New England Journey
In search of the scariest haunted home in Massachusetts? Attempt one in all these spooky sights.
Native Halloween followers are fortunate to have plenty of haunted homes inside driving distance of Boston.
Many of the sights will elicit a shriek from younger and previous alike, however some homes are extra unnerving than others, and a few are downright scary.
So in case you’re seeking to check your bravery, Boston.com took the time to go to and decide which of the state’s high haunted homes instill probably the most worry.
Many haunts are solely open Friday or Saturday and/or supply tickets for time slots, so it’s finest to buy your tickets on-line prematurely to make sure you will get in on an evening and at a time you favor. Some are open on Sundays, Thursdays, and holidays, so that you’ll wish to examine their web site.
A number of haunted householders stated you should have the perfect expertise on Friday or Saturday, as that is when the homes may have probably the most actors. Alternatively, in case you’re extra within the units and environment than soar scares, Thursday or Sunday nights are a very good possibility for you.
Moreover, among the homes supply nights the place you should use a flashlight and nights the place the set lights are turned off. So irrespective of how a lot braveness you possess, it is best to be capable of discover a night time to attend with a scare degree that’s best for you.
Lastly, there’s a variety of enjoyable available at haunted homes apart from shaking in your boots, so this checklist additionally particulars different spooky actions you possibly can bask in at every location.
6. Witch’s Woods — Westford
Scariness: 3/5
Actors: 3.5/5
Set Dressing: 3.5/5
Total enjoyable: 4/5
Whereas Witch’s Woods is all the time a enjoyable time, it isn’t all the time the scariest of Boston’s native haunted homes.
Sadly, particular person haunts such Fort Morbid and the Haunted Hayride are sometimes just like earlier years and missing in actors and decorations. Within the Haunted Hayride not less than, the actors often make up for it with good performances.
Vampire Passage continues to be Witch’s Woods’ finest and scariest hang-out, with well-placed actors and sensible set design that advantages from the spooky setting of the darkish woods round it. Moreover, the clown-filled Keeper’s Crypt makes use of the black mild 3D impact nicely, making the partitions creepy however suave and disorienting to guests.
Along with its 4 haunts, Witch’s Woods gives a Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree exhibit, which all the time has expertly carved pumpkins. It additionally encompasses a Horrorwood exhibit with scenes from basic horror movies, and a few carnival video games and rides. Tickets should not required to go to these components of the screampark.
The haunted home is on the identical property as Nashoba Valley Ski Space, so it’s also possible to go to the comfortable Outlook Restaurant the place you will get a chunk and a drink earlier than or after getting spooked.
Why it is best to go: This haunted home has probably the most particular person haunts of any home within the space, there’s rather a lot to do, and it has a restaurant. This makes Witch’s Woods a simple, enjoyable night time out for households searching for some Halloween enjoyable.
Ticket data: Tickets are $48 per individual, besides on opening weekend (Sept. 29 to Oct. 1), throughout which they’re $35 per individual. They are often bought on-line as much as every week earlier than the day you go to.
5. thirteenth World — Palmer
Scariness: 4/5
Actors: 3.5/5
Set Dressing: 3.5/5
Total Enjoyable: 3.5/5
Although this hang-out is a bit out of the way in which for Bostonians, there’s good purpose to make the journey. That is the one hang-out considerably near Boston through which actors could make bodily contact any night time you attend, which undoubtedly takes the worry issue to the subsequent degree.
Our favourite a part of thirteenth World was when actors used this freedom nicely. That stated, we felt most of the actors had been uncomfortable touching attendees, so this facet of the hang-out could also be underutilized.
The selection of expertise is as much as you. You may pay $5 further for a glow stick necklace, which tells the actors they’ll contact you. If not, it’s only a regular walkthrough hang-out. You may also take off your glow stick necklace if it turns into an excessive amount of for you.
This yr, along with their important hang-out, Moonlight Mayhem, thirteenth World has a maze filled with fog and fireplace referred to as Hellfire Home. It additionally encompasses a hang-out referred to as Alone, which guests should journey by by themselves, and a bar onsite referred to as Brimstone Tavern. Moreover, thirteenth World is providing two nights this yr throughout which there might be no actors on set and other people can take selfies. They’ve additionally organized one night time throughout which the lights within the sights might be off.
Why it is best to go: Not solely is there the choice to have actors make bodily contact, however the units are neatly designed.
Ticket data: Tickets begin at $30 and will be bought on-line. This haunted home additionally gives quick passes.
4. Concern City — Seekonk
Scariness: 3.5/5
Actors: 3.5/5
Set Dressing: 4/5
Total enjoyable: 4.5/5
Concern City can be nice enjoyable, however missing in scariness. Moreover, regardless of a modest crowd, traces generally is a drawback at this scream park.
