Maine is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and one that is rich in history. The facts are rich and so are the stories of the old days. From Benedict Arnold travelling through with a slew of troops on his way to conquer Quebec City to Arnold supposedly hiding millions of dollars worth of gold and silver, somewhere in the Maine woods…there is no shortage of awesome historic stories.

Just when you thought you have heard them all, you find out more interesting facts about the great state of Maine. In this case, a hidden, abandoned town lies right in the heart of central Maine…one that many don’t know exists. The ones that do know…stay away from it.

Swan Island is located in the Kennebec River and has been abandoned for many, many years.

Swan Island was previously known as Perkins.

There are two ways to access it – by ferry or, as seen here, by kayak or canoe.

The island was thought to be abandoned as a result of pollution in the river. The businesses located on the island were forced to shut, causing the families to move elsewhere. The more official story says that the state of Maine began acquiring bits of the land over time.

The ghost island still has five standing homes – each dating back to the 1700’s.

The island was inhabited by Native American tribes and early settlers. It was also a landing ground for historical figures including Aaron Burr and Benedict Arnold.

The first you’ll come to is the Tubbs-Reed house.

The home, once owned by the Mayor of the Massachusetts Militia, is still standing.

Depending on when you go, you may only be able to peek within the windows. These views reveal furniture and other things that once existed within the home.

 

 

 

While many of the existing structures have been cleared out, they still have the same feel on the inside.

There isn’t much known about the Robinson House, but it exists as one of the homes that are now used by the state of Maine.

 

There is even an old cemetery on the island. 

There are ten lean-tos available for camping, or visitors are welcome to bring tents.

For some footage of this spot, see the video below by YouTube user Dylan Magaster:

 

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