CASTINE – Visitors to Castine have a new opportunity to get into the Halloween spirit with “Haunted Castine” guided ghost tours, presented by Castine Touring Company and the Pentagöet Inn. Each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening in October, volunteer tour guides will take passengers for a ride on “Scarlett,” the town’s low-speed electric tour vehicle, to hunt for ghosts, ghouls, and goblins living among the historic town.
Ghost hunters will visit the sites of famous hauntings such as Castine’s Little Drummer Boy, drive through the centuries-old cemetery, and learn about some lesser-known bumps in the night as shared by local residents. Tales of lost sea captains and Revolutionary War soldiers are just some of the spooky stories ghost tour guests will hear.
Following the tour, guests will stop at the Pentagöet Inn & Pub for a cocktail included in the price of the ticket. Mister’s Pub at the Pentagoet is known for featuring themed cocktails throughout the season and created several ghastly elixirs for the occasion, which will change each week.
“So many souls have passed through Castine over the centuries it just seemed like a natural fit to host ghost tours,” said Casey Bernard, a new driver for Castine Touring Company. Bernard has taken ghost tours while traveling to other cities such as Savannah and New Orleans and brought the idea to the CTC committee this summer. The board was quick to approve the concept and Pentagöet Inn owners Matt Powell and George Trinovich joined in the planning, offering to host patrons at the bar after the tour.
“As stewards of one of Castine’s oldest establishments, we aren’t strangers to things that go bump in the night,” quipped Powell. “We’re excited to be part of this new town experience… and we hope our inn’s more… spirited guests are thrilled as well.”
Haunted Castine tours will run every weekend in October beginning at 6 p.m. with an extra tour on Halloween night. Tickets are $45 per person and include a cocktail at the Pentagöet Inn. For reservations call 207-326-8616.
The Castine Touring Company is a volunteer-led organization created by Castine residents who wanted to give visitors a chance to learn about the history and experience the entire peninsula while visiting. Castine is built on a hill so often visitors don’t get to see all that Castine has to offer on foot. Every day during the summer and into October, volunteer tour guides lead tours of Castine on a red electric tour vehicle, affectionately nick-named Scarlett. Each winter the money raised through the summer tours is donated back to community organizations chosen by the committee. In 2023 thanks to generous donations, the group was able to secure funds to purchase a second vehicle for the 2024 season. The group plans to expand their services to include tours by reservation, pick up at the local inns and connect with windjammer cruises arriving by sea.
