8 spooktacular New England haunted houses to visit before Halloween
With a history that stretches back almost 400 years, Massachusetts has plenty of old houses and creepy historical happenings that crank up the fright factor. But if you’ve already been to Salem and seen every gravestone Boston has to offer, it might be time to visit some of the area’s many haunted attractions. From a ghostly historic ship to a popular amusement park turned creepy at nightfall, here are eight can’t-miss haunted houses to check out this Halloween season.
Barrett’s Haunted Mansion
Barrett’s Haunted Mansion in Abington.
Barrett’s Haunted Mansion, now in its 25th year in business, has always had plenty of scary clowns in its arsenal, and has no plans to back off in spite of the nationwide hysteria surrounding the painted entertainers. Real haunted house fans who are 16 and older should seek tickets for Darkness Unleashed, where for a few nights only, Barrett lets the creatures that inhabit its mansion ignore the usual house rules and amp up the scares to their highest level. (1235 Bedford St., Route 18, Abington; Sundays through Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. through November 5.; $25 GA, $45 VIP)
Canobie Lake Park Screeemfest
A creepy clown at Canobie Lake Screeemfest in Salem, New Hampshire.
One of New England’s oldest and most beloved amusement parks also has a scary side in the fall thanks to the pirate-themed Black Hollow Cove and the haunted Canobie Lake Hotel. Because Canobie is a family-friendly park, the younger and more easily scared will find plenty of activities, as well, including a pumpkin house, petting zoo, and Rocktoberfest, a rotating series of tribute bands playing covers of stars like Prince and Michael Jackson. (85 N. Policy St., Salem, New Hampshire; Fridays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sundays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. through October 30; $34 GA, $23 for those under 48 inches or over 60 year old, free for kids 3 and under)
Factory of Terror
The exterior of The Factory of Terror in Worcester.
With far too many frights for one location, the Factory of Terror has expanded in recent years to three spots. Scares are available at the flagship location in Worcester, plus in Fall River and West Warwick, Rhode Island. With terrifying attractions like Clown College 4D, Zombie Alley, and Zella’s Hideaway, as well as a “hopper” ticket package that gives visitors admission to all three locations, the Factory of Terror should keep any haunted house superfan properly spooked. (201 Grafton St., Worcester; 33 Pearl St., Fall River; 3 Bridal Ave., West Warwick, Rhode Island; Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fridays from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m through November 5; $18-22 GA, $35-40 VIP)
Fright Fest at Six Flags New England
Fiendish figures take a break on the carousel at Six Flags New England in Agawam.
Six Flags New England provides enough screams in the daytime hours thanks to their roller coasters, but when night falls in October, the amusement park amps up the creepy quotient with Fright Fest. With more than a dozen haunted attractions like the Demon District, Midnight Mansion, and Slasher Circus 3D, Fright Fest makes sure you get your money’s worth for traveling to Western Mass. (1623 Main St., Agawam; Fridays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. through October 31; tickets start at $46, but Six Flags has group rates, season passes, and package deals on its website)
Ghost Ship Harbor
A frightening sight on the Ghost Ship Harbor in Quincy.
One of the newest entries in the New England haunted category is this fright-filled experience on the USS Salem built by “horror entrepreneur” Jason Egan. He opened Ghost Ship Harbor in 2016 after running the Las Vegas-based Fright Dome for the last 14 years. Guests can choose between three different haunting experiences, and can even stick around after the frights for drinks and music while taking a chance to appreciate the historic setting without getting spooked at every turn. (739 Washington St., Quincy; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. through October 31; $30-35 GA, $45-50 VIP, $70-75 Paranormal VIP)
Hysteria at Connors Farm
Hungry zombies at Hysteria at Connors Farm in Danvers.
Connors Farm already sees plenty of visitors in the daytime to its popular corn maze, and visitors can try to navigate that same maze at night using a flashlight. But the main after-dark attractions at Connors are Zombie Paintball and the Haunted Farm, a 30-minute walking tour around the farm grounds and through fright-filled woods. (30 Valley Rd., Danvers; Fridays and Saturdays from dusk until 11 p.m through October 31; $25 for the haunted farm or zombie paintball, $15 for the corn maze)
Spooky World Presents: Nightmare New England
A grisly scene at Spooky World in Litchfield, New Hampshire.
The long-running “scream park” has changed locations several times over the years, but what hasn’t changed is the fright factor. With five separate attractions spread across 80 acres in Litchfield, New Hampshire, from the Haunted Hayride to the Festival of Fear, Spooky World is hoping to scare the living daylights out of you every weekend until November 5. (454 Charles Bancroft Highway, Litchfield, New Hampshire; Mondays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 3 p.m .to 10 p.m. through November 5; $35-40 GA, $60-65 VIP, $75-80 Super VIP)
Witch’s Woods
A spooky skeleton at Witch’s Woods in Westford.
The frightful theme park inside Nashoba Valley Ski Area has attractions like the Haunted Hayride, Castle Morbid, Nightmare Mansion, and Vampire Passage. If you have a family member less into haunted scare-fests, the park offers free admission to the Jack O’Lantern Jamboree, where you can play carnival games, enjoy rides, and check out hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns exquisitely designed by professional carvers. (79 Powers Rd., Westford; Thursdays through Sundays from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. through October 31; $37)
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