If you love maritime charm, rich island history, and just a touch of the supernatural, then Peaks Island in Maine is calling your name. Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Portland, this small yet vibrant island is famous for its ocean views, artist colonies, and the undeniable sense that the past is never too far behind. Whether you’re a casual tourist, a history buff, or a seasoned ghost hunter, Peaks Island offers something intriguing for everyone. In this post, we’ll uncover the fascinating—and sometimes chilling—layers of this remarkable island’s past. So pack your EMF detector and walking shoes, because this adventure is full of twists, turns, and maybe even a spirit or two.
The History
Early Beginnings: Indigenous Roots to Colonial Settlement
Long before English settlers arrived, the Casco Bay region, including what is now known as Peaks Island, was the seasonal home of the Wabanaki Confederacy. These Indigenous people, including the Abenaki, hunted, fished, and gathered in the area for generations. The island itself was an important part of regional navigation and, quite possibly, spiritual ceremonies.
In the early 1600s, European explorers and fishermen began arriving in Casco Bay. Peaks Island was originally known as the “Forest City’s” outer barrier, used strategically for both observation and defense. Its earliest colonial connections can be traced back to the 17th century when the island fell under the Province of Maine, a territory of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Becoming a Community: The 1800s
By the 1800s, Peaks Island began developing into a small but bustling community. Local families established fishing and farming operations, while others ran bootlegging routes during the War of 1812. The harbor made it an ideal location for trade, protection, and eventually, leisure.
Steamboats brought vacationers from Boston and Portland, transforming Peaks Island into a premier summer destination. Grand hotels and boardwalk-style attractions popped up along the shoreline, earning it the nickname “The Coney Island of Maine.” Tourists came for the beaches but often stayed for the slow island pace and cedar-scented breezes.
War and Conflict: A Coastal Defense Stronghold
Few visitors realize that beneath the island’s quaint cottages and art galleries lies a military history that stretches deep into U.S. defense strategy. During World War II, Peaks Island played a crucial role as part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland. Battery Steele, built by the U.S. Army in 1942, is one of the largest gun batteries ever erected in the United States. This concrete giant was outfitted with 16-inch naval guns and underground tunnels designed to resist bombardment.
Residents recall soldiers training amidst the trees and the eerie silence that followed the war’s end. Many structures were sealed off or abandoned, creating an environment ripe for ghost stories and supernatural speculation.
Modern-Day Peaks Island: Art, Community, and Preservation
Following World War II, Peaks Island gradually returned to a quieter pace of life. Veterans and artists moved into homes once used for military lodging. Over time, the island grew into a lively hamlet of about 900 year-round residents, with several thousand more in the summer months.
Today, Peaks Island is part of Portland, Maine, though some residents have advocated for secession over the years. The island is now famous for its rich arts culture, natural beauty, and pathways that wind past lighthouses, vintage homes, and dovecoted shorelines. Yet for all its peace and resilience, Peaks Island has its shadows—the kind that make it a goldmine for paranormal researchers.
The Haunt
Many will tell you that Peaks Island is a serene escape from modern life. But for those who listen closely, the island whispers its history in creaks, groans, and cold, sudden gusts. Paranormal activity here is less about flashy apparitions and more about subtle presences that hint at a deeper energy. Still, a few spots stand out as truly haunted ground.
Battery Steele: Underground Echoes
No ghost hunter should leave Peaks Island without exploring the massive cement husk of Battery Steele. Located within a nature preserve, this former military installation is not only dark and ominous—it’s acoustically disorienting. Whisper in one corridor, and you’ll hear it ricochet in bizarre and unexplained directions.
Multiple visitors have reported cold spots, the sensation of being followed, and even hearing footsteps echo behind them—when no one else is around. Paranormal investigators have captured EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) in the form of faint voices and metal clanking, though no machinery remains in the tunnels.
It’s worth noting that Battery Steele was designed to withstand severe attack. It housed hundreds of soldiers and likely witnessed its share of tragedy, panic, and confinement. All of this makes for the kind of residual energy that clingy spirits feed off.
Pond Grove Cemetery: The Spirits of Early Settlers
Tucked beneath overarching trees on the island’s eastern side lies Pond Grove Cemetery, an unassuming yet ancient burial ground. Dating back to the early 1800s, this resting place holds the remains of fishermen, infants, and soldiers, some of whom fought in the Civil War. A number of gravestones bear barely-readable inscriptions, and a walk through the cemetery often comes with an inexplicable chill.
Local legend reveals that two children, buried side by side after an epidemic in the 1890s, are known to stir on moonlit nights. Passersby have reported the sound of giggling or the sudden appearance of marbles rolling across the path—possibly the spectral toys of the long-deceased.
The Former Hotel Peaks: Ghosts of Gilded Vacations
Though the original building was destroyed by fire many decades ago, the former site of the grand Hotel Peaks is said to carry residual hauntings. Located near the island’s southern side, the area hosted some of the island’s wealthiest and most eccentric visitors during its resort era.
Some stories tell of a woman in white—allegedly a jilted bride who never checked out—wandering the ruins and looking out toward the sea. Lights have appeared in areas with no electricity, and disembodied laughter echoes especially during the off-season. Cold, dense fogs tend to form in this stretch, enveloping visitors who often emerge disoriented.
Island-Wide Phenomena
What makes Peaks Island a unique haunt is its all-encompassing energy. Many visitors note unusual behavior from their phones and cameras—glitches, sudden battery drain, or blurry photos without reason. Locals share tales of lights in the woods, doors unlocking themselves, and family pets staring into corners with their hackles raised.
These subtle hints suggest that Peaks Island doesn’t have just one haunting—but may in fact be a network of quiet, ongoing spiritual activity. These kinds of places don’t shout; they whisper, revealing themselves only to those tuned in enough to notice.
Conclusion: A Must-Visit for the Paranormally Curious
Peaks Island is more than a summer retreat or quirky Portland suburb—it’s a living, breathing museum of Maine’s layered history. From its ancient indigenous roots and colonial past to wartime defenses and ghostly legends, this island invites exploration on every front. Whether you’re an experienced paranormal investigator or just someone who loves a good ghost story, Peaks Island delivers rugged beauty with a side of spectral mystery.
So grab your gear, book a ferry ticket, and prepare yourself. Because on Peaks Island, the past never stays buried…and sometimes, it likes to introduce itself.