Walking in the footsteps of the King of Horror’s 1989 Original Cult Classic Pet Sematary
Recreating moments from Stephen Kings 1989 Pet Semetary
It’s 1989 and the world is craving another horror movie hit from the mind of the King of Horror himself, Stephen King. After Carrie, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom, killing many of people in the process released on November 3rd, 1976 it gave the general public nightmares for weeks. But major horror fans wanted more. Next came The Shinning, on May 23rd, 1980. The story is about Jack Torrance (Nicholson), an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the isolated historic Overlook Hotel (The Stanely Hotel) in the Colorado Rockies. He suffers a mental break and is overcome by the spirits trapped in the Hotel. King produced a couple of other major books during that time that were made into movies, Creepshow in 1982, Cujo in 1983, Children of the Corn in 1984, Creepshow 2 in 1987 just to name a few.
Then the famous words were spoken on April 21st, 1989,
“This is where the dead speak”
Pet Sematary- Photo: Pet Sematary (1989)
We were shown the dark side of not letting go of the ones we’ve lost, and the consequences that follow when we want to play with the rules of life, everything dies. In Stephan King’s Pet Semetary, Doctor Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) moves his family to Maine, where he meets a friendly local named Jud Crandall (Fred Gwynne). After the Creeds' cat (Church, short for Winston Churchhill) is accidentally killed, Crandall advises Louis to bury it in the ground near the old pet cemetery. The cat returns to life, its personality changed for the worse. When Louis' son, Gage (Miko Hughes), dies tragically, Louis decides to bury the boy's body in the same ground despite the warnings of Crandall and Louis' visions of a deceased patient.
Hospital Scene-Photo: Pet Sematary (1989)
Having just moved to Maine, I thought it best to introduce myself to my new home, and decided to explore the dark side of the Vacationland and walk in the footsteps of The King of Horror himself, and place myself in the locations that inspired and/or where the actual locations the movie was filmed. For those who don’t know, Penobscot County is where Stephan Kings grew up and still lives today!
The Creed House - Photo: Pet Sematary (1989)
I made it a day trip and took my pup Atlas with me. My drive started at my home base, in Greenbush, Maine, and took a total of 6 hours, in drive time and with a few pitstops along the way! Below is a Travel Guide for my trip, and if you don’t want to start at the same spot I did I broke it down into drive time between each location. So you can start from any of locations!
Jud Crandall’s House - Photo: Pet Sematary (1989)
Guide To The Film Locations Of Pet Semetary
Start Location: Mt. Hope Cemetery, 1048 State St. Bangor, Me. 04401
Latitude: 44.81931
Longitude:-68.72839
-According to Yahoo
This location is where the Creeds buried their son Gage after he is struck and killed by a truck on the road in front of their house.
**I didn’t take a “recreation shot” at this location because when I arrived there were two services happening. I didn’t feel it appropriate to invade their privacy and I certainly wasn’t dressed for the event, a D&D t-shirt, running shorts and converse. Plus I had my pup with me, and he is all bark.
Drive Time: Approx- 42 Minutes 34 Miles
Next Location: Orono Hospital (Ellsworth City Hall), 1 City Hall Plaza Ellsworth, Me. 04605
Latitude: 44.54275
Longitude: -68.42389
-According to Yahoo
This location is where they filmed the hospital scene. Ellsworth city hall was a step in for The Univesity of Maine, where Victor Pascow, a man who was brought in due to being run over/head flayed by truck. Who before his death warned Louis about the consequences that would follow if he ever messed with the Indian burial ground.
Drive Time: Approx-46 Minutes 29.1 Miles
Next Location: The Pet Semetary, Behind- 313 High St. Ellsworth, ME 04605
Latitude:44.54221
Longitude:-68.41925
-According to Yahoo
This is the location that inspired the Pet Semetary. The path is behind the Creed House and leads to a crowded graveyard that homes the many pets that children have lost who live in that area. Most are those who’s dogs or cats were hit by the trucks that fly down the road in front of Jud & The Creed Houses.
Drive Time: Approx- 10 Minutes 1.9 Miles
Next Location: Jud Crandall's house, 308 Point Rd. Hancock, Me. 04640
Latitude: 44.50791
Longitude:-68.25469
-According to Yahoo
This location is Jud Crandall’s house. The old man who lived across the street from the Creeds whose been there for many years. He is a sense is a guide to Louis Creed and is the person who introduced him and his family to the history of the Pet Semetary.
Drive Time: Approx- 15 Minutes 9.5 Miles
Last Location: Creed house, 303 Point Rd. Hancock, Me. 04640
Latitude: 44.50838
Longitude: -68.25458
-According to Yahoo
This location is the Creed Families house. They move to this house from Chicago because Louis was offered a job in this small town in Maine as the new MD at The University of Maine.
Drive Time: Approx- 2 Minutes 489 Feet
Take-A-Way From The Darkside of Vacationland
It was about an hour and a half for my drive home from the Creed & Jud’s house. On my drive, there were a couple of places that caught my eye. There was a residence outside Hancock that seemed like something from another century. Hancock is one of the towns you drive through to get to the Creed & Crandall Houses. There was a sign that said “Stone Hedge House” and the building was constructed out of stones, with a beautiful landscape design that honestly, they could charge people to just take pictures on their lawn. A restaurant/antique called 1A Relics is in Ellsworth. It overlooks a beautiful forest and pickups some one of kind trinkets and Maine memorabilia.
Overall, was an amazing day trip that is easy to replicate and if you check out any of theses locations make sure to tag #theportalpost & @theportalpost to be featured on Instagram!
