From The Latest Issue: A Spontaneous Road Trip And A Night At One Of Maine’s Most Haunted Hotels

How would you feel if, months after your travels, you discovered that the hotel you’d stayed in was believed to be haunted?

Skipped a heartbeat? So did I.

It had been a perfect day in Rangeley, Maine—the kind of lake town that looks like it has been painted into existence. The water shimmered gold in the evening light; the hills stood still like they were holding their breath. We were four women on the road, travelling without a script. A friend had promised to book our stay for the night, but as dusk fell, we realised she hadn’t been able to. No booking, no signal, no plan.

Famished and frustrated, we stopped at The Red Onion, drawn in by its glowing sign and the promise of Wi-Fi. Over dinner, we scrolled through booking sites until one listing appeared: The Herbert Grand Hotel in Kingfield, a century-old property, 37 miles away, and miraculously affordable. My friend called. A woman named Dawn answered and confirmed our room.

By the time we set out, night had descended like a curtain. The countryside turned from idyllic to eerie, the highway flanked by looming pines, the headlights slicing through the dark. The road was deserted, the kind of silence that makes your own breathing sound loud.

“Did you notice something strange?” my friend asked suddenly. “The woman on the phone kept asking how many of us were there and when exactly we’d arrive.” I laughed, brushing it off. “She’s probably planning dinner.” But something about the question hung in the air.

At 0.7 miles to the destination, there was nothing but blackness. No lights, no signboards. At 0.2 miles, still nothing. And then, as if the world had been holding back, we turned a corner, and there it was. Streetlights, a small bridge, a scattering of restaurants, and an old three-storey hotel standing with quiet dignity.

Inside, the reception was dimly lit and heavy with history—dark wooden panels, a large key rack, mounted deer heads, and portraits that seemed to follow you with their eyes. Dawn Sova, the woman from the call, greeted us warmly. Our room was on the third floor. There was no lift, only a narrow staircase that creaked with every step. The room itself felt like time had stopped inside it; floral bedsheets, wooden dressers, no television, no fuss. We were asleep before we could overthink it.

Morning brought laughter. We took photos, admired the antique charm, and chatted again with Dawn, who told us they were renovating the place “without disturbing its soul.” By mid-morning, we’d left Kingfield behind and were off hiking towards Angel Falls. Just another chapter in the journey. Or so I thought. Months later, back home, curiosity nudged me to look up the hotel. What I found made me freeze.

The National Paranormal Association had listed The Herbert Grand as one of Maine’s most haunted hotels. Guests had reported seeing a little girl sitting on a bed, an old man with his dog disappearing mid-corridor, and a woman brushing past in a bathroom mirror.

And the third floor (our floor) was where most of it supposedly happened. There were whispers of a murder in the basement. The Maine Ghost Hunters had even visited, claiming “evidence of paranormal energy.” Dawn, in one interview, said she’d never seen a spirit—but confessed she only booked out the third floor when the lower levels were full. I learned that Herbert S. Wing had built the hotel in 1918 and named it after himself. In 1956, after selling the hotel, he died there two weeks later. Since then, the Herbert Grand has changed hands many times. Today, it’s run by Dawn’s son, Rob Gregor. And though the stories linger, the place itself feels anything but haunted; more like a living relic that hums quietly with memory.

Maybe ghosts are real. Maybe they’re just history that refuses to fade. But The Herbert Grand felt alive in a way few places do. And if I ever find myself in Maine again, I wouldn’t hesitate to check back in.

The Information

Kingfield is the gateway to one of Maine’s favourite skiing destinations, Sugarloaf Mountain.

Getting There: Around 97 miles north of Portland, the Herbert Grand Hotel stands in the quaint town of Kingfield, Maine. The nearest major airports are Portland International Jetport and Bangor International Airport. From there, rent a car and ride through a scenic two-hour journey.

Tips: Visit the Stanley Museum, showcasing the steam-powered Stanley cars, or head to Sugarloaf Mountain for hiking or skiing. Explore Coos Canyon’s 32-foot-high gorge and the Angel Falls, one of Maine’s hidden cascades.

Best Time to Visit: September to October for golden foliage, or winter for snow sports and a fireside vacation.

Author Bio

Hiral Pandya is a travel writer, the creator behind the travel blog "Traveller By Birth." She is a former dentist who believes “exploration is limitless.”

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