Most People Don't Know That The Cemetery From Stephen King's "Pet Sematary" Is Found Right Here In Maine
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published January 10, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
Known as the maestro of horror, few writers have done more to popularize their genre than Stephen King. Besides lobster, his hair-raising novels are perhaps Maine’s most famous export. As a lifelong resident of the Pine Tree State, it’s natural that his books frequently evoke alternative— and far creepier— imaginings of regional haunts. For those seeking to experience firsthand what inspires Stephen King in Maine, I recommend visiting the Mount Hope Cemetery, a shooting location for the ’89 adaptation of his novel Pet Sematary.
Since the start of his career, King has penned 65 novels, 200 short stories and sold more than 350 million copies of his works to readers worldwide. The sheer magnitude of his success has transformed his hometown, Bangor, into an international point of pilgrimage for horror aficionados.
Known for its quaint brick-work, enviable antique shopping, and return-worthy restaurants, Bangor may seem like unlikely stomping grounds for master-of-suspense King. But on second glance, you'll see that this town's sites are reminiscent of the dark geography depicted in King's body of work.
Published in 1983, Pet Sematary is just as referential to real-life Bangor. When director Mary Lambert began shooting the novel's adaptation six years after its release, she used many Maine locations, including a house in Hancock and Bangor's Mount Hope Cemetery, where King himself had a cameo.
At the time of its construction, it was only the country's second garden cemetery. This style moved burial grounds from cities to rural and suburban areas, where they benefited from having more space.
You can certainly try and find the exact spot where Pet Sematary was shot, but I also recommend strolling through the Mount Hope grounds, which are beautifully landscaped and maintained. Keep in mind that, regardless of its horror-flick feature, this is the final resting place for many, so it's important to remain respectful.
In a nod to the increasingly significant bond between people and their pets, in 2021, Mount Hope reserved a section of the property for individuals who wish to be buried alongside their furry companions. It's the first cemetery in Maine to do so, setting a new precedent. The decision also— perhaps unintentionally— references King's Pet Sematary, whose plot revolves around the consequences of a pet's ill-considered burial.
