New England has a reputation for historical homes, but the region also moonlights as a Hollywood set piece. Among the heritage sites to hit on your next New England road trip are houses so Halloween-worthy, they’ve made it to the silver screen. Films like Hocus Pocus, House of Dark Shadows, and Shutter Island feature places you can actually visit, each steeped in the region’s mystique. One locale even inspired a Scooby Doo mystery mansion.
As you plan your next New England road trip, consider a detour through its reel-to-real horror showcase, where the colonial and creepy co-exist. Not for the faint of heart or the easily spooked, here are 13 hair-raising movie houses:
Hocus Pocus
Where: Salem, Massachusetts
Filming locations include Ropes Mansion (Allison’s House) at 318 Essex Street and the Salem Old Town Hall at 32 Derby Square where the adult Halloween party took place.
Allison’s home in the film is a grand Georgian colonial structure, now a prime photo-op for fans near downtown Salem. Beyond its movie credentials, the mansion has seen centuries of local history, holding stories that rival even the Sanderson sisters’ tales. It’s a window into the area’s prosperous past, evident in its well-maintained gardens and interiors. Managed by the Peabody Essex Museum, all 15 rooms of the mansion are open for public tours.
Meanwhile, the Federal-style Old Town Hall served as the venue for the Halloween party in Hocus Pocus where the Sanderson sisters took to the stage, to enchant partygoers. As Winifred belted out “I Put a Spell on You,” the townspeople found themselves dancing uncontrollably, under the sisters’ spell. Visitors today can stand in the spot where Bette Midler gave her unforgettable performance.
The Witches of Eastwick
Where: Cohasset and Ipswich, Massachusetts
The movie, starring Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson, explores the tale of three women who summon a mysterious man into their small town, only to discover he might be the devil. As their lives become entwined, chaos and magic ensue, revealing the strength and power of their newfound witchcraft.
One of the iconic locations used was the stately Cohasset Town Hall at 41 Highland Avenue. The location served as the exterior for the Eastwick town hall, capturing the classic New England architecture prevalent in the film. Just a short walk away, the historic Cohasset Central Cemetery provided a picturesque backdrop for several memorable scenes.
Another significant spot was The Crane Estate in Ipswich. Located at 290 Argilla Road, the grand estate set the stage for Daryl Van Horne’s (Jack Nicholson) opulent mansion. The sprawling grounds, luxurious interiors, and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean made it an ideal setting to bring the wealthy, enigmatic character’s home to life.
Pet Sematary (1989)
Where: Hancock, Maine
This home was the main setting of the first cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s zombie horror tale. The house, at 303 Point Road, is a New England-style residence with a deceptively peaceful appearance: yellow siding and a red roof, surrounded by trees. After the Creeds move in, the site becomes the focus of supernatural and tragic events.
The home’s quiet setting contrasts with the malevolent forces that the family encounters, originating from a mysterious burial ground in the woods nearby. The building transitions from a symbol of new beginnings to one of dread and foreboding.
The house remains a private residence, but fans can get a glimpse of the location from the road. For the best vantage point, you can pull off the highway roughly where the Creeds do in one scene.
Dark Shadows
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Seaview Terrace at 207 Ruggles Ave might look familiar to fans of the classic series Dark Shadows (1966 – 1971). The imposing Châteauesque-style estate was the face of the fictional Collinwood Mansion in the show. As you glimpse its distinctive architecture, you’ll be reminded of the series’ gripping tales of vampires, ghosts, and family secrets. Its significance in Dark Shadows also influenced the portrayal of Kingston Mansion in Scooby-Doo episode, “What the Hex Is Going On?”
Although Seaview Terrace is a draw for fans, it remains private property, so respectful distance is advised.
House of Dark Shadows
Where: Tarrytown, New York
The Gothic Revival country house at 635 South Broadway sits within a 67-acre park adjacent to the Hudson River. Lyndhurst Mansion served as a key filming location for House of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night of Dark Shadows (1971). It provided an atmospheric setting for the horror film series, with ornate interiors and vast grounds that contribute to the eerie ambiance of the films. The mansion even features on the film poster.
The film is an adaptation of the Dark Shadows television series, chronicling the journey of vampire Barnabas Collins as he seeks a cure for his vampirism. Additional scenes were shot at the nearby Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (not to be confused with the one is Massachusetts).
Today, you can take a tour of the mansion’s main floors ($25), or opt for the upstairs/downstairs tour ($42) that explores the observation tower. The landscape tour ($45) highlights the restored grounds and an on-site bowling alley built in 1894. A basic daily grounds pass ($12) lets you freely roam the property outdoors.
Certain interior scenes of House of Dark Shadows were filmed at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk, Connecticut. The Lockwood–Mathews Mansion added depth to the movie’s interior settings, with unique spaces that matched the mood and tone of the story. You can take a 90-minute guided tour the property ($45) or a 45-minute tour ($10). Note: Lyndhurst mansion is currently closed for repairs and expected to reopen in Fall 2024.
Knives Out
Where: North Easton, Massachusetts
Knives Out, a modern twist on the classic whodunit, revolves around the mysterious death of renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey. The Ames Mansion at 257 Massapoag Avenue in Borderland State Park was the Thrombey family mansion in the film, and central to its labyrinthine plot.
