There are so many abandoned places in Maine! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Maine. Browse through all abandoned places in Maine
Fort Gorges is a magnificent former United States military fort situated on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay, Portland, Maine. This fort is only accessed by boats. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The fort was built to serve as a fortification during 1858- 64, but no battles were fought here even no troops were settled there to date. Now it serves as a state park. This place is a hidden gem which one can discover today as there are many visitors who visit this place to see the stunning beauty of this old fort. Today the fort is accessible by only boats and ferry.
During the war of 1812, the United States Army Corps of Engineers planned to make a fort on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay. It was built under the Third System of US Fortification, and the former fort was named after the colonial proprietor of Maine, Sir Ferdinando Gorges. The main purpose to build the fort was to protect the other forts including Fort Preble of South Portland and Fort Scammel of houses slain in 1808. The entire fort was designed by Reuben Staples Smart. It is the same size as Fort Sumter but the only difference is it's built of granite instead of bricks.The fort has advanced military technology, including ironclads, guns, etc. The fort consisted of 34 Rodman guns, which were ascended in the fort's casemates.
Due to no use of this fort to any of the war and high maintenance, in 1898 all the guns were removed from the fort except a large 300 pounds Parrot rifle, which is one of the largest surviving specimens of Civil war vintage artillery.The fort was last during World War II to store submarine mines.
After 1960 the fort was acquired by the city of Portland. It is now opened as a state park and only accessible by boats or water taxis. But the fort is highly needed restoration as most of the fort is overgrown and severely damaged by the effects of elements.
A Portland developer named Mike Dugay planned to convert this fort into a commercial space, which includes a restaurant, brewery, a bed and breakfast.
In the summer of 2019, the friends of Fort Gorges initiated an abound raising campaign for the restoration of the fort. Due to covid restrictions in 2021, a fundraiser campaign was organized here and only 49 people were permitted to attend the event and others attended the campaign online.
This is one of the hidden places of Maine, here beneath the lake lies a drowned old village by the same name as the lake, Flagstaff village. The Flagstaff lake is located in between Somerset County and Franklin County, it is the fourth-largest lake in the state of Maine. It's a 20,300 acres lake that occupies runoff from 520 square miles of the Upper Dead River Watershed. Many locals found this lake a haunted place so they avoided it. There are many stories circling the lake.
The lake earlier was a village named Flagstaff village. Till the early 1950s, the Flagstaff village existed where today’s Flagstaff lake lies. The first settlers of the Flagstaff village were Benedict Arnold and his men. They came here in 1800 for the rich soil found in the dead river and also for the timber resources. They build grist mills and sawmills in this area. The community stayed there until 1949 before the government planned to build the dam. But after the dam was built the whole village was flooded. and within 1948 the whole village was cleared from here. CMP made a hydropower dam over the whole village. This hydropower dam consolidates Main's electricity.At that time Maine's legislature Wayman purchased all the lands from the villagers and announced this place a flood zone and then signed up for the dam. By the year 1949, the whole village was burned down and nothing was left, the whole place was covered in smoke and grill.
In 1950 the Long Falls Dam was built in Flagstaff Lake. It is important for regulating water flow into the Kennebec river basin. When building the dam the lake also expanded and turned into a reservoir and used to make hydropower electricity by regulating the flow of the Dead river into the Kennebec River. In the early times, river drive was used for delivering timber to the pulp mills downstream. In later years new highways and the trucking industry have replaced the river drive.
Flagstaff Lake acquires parts of the deserted and now sunken townships of Flagstaff. The Dam had no electricity or generator. In 1959 a mid-air collision occurred over the lake during the exercise of the United States Air Force. A Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star and Convair F-102 Delta Daggers have clashed in the mid-air. The T-33 crew ejected, but the rear crew died when he tangled in his parachute and landed upside down. The front half of the T-33 was found in the lake in 1959 and the remaining part was discovered and the other part was discovered in later years and in 1979 the F-102 aircraft remains were discovered but the pilot of F-102 was never found. People believed that their ghosts were haunting this lake from then.
Peaks Island is one of the most famous and beautiful islands situated in Casco Bay, Maine. It is 3 miles away from the city of Portland. The island is only accessible by boats. The island is operated under Casco Bay Lines, the island has its elementary school, library, and police station. The island has mesmerizing views which every visitor can enjoy, one can travel the island by cycling or by simply walking. This place was famous for being a holiday destination in the late 19th century. But those days are all gone a long time ago.
The earlier name of the island was Pond but it was changed by George cleeve and the new name was Michale’s Island it was around in 1637. Later the island was purchased by John Palmer and it again changed its name to Palmer’s Island. In the late 19th century when the island was popular among the locals as a beautiful Holiday destination it was known as Coney Island. At that time people only came here for day tours and picnicking. Soon after, when the town was settled in the Peaks island it became known as Peaks Island. Many believe it was named after Joseph Peake, a soldier in Captain. Dominicus Jordan’s Company in 1744. But there was no proof that the island was named after him. In 1896 the population of the island was 343 and mostly covered with hardwood and small size bushes.
During the time of the Revolution, there were hardly three houses on the island. At the time of World War II, the island was home to a large number of military defense installations, including the largest structure Battery Steele.
Due to the 200% increase in the taxes of living in Peaks island by the state government, many of the residents have left the island. As this place was too costly to live here in Peaks Island. The most abandoned place located in Peaks Island is hidden among the woods and forest of Peaks Island. This is an abandoned fortification of Peaks Island from World War II. During World War II, authorities thought that the fight must come to American soil so they made a navy fort in Peaks Island. The main facility of the fort is its Battery Steel which is now covered under graffiti and severely damaged due to no maintenance. This Battery steel, the largest battery on the land at the time, is now overgrown and fully isolated.
Today Peaks Island is a famous tourist attraction. Many people come every year in summer to enjoy the beaches of Peaks island and to witness the natural beauty of peaks Island. The two main public beaches of peaks island are Sandy beach, Cairan beach.
The Battery steel is still abandoned and hides among the forest of Peaks Island. This is one of the tourist attractions of Peaks Island.