What better way to get in the spooky spirit than with a road trip to the most haunted places in Massachusetts? We’ve gathered some of the scariest, creepiest locales in the state and organized them into a journey that is sure to make you shiver.
You can find directions and a map of the trip below. The total journey comes out to about 8.5 hours, but you’ll want to budget some time to actually get out of your car and explore these spots.
The USS Salem in Quincy is regarded as one of the most haunted vessels in the world. In 1953, the ship served as a makeshift, floating hospital during a massive earthquake in Greece. Hundreds died onboard, and some rooms in the ship were stuffed to the ceiling with the corpses of the deceased. Reports of hauntings and paranormal activity have abounded ever since. Today, you can tour the ship and learn about its haunted history, as well as test your bravery at the "Ghost Ship Harbor" haunted attraction, which runs through the end of October.
This is definitely the creepiest ghost town in Massachusetts. Founded in 1693, Dogtown was once home to about 100 families. After pirate attacks and tensions with local native peoples drove the settlers further inland, the town became a haven for vagrants, criminals…and some say, witches.
Dogtown gets its name from the packs of feral canines that roamed its streets after the town was abandoned. One resident of Dogtown was particularly notorious. Thomazine "Tammy" Younger was known as "Queen of the Witches," and it was said that she cursed teams of oxen and local farmers who refused to pay her tribute. Today, Dogtown is covered with inscribed boulders bearing strange, motivational messages. The stones were commissioned in the 1920s by the late Roger Babson, the founder of Babson College. They add an additional layer of spookiness to a ghost town that many believe to be haunted by its former residents.
This mental hospital opened in 1878, and was the birthplace of the infamous pre-frontal lobotomy. This medical procedure involved thrusting a long rod (resembling an ice pick) through the corner of a patient’s eye and wiggling it around in order to sever important neural connections.
Conditions at the hospital were terrible, and there were reports that some patients were left chained to beds for days, or allowed to wander the halls covered in their own filth. The hospital closed in 1992, and many of the buildings were converted to apartments. However, mysterious fires began to break out in the apartments in 2007.
The original facade of the main Kirkbride building, in addition to the cemeteries, several barricaded tunnels and the brick shell of the administration and the D and G wings remain. The ruins of the hospital were used as the setting for the 2001 horror film "Session 9."
This mansion is so haunted, visitors are required to sign a waiver before entering the home. It has a history of death and tragedy that spans over 130 years. Built in the late 1880s by Sylvester Pierce, a wealthy local businessman, the mansion is reportedly haunted by numerous members of the Pierce family, many of whom died in the home from illness or accident. The ghosts here are known to get physical, with some guests reporting being pushed down stairs or compelled towards open windows against their will. This is one of the most haunted places in Massachusetts.
The Hoosac Tunnel is nicknamed "The Bloody Pit," and with good reason. Over 200 people have died in the tunnel, and it was one of the most deadly construction projects in Massachusetts history. The story of one incident, in particular, will make you shiver. After an explosion in the tunnel, 13 men were presumed dead abandoned at the bottom of a deep shaft. A makeshift raft was later discovered, along with evidence that the men had survived for days after the search was called off. Note: the tunnel is private and active railroad property, and trespassing in the area is not permitted. To check out the Hoosac Tunnel, hop aboard a train at the North Adams station.
The Belchertown State School is one of the creepiest abandoned places in Massachusetts. This school was built in 1922 to serve the "mentally defective." The maximum capacity was meant to be 400 occupants, but by the 1970s, over 1,500 patients were crammed into the school. Conditions were deplorable. Local judge Joseph L. Tauro described the school as "a warehouse for humans," saying that he "saw a little girl drinking from a feces-filled commode" during one of his visits. The buildings were infested with rats and insects that would bite patients, especially those who were tied down to their beds. The school closed in 1971, and reports of hauntings have abounded ever since. You can check out the decaying buildings and overgrown grounds from the outside, but access to the inside of the buildings is not permitted.
Of all the Massachusetts hauntings, this one is probably the most terrifying. This place is officially known as Quaker Cemetery, but unofficially known as Spider Gates Cemetery, or "The Eighth Gate to Hell." Founded in 1740, local tales assert that the cemetery is a gateway to another dimension. Reports of hauntings abound, and satanic rituals are said to be performed on a stone area of the cemetery known as "The Altar."
This forest just may be the most haunted in America. Part of the infamous "Bridgewater Triangle," a triad of the creepiest places in Massachusetts that exhibit unusual levels of odd happenings and paranormal activity, this spooky forest has played host to multiple documented murders, suicides and assaults. It’s also rumored to be the favorite haunt of Pukwudgies, humanoid creatures from Wampanoag native tradition. President Ronald Reagan himself reported seeing strange lights in the sky within the forest. In May of 2016, an escaped emu was reported to be wandering around the forest and attacking visitors.
The Lizzie Borden House is one of the most infamous murder scenes in America. In 1892, Lizzie Borden of Fall River was accused of the violent murders of her father and mother. They had been viciously slain with an axe, and though Borden was ultimately acquitted of their murders, most locals believed she had committed the crimes. Due to the horrors that occurred here, it's no wonder this is one of the most haunted places in Massachusetts. Many guests have claimed to feel ill upon walking into the home, saying that they experience an oppressive feeling and a sense that they are being watched. If you're feeling courageous, you can rent a room in the Borden home for the night.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
Most Haunted Places In Massachusetts
Elisa Regulski |August 22, 2019
What is the most famous ghost story from Massachusetts?
There’s no shortage of spooky ghosts in Massachusetts. One of the most famous stories involves Mrs. Melanie Lanier. During the Civil War, this brave woman ventured to Fort Warren in order to rescue her husband who was being held hostage. She weaved her way into the prison and nearly succeeded in her mission. At the last moment, however, she was caught by Union soldiers. Melanie Lanier shot at one of the guards, but the weapon backfired in her hand. The gun burst into pieces and a shard lodged itself into her husband’s head, killing him on the spot. Melanie Lanier was later hanged as a traitor on George’s Island in 1862. To this day, people have reported seeing her aimlessly wandering around the fort in her black execution robe.
What is the most haunted town in Massachusetts?
Salem, famous for its macabre witch trials, is the most haunted town in Massachusetts. In 1692, hundreds of people were accused of witchcraft and hanged in the town square. Today, visitors flock to this area in search of the paranormal. Numerous spectral visions have appeared along The Old Burying Point Cemetery, and people have also reported strange activity at The Salem Hospital, Salem Jail, and Salem State College.
What is the creepiest abandoned place in Massachusetts?
The Plymouth County Hospital, located in Hanson, is one of the most bone-chilling abandoned places in Massachusetts. This once sturdy building was constructed in 1916 as a tuberculosis hospital. It shuttered in 1992, and has stood vacant ever since. Trespassing is prohibited, and the city warns that the floors could give out at any moment.
