Best Halloween Attractions in New England

New England loves all things fall–especially football and Halloween. While I can suggest nothing but your local schools and a Pats game for the former, you get lots of options when it comes to the latter. Since this blog isn't about friendly farmers, I'm going to skip the pumpkin picking and go straight for the scary attractions. The following are my favorite picks for Halloween in New England.

Spooky World

454 Charles Bancroft Hwy

Litchfield, New Hampshire

Admission: Between $35 for general admission and $80 for "Super VIP"

Spooky World is an 80-acre Halloween theme park with a range of attractions. It has all of your Halloween thrills in one place. Visitors also get a carnival experience with a spooky twist, so be ready to play games, have your fortune told and eat fair food.

The Haunted Hayride is one of five major parts of Spooky World. It's a one-mile journey through woods filled with spiders, experiments gone wrong and plenty else to send chills up your spine. It's the newest addition to the park. Brigham Manor is a haunted house with a backstory of murder and evil. The 3D Festival of Fear is a menagerie of misfit carnies. Carnage is a junkyard from hell. Finally, The Colony is a maze filled with the devil's minions.

Salem, Massachusetts

The rest of the year, Salem is a quaint North Shore village in Massachusetts. When Halloween rolls around, Salem's witch-hunt roots attract visitors from all over. While a visit to the town itself is not very scary, there are plenty of ghost tours, shops and haunted houses. Here, you can find horror and history.

Fright at the Fort

Fort Knox

740 Ft Knox Rd.

Prospect, Maine

Admission: Between $5 for kids-$13 for adults

Fright at the Fort lets you walk around historic Fort Knox and get spooked by monsters and ghouls. The atmosphere is the big draw at this attraction. Historic forts aren't exactly known for being bright and cheery.

Nightmare Vermont

105 Pearl St.

Essex Junction, Vermont

Admission: $12 online and $15 at the door

Nightmare Vermont has some pretty cool tricks up its sleeve for a haunted attraction. It's a sort of theatrical experience with stage shows and a theme. For example, 2016 will be a haunted carnival. What's interesting is that guests can purchase a "Monster Ward" at the door for $1. This helps the actors know who doesn't like to be bothered. On the other hand, every group gets to bid on who gets to be the "Monster Teaser." This person will be bothered much more than the average guest. In fact, the actors may even tie them up!

Amusement Parks Open For Halloween:

Fright Fest at Six Flags New England

Screemfest at Canobie Lake Park

Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce

Sterling Opera House: A Haunted Gem

Sterling Opera House

Derby, Connecticut is home to one of New England's best-known haunted sites–the Sterling Opera House. This beautiful Italianate structure is familiar to the townspeople, having been part of the landscape since 1889. The gifted architect H. Edwards Ficken was responsible for much of the design, which might have something to do with it being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

When the Sterling Opera House was in its prime, it was one of those fanciful venues of a bygone era. It is a gem of a classic, and you can still sense its vaudeville spirit, though it closed its doors for shows in 1945 and was abandoned half a century ago. Long ago, people like Amelia Earhart, John Barrymore and Charlie Chaplin graced its stage, with the indomitable Ms. Earhart giving a talk to a women's group about her adventures in the aviation. The Sterling Opera House has an auspicious past, but that doesn't stop ghost hunters and paranormal lovers from believing there may just be a few spirits lurking around the place.

One of my favorite stories about a ghost in the Sterling Opera House involves a child spirit named Andy. I'm not sure where the story originated, but it says that little Andy likes to play with soccer balls and other toys strewn about the decaying interior. That seems harmless enough. In fact, none of the ghost stories I came across involved anything malicious. Everything comes up rosy at this place.

There's a rumor that the Charles Sterling, for whom the opera house was named, also haunts the place. That's not really in keeping with the idea that you haunt a place if you died there or something tragic happened there. Nonetheless, it's what people say. They also say dancing orbs sometimes flicker about and that shadow people sometimes appear. I'm not a big fan of shadow people stories. Still, they seem to be relatively innocuous things if the stories are true.

During my research, I was happy to learn that Derby is in the process of renovating the Sterling Opera House. I tend to be disappointed when towns let their history fall to ruins (ahem, Hanson, MA), so this is good news. However, the project isn't fully funded, and, as of 2016, there is a Department of the Interior investigation into a grant given the town of Derby for this restoration. From what I can find, it doesn't look too serious. It appears that something wasn't approved and money exchanged hands anyway, but the money is going into the project as far as I can tell.

