90-minute Ghost Walking Tour in Bar Harbor
Description
On our ghost walk, you'll travel the sea-sprayed Shore Path, where you might catch a glimpse of a ghost or even a sea serpent. You'll learn the history behind a variety of mysterious local incidents and expand your knowledge of the supernatural with accounts of the three major types of ghosts: residual manifestations, intelligent hauntings, and poltergeists. The weird tales include the strange goings-on at otherwise opulent lodgings like the Balance Rock Inn, the legendary Bar Harbor Club, and several other paranormal hotspots about town. Marcus LiBrizzi, author of Ghosts of Acadia and Haunted Islands in the Gulf of Maine, two of the authoritative books on Maine's haunted tales, calls our tour "an unforgettable, spine-tingling tour of Bar Harbor’s haunted sites." Join us to discover for yourself.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin at the beginning with tales from the indigenous peoples who once called the area home. Some ancient monster sightings from the Wabanaki Confederacy's oral tradition curiously align with more contemporary accounts of encounters with unknown animals.
The Bar Harbor Inn was the scene of contemporary ghost reports and once the site of a private club for wealthy gentlemen called The Reading Room. One of the club's members, although not really a Ghostbuster, helped pave the way for authentic parapsychological research.
Ghost stories abound along this scenic walkway as well as spectacular views of famous landmarks including the Egg Rock Lighthouse and Balance Rock. It's also the perfect setting for spooky seafaring yarns, tales of Maine's haunted lighthouses, and reports of a local sea serpent.
Long a playground for the rich and famous, the history of Bar Harbor’s mansions is steeped in scandal, mystery, and intrigue including astounding accounts of hauntings and one legendary curse. One such haunted estate has now become the Balance Rock Inn once the home of two little girls pestered by an annoying ghost.
Working people in town also report brushes with the unknown and the unexplained. Seemingly ordinary shops and apartments have become the backdrop for unexplained events. Even the sky above has been haunted by UFOs.
Pay your respects at the historic graveyard of St. Saviour's Episcopal Church established in 1790. Mainly populated with tombstones dating back to the 19th Century, this cemetery may not be haunted, but is the setting for more than one extraordinary story.
One of the original grand summer estates in Bar Harbor and more recently an inn, Ledgelawn now serves as housing for seasonal employees. Discover the reason a star-crossed woman in white haunts the property. Unlike countless similar specters this ghost has a ghost reason for wearing white.
Discover a former inhabitants connection to the Hope Diamond, a possession both coveted and dreaded. This cursed gem has a long history for attracting death and destruction. Learn about the tragedies which earned the treasure its bad reputation before and after it arrived on Mount Desert Island.
Like many vintage cinemas and performance venues this historic theater has its own ghostly lore. What makes this destination unique are its scandalous historical secrets as well as its peculiar Silver Screen specters such as the glowing green ghost said to wander backstage.
Now an exclusive retreat for the rich, this location was once the home of swimming club called Pemetic Lodge. By the 1920s, it became a prestigious private club for the country’s wealthiest men including that most famous robber baron of the Gilded Age J.P. Morgan. In 1980s, the abandoned building became a breeding ground for dire, local folklore.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(188)
The tour guide was very good. I particularly enjoyed his excellent diction. We could understand all of his words and he was not rushing them. Good speaker. Nice personality too.
Fun and interesting ghost tour. The stories were spooky and also conveyed the history of the area. The guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
The guide Julie was animated and had a lot of interesting stories. However, based on the group size of 30 people and the Wednesday movie in the park, the tour was amended to just 2 stops. We walked pretty rapidly for about 7 mins to the first spot where some sat and others stood for 45 mins while she told stories about the area we we were at and others places we couldn’t see. Then we walked rapidly again to the cemetery where there were a couple more stories and then we were done. Because people wouldn’t be able to hear her with the large group size, we got no info as we walked to the 2 places. Part of the fun of these ghost tours is learning the lore of the places you are passing. People on the tour were grumbling about not signing up for a 2 stop ghost tour and I had to agree. The company should have split the group into 2 tours so people could have had a better experience.
Hi! Thank you for your feedback. While we're glad you enjoyed Julie's stories, we sincerely apologize for the altered route and rushed pace caused by the park event and large group size. We completely understand your frustration and are taking your suggestion about splitting larger groups into serious consideration to improve our future tours. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
A wonderful 90 minute tour covering history and local hauntings. Our guide was engaging and fun. It ends at the original town cemetery where a lot more stories come to life.
We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour and that your guide made the experience engaging and fun. We love bringing the history and hauntings of the area to life, and we’re glad you enjoyed the stories at the cemetery as well. We hope to welcome you back for another ghost walk soon!
Here’s a polished review you could post: The Bar Harbor Walking Ghost Tour was one of the highlights of our visit. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, weaving together local legends, historical facts, and fascinating stories that provided a unique perspective on Bar Harbor’s rich past. Rather than focusing solely on ghost stories, she brought the town’s history to life in a way that made every stop engaging and memorable. An unexpected bonus was the beautiful walk along the Shore Path under the light of a full moon. The setting added an unforgettable atmosphere to the evening before the tour concluded in the town cemetery, where many of Bar Harbor’s earliest citizens have been laid to rest since the community’s founding. Standing among those historic graves while hearing the stories behind them was both moving and appropriately eerie. Whether you’re interested in history, local folklore, or simply a unique way to experience Bar Harbor after dark, this tour is well worth your time. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the history, stories, and beautiful Shore Path experience. We’re grateful you joined us and appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable evening in Bar Harbor!
Very knowledgeable guide! He did an excellent job. Well worth the value!
Thanks for joining us! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour and appreciated our guide's knowledge and storytelling. Hope to see you again soon!
Meet up was easy, very informative- more of history tour than haunted tour- some crazy stories - large group but doable
Thank you for joining us! We're glad you enjoyed the mix of local history and ghost stories. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again on another walk!
Interesting , nice to be out and about in the evening . Nice group nice guide. Not for children, would not hold their interest
We're glad you enjoyed spending the evening exploring with us and that you had a great experience with both our guide and the group. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on another tour soon!
Tour guide is super knowledgeable. Great experience. Totally is not too dark. Very eerie stories. Highly recommended.
Thank you so much for the kind review! We’re so glad you had a great experience and enjoyed the mix of eerie stories without it feeling too dark. It means a lot to hear that your guide’s knowledge helped make the tour memorable. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again on another ghost walk soon!
Loved the history and ghost stories. Great way to finish at the cemetery. Admission was reasonable. The length was great. For older tourist perhaps suggest a flashlight. Everything was great
Thank you so much for your kind review, Theresa! We’re so glad you enjoyed the history, ghost stories, and the cemetery finale. We also appreciate the flashlight suggestion for older guests and will keep that in mind. Hope to see you again soon!
