Wicked Curious Radio - Echoes Beneath the Water, The Ghostly History of Maine’s Lakes

As summer settles across Maine’s lakes, thousands gather along the water’s edge to swim, boat, and relax beneath sunny skies. But beneath the sparkling surface lie stories of loss, tragedy, and communities forever changed. In this episode of Wicked Curious, we explore two haunting chapters of Maine history. First, we journey beneath the waters of Flagstaff Lake, where entire towns—including Flagstaff and Dead River—were sacrificed and flooded in the name of progress. Then we travel to the shores of Belgrade Lakes, where a devastating fire consumed the grand Belgrade Lakes Hotel, leaving behind memories, legends, and whispers of a bygone era. From burning forests and drowned homesteads to vanished landmarks and lingering spirits, these stories reveal how the lakes we treasure today often conceal forgotten histories beneath their calm surfaces. So pull up a chair by the campfire, listen to the loons calling across the water, and join us for an evening of Maine’s most fascinating lake legends. Because sometimes the deepest stories are the ones hidden beneath the surface.