Winterport is a historic river town with easy access to Bangor
Winterport was founded as a seafaring town in the 1800s, but today it’s a quiet community on Maine’s Penobscot River, just 13 miles from Bangor. This section of the river is deep and doesn’t freeze, making it the farthest inland a ship could navigate in the winter. Evidence of the town’s 19th-century growth remains in the historic homes and buildings that line Main Street. The river is now a recreational hotspot, and most residents commute to Bangor for work.
“Winterport is a smaller suburb of Hampden, which is a highly desirable suburb of Bangor,” says Paige Cannan, a real estate agent with NextHome Experience who specializes in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties. “It’s far enough out that you have a lot of private lots where you can’t see your neighbor, but it’s close enough that you have access to Hampden’s school system, and you’re about 20 to 25 minutes from Bangor. It’s a good town if you want to be somewhat close to the coast but not right on the coast.”
Properties along the Penobscot River or in the forest
Narrow country roads weave across Winterport, where homes sit far apart amid the forest and farmland, or along the shore of the Penobscot River. Colonial and National style houses in town, built as early as the 1830s, were once home to Winterport’s mariners, and there are also newer custom homes with Cape Cod and contemporary influences. Most are on at least an acre, providing room for detached garages, horse stables and storage sheds. Prices typically range from around $210,000 to $800,000, depending on size, condition and acreage. Manufactured homes can cost between $160,000 and $270,000, and undeveloped land ranges from $50,000 to $160,000. Some houses are available to rent.
Kids attend public schools in RSU 22
Kids can attend schools in Regional School Unit 22, a district that earns an overall rating of B-plus from Niche and welcomes students from the neighboring communities of Hampden, Newburgh and Frankfort. They can start school at the B-rated Leroy H. Smith School and then go to the B-minus-rated Samuel L. Wagner Middle. For high school, kids attend the B-plus-rated Hampden Academy. The academy was founded in 1803, and its original campus was the site of a battle during the War of 1812. In the 1970s, celebrated Maine author Stephen King taught English here while he wrote his horror novel “Carrie.” Today, the high school has a popular athletics program. “High school basketball is a big thing in Maine,” Cannan says. “The tournaments are in February, and they attract crowds from all over.”
River access, sports fields and snowmobile trails for all-season fun
The Penobscot River flows through Winterport and is a popular spot for boating and fishing. Boaters can dock their craft and access the river at Mid-Coast Marina. Other marinas — as well as beaches, hiking trails and nature preserves — continue south where the river flows into the Penobscot Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Kids can participate in soccer at Abbott Park, and Foley Field hosts baseball leagues. Each Memorial Day, crowds come out to Foley Field to watch Little League games and enjoy a parade and cookout. The Fernald Field Dragway has hosted weekend racing events from June through October since the 1960s. During the area’s snowy winters, the Winterport Riverside Riders Snowmobile Club organizes group rides around Maine’s Interconnected Trail System.
Highway 1A connects to Bangor and the coast
U.S. Highway 1A leads about 13 miles to Bangor, a drive that takes roughly 20 minutes. It also connects to U.S. Highway 1, which leads to coastal areas like Searsport. Houses of worship here include St. Gabriel’s Church and Winterport Baptist Church. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, the closest hospital, is about 14 miles away, and Bangor International Airport is a 16-mile trip.
Main Street has local businesses and hangouts
Winterport’s sidewalk-lined Main Street is home to locally owned antique stores and historic buildings now used as private event venues, such as the Union Meeting House. “Winterport Winery is one of the more sought-after things to do in Winterport,” Cannan says. The winery shares a building with Penobscot Bay Brewery, and they offer flights of their wines, ciders and beers, all of which are made in-house. Winterport Pizza satisfies cravings for comfort food, offering a variety of Italian, American and Mexican dishes. Dollar General provides essentials, and Hannaford in Hampden is the closest grocery store. Hampden also has more restaurants, including Coffee Break Café, which is a classic breakfast diner. Big-box stores and national retailers are in Bangor.
Written By
Annie Franklin
