Bangor, Maine is the clear inspiration for King’s Derry, with several local landmarks adopted into his fictional geography. I spent several days in Bangor, immersing myself in King’s world and seeing several of the places that have inspired King’s fiction. 

My home base was a great Airbnb within walking distance of downtown and after getting the lay of the land, I got walking. Bangor has a thriving downtown, with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants. Paddy Murphy’s Pub is particularly great (“The Best of Ireland With a Touch of Maine”), with a cozy atmosphere and excellent food. It is also located in the building that once housed Betts Books, the premiere King specialty bookstore, making it a touchstone of King Bangor history. 

Strolling through downtown Bangor, I found myself tapping into the land of IT (1986). The Bangor Public Library is a beautiful building, with its architectural dome and glassed cafe annex, which brings to mind Ben Hanscom’s slightly dreamy thoughts of standing outside on a snowy night and watching the warmth and light inside. The library was a hub of activity and wonderfully browsable, with several excellent displays (including Book Bingo, Banned Books, and New Nonfiction) and a Lego replica of the library itself. One of the upper floors features clay bricks inscribed with the names of library donors and supporters, with Stephen and Tabitha King featured among them. 

While the Paul Bunyan statue in Bangor’s Bass Park (Bassey Park in IT) looks cheerful and kitschy from a distance or driving by on the street, standing in his shadow with Paul looming above you is a bit unnerving. The canals that run through downtown Bangor are beautiful, though in a King frame of mind, it’s tough not to wonder what might be lurking under those arches. The Kenduskeag Stream Trail evokes a strong sense of the Barrens, a lush wilderness that feels a bit wild and isolated, all just steps away from the heart of downtown Bangor. 

As I headed back to my Airbnb, I felt like I was walking in the Losers Club’s footsteps, with a bit of Bag of Bones (1998) thrown in for good measure as I passed the tricky intersection from the latter novel’s opening scene (though Rite Aid of the book is now a dollar store). 

One thing is certain: hiking back up Up-Mile Hill is no joke.