This yr, Concern City has three new haunts. The primary is Black Cat Theater, a movie show through which friends stroll by the display to develop into the celebrities of two completely different horror motion pictures through which they’re being hunted.
The second is Slasher II, the sequel to final yr’s spectacular Christmas-themed hang-out. This yr, friends will attempt to escape unscathed as they dive deeper into the lore of the “Bay State Butcher.”
The ultimate hang-out is Madame Guillotine’s Sinister Court docket, which the hang-out proprietor described as a “easy celebration invite [that] seems to be rather more than friends bargained for.”
The opposite massive draw for Concern City is its non-haunt choices. It has a variety of Halloween-themed carnival video games which might be extra partaking than your common ring toss.
Why it is best to go: There’s rather a lot to do between the three haunts and carnival video games. The haunts are additionally artistic and enjoyable to have a look at even when they aren’t all that scary.
Ticket data: Tickets begin at $25 on-line for much less crowded nights. There’s a $5 on-line low cost.
3. Manufacturing unit of Terror — Fall River
Scariness: 4/5
Actors: 4.5/5
Set Dressing: 4.5/5
Total Enjoyable: 3/5
In order for you a strong, conventional hang-out with nice set dressing and actors, Manufacturing unit of Terror is a simple decide. It could solely host one hang-out, however the units are lovely and the walkthrough is lengthy, which in itself may cause unease.
Manufacturing unit of Terror additionally gives fairly good bang in your buck in case you purchase on-line and go on one of many much less crowded nights when entry is simply $20.
This yr, it’s providing two nights throughout which actors might be allowed to make bodily contact. The hang-out’s web site says you may be put in “extra excessive conditions,” however they do present a protected phrase in case the scares are overwhelming.
Sadly, as a result of it’s a single hang-out and is situated in the midst of a metropolis, lengthy traces generally is a drawback. Additionally, of all of the places, Manufacturing unit of Terror has the least to supply, with just one hang-out and no meals or different actions.
Why it is best to go: It’s merely a high quality hang-out.
Ticket data: Tickets begin at $20 per individual with the $5 on-line low cost. This haunted home additionally gives reductions for teams of 15 or extra.
2. Hysteria at Connors Farm — Danvers
Scariness: 4.5/5
Actors: 3.5/5
Set Dressing: 4/5
Total Enjoyable: 5/5
The setting of a corn maze and woods goes a great distance for Hysteria at Connors Farm. It’s a protracted hang-out, and it has rather a lot to supply.
Whereas its units had been generally a bit sparse and will have used extra (or generally higher) actors, when the hang-out was good, it was actually good.
This was the one hang-out we visited the place actors really ran at you, which was fairly scary in and of itself. It additionally had some artistic units that hit at fears comparable to claustrophobia, and was the one hang-out through which the animatronics had been really scary.
Connors Farm is undoubtedly a beautiful and enjoyable place to go. It has a big farm retailer that gives produce, sweets, and contemporary, scrumptious apple cider donuts. It additionally has a corn maze which you’ll be able to traverse at night time with a flashlight, which is a variety of enjoyable.
Why it is best to go: You simply can’t beat a haunted corn maze.
Ticket data: Tickets begin at $35 and will be bought on-line.
1. Barrett’s Haunted Mansion — Abington
Scariness: 4/5
Actors: 4.5/5
Set Dressing: 5/5
Total Enjoyable: 4.5/5
Mary Barrett Costello, who runs this family-owned enterprise, places a variety of effort into making the 2 haunts at this location shine — and it exhibits.
The units, each inside and out of doors the haunts, are artistic and complicated, and their use of sound is wise and unsettling. Costello stated she goes to a haunted home conference annually to search out new issues so as to add to the set. This excessive degree of design is obvious as you stroll by.
Costello additionally stated she takes nice care in selecting her actors.This effort is obvious given the excessive power of each haunter in each the Haunted Mansion and Condemned haunts.
One other bonus is that Barrett’s shares its property with Abington Ale Home, which gives each vegan and gluten-free choices to ensure everybody in your celebration can dine.
The home additionally gives Chew and Fright nights the place you will get dinner earlier than or after your haunted night.
For individuals who don’t wish to get too spooked, Barrett’s gives a “lights on” tour throughout which you’ll be able to clearly see the attractive units. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, it gives “Satan’s Nights” twice a yr, throughout which the actors are allowed to make bodily contact, and “Darkness Unleashed,” an evening throughout which the actors can contact you and the lights are turned off contained in the haunts.
Why it is best to go: Nice units, nice actors, and a terrific restaurant.
Ticket data: Tickets begin at $40 an individual and will be bought on-line.
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