maine, is a perfect playground. Although there are many family-friendly activities to be had in this 47,000 acre park, there are also paranormal encounters that you may encounter if you know where to look.
The Father of Acadia's Ghost
The Compass Harbor Nature Trail is believed to be frequented by hikers, both alive and dead. The Father of Acadia, also known as George Dorr, may be hiking alongside you as you explore the trail. He worked along with John D. Rockefeller in the early 1900s and helped turn the park into what it is today.
Dorr lived in his family estate, also known as Old Farm, as he worked on the park. He died at the age of 91 on the very same Compass Harbor Nature Trail. The 30-room family mansion was destroyed soon after with no heir to take possession.
You can even walk through what remains of his family’s estate. All that’s left is the skeletal stone remains, but you can take a beautiful stone path down to the ocean. If you care to walk in Dorr’s footsteps, you may encounter his spirit accompanied by his caretaker.
The Haunted Prospect Harbor Lighthouse
For another creepy location, check out the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse in the northern portion of the park, which is often shrouded in ominous fog. The fishing harbor has been around since the 1800s with the lighthouse originally built first in 1850 in granite and then rebuilt in 1891 in wood. While it is not open to the public, you may catch something supernatural when taking pictures.
The Gull Cottage, which is used now for Navy personnel, is said to be haunted. According to multiple reports, the statue of a sea captain moves to face either the stairs or the sea. Other guests have seen ghosts, smelled tobacco, witnessed doors opening and closing, and other strange things.
The Devil's Oven
If there’s something that sounds super dangerous to enter, it would be something called the “Devil’s Oven.” This sea cave is hidden along the shoreline of Mount Desert Island. According to legend, it is a portal into the underworld. This legend seems fitting because it was once the site of ancient rituals where evil people were burnt alive. It was believed that their souls would then be sucked into the underworld.
People who have visited the cave at night have witnessed flashing lights coming from the cave, while daytime guests have heard cries and chanting. If you dare to visit this cave, make sure that it is low tide before heading out. Also, all railings and signs to the cave have been removed, so you’re really on your own if you want to risk your personal safety to visit this one.
Legends of haunted locations aren’t uncommon on Mount Desert Island, and some eerie sites even have a history of supernatural activity tied to historic inns. One such place is the
Coach Stop Inn, where guests have reported ghostly encounters and unexplained phenomena.
Other camping tales of the park have included strange wailing sounds, old men with mossy beards, black cats with glowing eyes, UFOs, and a ghostly bride-to-be who hanged herself.
Paranormal theorists might be tempted to blame the architecture of the towers as a possible reason behind the dark actions of numerous residents here. Marina City apartments contain almost no interior right angles. The residential floors consist of a circular hallway wrapped around the elevator core, with 16 wedge-shaped apartments arranged around the hallway. Each wedge is trimmed with a semi-circular balcony outside a glass wall. Architect Bertrand Goldberg explained during construction that the design of each tower was meant to provide a widening vista to residents as they entered their apartments.
From the small entrance, at the narrowest part of the wedge, the apartments would open up to the wide glass wall and even wider balcony, offering the city and the lake outside--like living in a "treehouse" was how the architect described it. Could it be that this well-meant design has actually inspired some residents to take the widening vistas one step further? Could the contrast between the tiny apartment and the wide open space outside have caused an impulse for escape in more than one tenant?
But even if we venture to accept this, why have these incidents occurred in only the East tower? Though the jury may always be out on the answer, the established truth remains that the residue of these events--and their unfortunate victims--continue to make their home in their mysterious digs at 300 North State Street.
Some mysteries may never be fully solved, but one thing is certain—you can explore more haunted tales and eerie locations with us on our Bar Harbor Ghost Walk.
Want to hear firsthand what our guests have experienced? Check out our Google Business Profile Reviews and see why our tours leave a lasting impression!
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