The iconic wrought-iron gates at the former Bangor home of Stephen and Tabitha King have long been a major attraction for visitors. Situated on West Broadway, the striking gates feature intricate designs of bats, a three-headed dragon, and spider-like motifs that capture the imaginations of fans worldwide. Despite their popularity, few people knew the creator of these eerie yet captivating works was Terry Steel, a Maine blacksmith who was discovered by Tabitha King during a local craft show.
Steel’s connection to the gates had faded over time when a plaque recognizing his work was stolen in the 1980s, leaving the origin of the design largely uncredited to him.
Terry Steel’s Path to Creating the Gates
In 1978, at the age of 30, Terry Steel moved to Bridgton, Maine, after completing a two-and-a-half-year apprenticeship with master blacksmith Danny Hurwitz in Maryland. During this time, he mastered traditional techniques like hand-hammering iron and advanced metal joinery. The same year he relocated, Steel opened his blacksmith shop, Steel Forge, where he started producing small commissions across Maine.
Steel also showcased samples of his wrought-iron work at home and craft exhibitions. It was at a 1980 craft show in Lovell—a town where the Kings owned a summer residence—that Tabitha King first encountered his craftsmanship. Shortly after, she invited him to the Stephen King residence in Bangor to discuss a project, though Steel did not initially realize he was dealing with the famed author’s wife.
I had no idea who she was until I drove up to the house just as Stephen King drove up in a red Caddy,
Steel recalled.
They gave me full license on design, with no suggestions as to subject matter other than to have the project reflect who Stephen King is, and allowed me any time necessary to complete the project.
Design and Creation of the Gates
Over two years, Steel designed and fabricated 350 feet of fencing and two large gates, including the grand double gate at the front of the property. Drawing on the skills learned from Hurwitz, he applied techniques like hot-carving to bring detailed creature heads to life on the metalwork.
I thought about how Mr. King was considered the master of inducing adrenaline rushes through fear, and what were good symbols of that fearful aspect,
Steel noted.
I thought much of spiders, webs encountered in the dark in the woods, and bats, goat heads and dragons. A three-headed dragon appeared in my mind fully formed, much like the three-headed dog Cerberus who guards the gates of Hell.
Some of Steel’s imaginative designs anticipated imagery later seen in King’s novels: the spider demon Mordred Deschain from the Dark Tower series published in 2004 and the dragon slain in the 1984 novel The Eyes of the Dragon resemble elements in the gate’s sculptures.
Completion and Lasting Impact of the Gates
Steel and his team completed the gates on-site in 1982. Throughout their construction, locals and visitors often stopped to watch, yet Steel only realized the gates’ fame as a tourist draw years later. The estate, with its remarkable gates and red-painted house, remains a bucket-list landmark for Bangor visitors alongside the Paul Bunyan statue and the Standpipe.
In September 2010, a car crash severely damaged the gates, but Bangor metalworker Leaman Allen of Allenfarm Fence restored them swiftly that same year, maintaining the original design and craftsmanship.
Today, the Kings split their time between Florida during winter and western Maine in summer, while the Bangor property functions as the home to their charitable foundation, Stephen King’s archives, and a writer’s retreat. The house and gates are central stops on SK Tours, a guided experience focused on locations connected to King’s life and work, operated by the Tinker family for over a decade.
Terry Steel’s Continuing Legacy in Metalwork
Beyond the famous gates at the King residence, Steel went on to design iron gates for prominent churches in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Texas, the Church of the Redeemer in Sorrento, Maine, and for the exterior of One City Center in Portland. Yet, the Bangor gates remain his largest and most celebrated project, a testament to his skill and creativity.
This gate has become an iconic draw to Bangor, much photographed by people from around the world,
Steel said.
People assume that Mr. King had designed the gates and fences, or at least collaborated on the design. The truth is, I solely designed, built and installed the gates and fencing, with full support from the Kings, who were delighted with what I created.