Sarah Winchester's Grave: The Resting Place of a Mad Heiress

Sarah Winchester

I want to talk about a place that is not necessarily haunted, but is still a great stop for paranormal enthusiasts–SarahWinchester's grave. Located at the Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut, this woman's grave is not only beautiful, but it is connected to one of the most famous haunted houses in American history. Heading to San Jose, California to see the Winchester Mystery House might be out of the question for some New England ghost hunters, so this grave is the next best thing.

Sarah Winchester was born into well-off society in Connecticut. She married into an even wealthier family by the name of Winchester–the producers of the ever-popular Winchester rifles. Sadly, she lost a daughter in infancy and later lost her husband. She may have gone a little mad, as she reportedly moved to California to start non-stop construction on a home to appease the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles because a psychic told her to.

Sarah was quite wealthy, earning a reported $1,000 a day after her husband's death. She had the means to obey her whims. She lived a life of wealth and eccentricity until she died on September 5, 1922 of heart failure. She was 83 years old. She was buried in New Haven because that was her home. Apparently, she felt more connected to New England than to California, where she built her famous house.

Sarah Winchester's grave towers over visitors at a whopping 8 feet tall. However, it is still a little tough to spot. Look for a rough-cut stone with flowers and a cross bearing her surname carved into the right and top sections. In the bottom left is a more traditional marker carved with the names of her husband and her daughter alongside her own. It's actually quite a beautiful piece of art befitting such an interesting woman.

Captain Fairchild Inn: A Ghost Host

I find this painting actually quite creepy.

Not every haunted tale in New England involves a scary ghost. At least one, coming out of Kennebunkport, Maine, is a bit more hospitable. Visitors to the Captain Fairfield Inn sometimes claim to have seen the ghost of the home's eponymous original owner playing the role of host in his unearthly form.

Captain James Fairfield was a seaman who started a privateering operation during the War of 1812. During one of his voyages, he wrote to his wife Lois to inform her that he was taken prisoner by the British. He was brought to the infamous Dartmoor Prison. In fact, he was there during the April 6, 1815 massacre. He lived to see his release and was back on American soil on July 3, 1815.

Two years earlier, the Captain began construction at a piece of property given to him by Lois' father on the corner of Pleasant and Green Streets in Kennebunkport. By the time he came home from his misadventure, he was able to begin his life there with his wife, sister and brother-in-law. Interestingly, a portrait of Captain Fairchild that was meant to grace the home was lost at sea. It didn't make its way home until after his death from pneumonia at the age of 36. He enjoyed the home, which has been an inn since 1991, for roughly five years.

Today, a copy of the original portrait of Captain Charles Fairfield hangs over the mantle of the inn. Those who sight the ghostly visage of Fairchild are able to make a positive identification based on this replica and the original, which is held in the Brick Store Museum. They say he seems pleased with the current state of the home, though ascribing that much feeling to a fleeting apparition might be a stretch.

Amos J. Blake House: A Haunted Museum

The older a place is, the more ghosts seem to like it, and the Amos J. Blake House is nearly 200 years old. Located in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, the house was originally a combined store and home built in 1837. Nearly 30 years after its construction, Amos J. Blake purchased the property for his home and law office. In 1966, it was given over to the care of the Fitzwilliam Historical Society. It is a museum, so visitors are welcome, but ghost hunters should be respectful and coordinate with the caretakers.

According to caretaker Terri Harlow, the Amos J. Blake House is host to 11 ghosts–12 if you include the cat she claims she saw vanish before her eyes. She tells of antique toys in the museum moving around when her back is turned. The popular show Ghost Hunters came by for a visit and got a chain moving of its own accord on film, though skeptics claim someone walked through the room and caused the movement. Whatever the case may be, there are creepy stories surrounding this interesting home.

Most people today know the torment of hoarding. They've seen hoarders on television or know someone who suffers from the condition personally. We tend to associate this problem with modern consumerism, but it turns out Amos Blake's own son was a hoarder. His room was filled to the brim during his lifetime. There doesn't seem to be any connection between this and the reported hauntings, but if anyone has an unhealthy attachment to a place and things, it's a hoarder.

Paranormal investigator Joni Mayhan claims she recorded EVP, a voice phenomenon, while in the Amos J. Blake House. A ghostly voice, then unheard by her, said "Behind you!" as she entered the hall. She doesn't say much about who the voice could belong to, whether anyone died in the home, if there were any tragedies, etc., but it's easy to see why people are a bit freaked out by the place.

Each room of the Amos J. Blake House is dedicated to telling the history of the home and area. There is the room filled with old toys, a military antique room, a costume room and even an antique medical equipment room, an obvious favorite for lovers of the macabre. Stop by and tell us which is your favorite place to get a chill up your spine.