Within those walls, detective Benoit Blanc unravels the intricate web of family secrets and motives. Today, fans of the film can step into the film’s world by touring the grand mansion ($10).
Even if you miss the inside tour, the park itself and the mansion’s exterior are worth a visit. Shutter Island (2012) also made use of the park’s grounds.
The Good Son
Where: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Starring Macaulay Culkin as the deeply troubled Henry, and Elijah Wood as his unsuspecting cousin, The Good Son is a disturbing look into the dark corners of a young boy’s psyche. Henry’s home at 2 Boardman Avenue becomes the setting for many of the movie’s unsettling scenes.
The contrast between the calm waterside home and the film’s ominous undertone makes the location all the more memorable. The film’s climactic cliff scenes were shot about half an hour south in the coastal town of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Lizzie Borden
Where: Fall River, Massachusetts
While not featured in a Hollywood film, the Lizzie Borden House is well-known from various documentaries. Infamous for its alleged double ax murder in 1892, the home is now open to the public at 230 Second Street as a museum and bed & breakfast.
Guests can stay in their pick of two suites and four rooms. Among them is the John V Morse Suite on the second floor where Abby Borden was found murdered. The room, priced at $300 per night for two, shares a bathroom with the Lizzie & Emma Suite.
The house offers three types of tours. Regular house tours ($30) take you through every room. Recently introduced ghost tours ($25) tell stories of haunted spots in town and where Andrew Borden was killed. Ghost hunts are also new ($40) and allow access to the basement, where it is believed the murder weapon was hidden and evidence disposed.
The Conjuring
Where: Burrillville, Rhode Island
Known to many as the site of the Perron Family hauntings, this house gained recognition from the case files that became the basis for 2013 blockbuster, The Conjuring. Although the film wasn’t shot here, it is the original haunting ground.
Dating back to 1736, the Old Arnold Estate at 1677 Round Top Road, epitomizes the colonial haunting aura. The Conjuring highlighted its eerie past, tracing its other-worldly disturbances in the 1970s. But the estate’s supernatural lineage is said to stretch back to the 1700s.
Set on eight acres of sprawling fields, a river, and encircled by stone walls, the farmhouse is a hotspot for paranormal encounters, touted as one of the globe’s most supernaturally active sites. You can tour the home ($25) or do a paranormal investigation ($960+). Since its public opening in 2019, numerous visitors have attested to brushing shoulders with the ethereal.
The Purge: Election Year
Where: Woonsocket, Rhode Island
This dystopian thriller taps into the near-future and an annual event that legalizes all crime for 12 hours. Parts of the horror movie were filmed in downtown Woonsocket, morphing its main streets into an anarchic Washington, DC. St. Ann’s Church Complex at 84 Cumberland Street became a focal point for the chilling purge mass and cathedral crypt sequences.
The Rhode Island State House was chosen as the film’s White House. Not only does it have an imposing façade, but its interior — particularly the rotunda, press room, and basement — lent authenticity to the movie’s setting. Its impressive dome, the fourth largest structural stone dome in the world, looms in the background.
Shutter Island
Where: Medfield, Massachusetts
For fans of Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, a visit to Medfield State Hospital is a must. The location served as the backdrop for several exterior scenes in the movie, and contributed to the movie’s unsettling mood.
Situated at 45 Hospital Road, the former psychiatric facility operated from 1895 until its closure in 2003. It’s unique among abandoned U.S. psychiatric hospitals with grounds now open to the public as a park. As you wander the premises, it’s easy to feel the weight of the site’s real history, once holding over 2,000 patients.
Although the buildings themselves are boarded up and off-limits, their looming presence adds to the experience of a visit. With potential redevelopment on the horizon, the opportunity to witness this piece of cinematic (and human) history in its current state might be fleeting.
The Innkeepers
Where: Torrington, Connecticut
The Yankee Pedlar Inn at 93 Main Street offers a piece of cinema history and a dash of the supernatural. After The House of the Devil film crew experienced unexplained phenomena during their stay, the inn became the muse for Ti West’s The Innkeepers.
In the 2011 supernatural horror, Sara Paxton and Pat Healy star as employees trying to document the inn’s rumored ghostly occupants during its final operational days. Unfortunately that premise came partly true in real life, since the hotel has been abandoned since 2015. One of the inn’s most haunted rooms is supposed to be room 353, where original owner Alice Conley died.
Jumanji
Where: Keene, New Hampshire
While not a traditional Halloween movie, the fantasy elements and central plot revolving around a cursed game bring Jumanji close to the genre. While the exterior of the Parrish mansion was a temporary façade built on a vacant lot in Vancouver, Canada, the town of Keene in New Hampshire was transformed for outdoor shots in the film. The Parrish Shoes mural building is still visible.
The mural was intended to be temporary and a washable paint was used so that it could be easily removed following filming. But after the film’s release, the mural was repainted at the corner of West and Main streets in Keene. It has since become a memorial for late actor Robin Williams.
Meanwhile, the Olde Woolen Mill in North Berwick, Maine, served as the site of the Parrish Shoe Factory scenes. Located at 10 Canal Street, the structure is now affordable housing for senior residents. Originally built in 1832 the building was rehabilitated in 2009 and is open for visits.
Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
Leave a Reply