Camp Ousamequin: Creepy Building in the Woods

The only structure I could find so far.

A few years back, my sister, brother-in-law, two nephews and I decided to make a pre-Halloween adventure out of visiting all of the local haunted spots. I made a hauntings map on a piece of poster board with the boys and we headed out. On that map was a place their dad mentioned­–a boy's camp. Locals would have you think it was some kind of bad kids camp, but as far as I can tell, Camp Ousamequin was a Y.M.C.A summer camp dating back to at least the 20s. In other words, a place where any boy could go to find "many ways to have a good time." Check out this article on it dated April, 1925.

You see the blue dot in the middle of the woods?
That's us. Keep going.

Way back at the end of Lingan St. in Halifax, there is a ball field. Behind that field is a concrete structure that was part of the camp to the best of my knowledge. It's a creepy place with lots of graffiti. When we visited, the doors were open and there had been a fire, as evidenced by a huge pile of burnt debris in front of the place. We went inside (it was wide open with no signs barring entry) and found several small rooms and one big room–all concrete. This is definitely suggestive of a camp, but I could easily see why someone would think it was a small detention center. Interestingly, though, I can't find any historical photos of concrete buildings. I see a lot of this.

The woods are starting to take it back.

A few days ago, my husband and I went back with the same two nephews to kill some time. This visit wasn't as successful. While there are still no signs, the doors were locked up tight. I managed to get the few pictures you see here, but the light was terrible for getting photos through the windows. If I ever manage to get in lawfully again, I will certainly update this post.

Zombie movie, anyone?

I'm skeptical of any kind of haunting, and I don't know any stories about this place beyond some local kids saying it's haunted in general. However, I will say it's an eerie place. The rundown building in the middle of a forest backed by a huge lake right next to a ball field kind of gives it a scary movie feel, which I can appreciate. This handout is definitely suggestive of some old-school Friday the 13th-style wholesomeness.

I suggest a stroll in the woods at Camp Ousamequin, but remember a locked door is as good as a No Trespassing sign. Respect the town and check the place out from the outside. If you are sure of the origin of this building, please let us know in the comments section. We're also happy to hear your ghost stories if you've got them.

Rutland Prison Camp: Ruins in a State Park

Historic photo of Rutland Prison
Camp Cemetery, courtesy of
The Rutland Land Conservancy

Few reportedly haunted locations are as open to the public and readily accessible as Rutland Prison Camp. You can drive right up to most of the sites of interest, and do so legally, assuming it's daytime. The site has long since been abandoned, so visitors must use caution and explore at their own risk, but responsible ghost hunters should have no problem checking everything out without incident. This is on the short list of places I would recommend visiting if you're looking for ghosts, not because I think they're there, but because you won't be bothering anyone.

The ruins of Rutland Prison Camp are located in what is now the Rutland State Park. The park is 300 acres and has lots to do. You can go swimming, have a picnic or even take your boat out when you come to scope out the camp.

Rutland Prison Camp opened in 1903. It had a big country house for the superintendent, prison dorms, solitary confinement cells, a farm for the prisoners to work and a root cellar for storing vegetables. Four years after it opened, a tuberculosis hospital was built to treat prisoners with consumption. The prison was not open for long. It was abandoned in 1934. Not all of it was left to rot, though. Most of it was destroyed, but a few structures remain.

The root cellar is still largely standing. It's in an overgrown hill and barely recognizable, but you can still walk in and check out all the vulgar graffiti covering its walls. Solitary confinement still stands, though it is open to the elements. The small cells give visitors an idea of how claustrophobic confinement would have been. There is also a drainage tunnel, as well as some other crumbling walls and foundations. The tunnel is full of debris and runoff. As far as I can tell, people don't actually go in anymore.

My personal favorite bit of the Rutland Prison Camp grounds is down Charnock Hill Rd. Go to Goose Hill Cemetery and follow the trail beyond it. There, you will find a marker where crosses once marked the graves of 59 inmates buried there. Sadly, there is no Pet Sematary.

There isn't much in the way of spooky ghost stories related to Rutland Prison Camp. The place housed low-level criminals, or at least those who had been convicted of low-level crimes, so there aren't even stories of murderers or executions to give the place a creepy vibe. All I could find was one story about the ex-warden's wife haunting the location where her house used to be. Of course, any records of an ex-warden's wife dying there are elusive.

Check out some photos of when the prison was still standing. Feel free to post your photos and experiences in the comments section.