Massachusetts might be known for its fall leaves, chowder, and Red Sox fans, but it also happens to be one of the most haunted states in the country.
We’re talking real ghost stories, creepy old buildings, and places where people swear they’ve seen things that cannot be explained.
Some spots are hundreds of years old, with dark histories that still linger in the walls, while others look totally normal… until the lights go out.
From spooky swamps to haunted houses and even a tunnel nicknamed “The Bloody Pit,” these places are not for the faint of heart.
Ready to get seriously creeped out? Let’s explore the most haunted places in Massachusetts.
1. Old Jail, Barnstable
Built in 1690, the Old Jail in Barnstable is the oldest wooden jail in the United States, and you can still visit it on the grounds of the Coast Guard Heritage Museum.
It’s seriously spooky, with reports of ghostly whispers, cold spots, and even the sound of chains rattling when no one’s around.
People say the place is haunted by former prisoners who were locked up in tiny, dark cells with no windows and barely any light.
Add in the fact that it was used until the 1800s, and it’s an easy pick if creepy buildings with real history are your thing.
2. Lizzie Borden House, Fall River
If the Old Jail left you uneasy, just wait until you hear about the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River.
This is the actual house where Lizzie was accused of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892, and you can still see the exact spots where it all went down.
Today it’s a bed and breakfast, and guests have seen apparitions, heard footsteps on empty stairs, and even felt someone sit on the edge of their bed at night.
And it doesn’t stop there, as the house is loaded with original furniture, artifacts from the case, and enough ghost stories that can keep you wide awake until morning.
3. Hockomock Swamp
Not a fan of haunted houses and more interested in outdoor scares? Hockomock Swamp is your spot.
Spanning 16,950 acres in southeastern Massachusetts, it’s part of the mysterious Bridgewater Triangle and filled with rumors of phantom animals and UFOs.
Those stories include everything from giant snakes to Bigfoot-like creatures, which makes sense given that “Hockomock” comes from an Algonquin word meaning “place where spirits dwell.”
It’s muddy, wild, and weird in the best way, so if you’re into spooky hikes with a supernatural side, toss on your boots and start exploring.
4. Boston Common, Boston
After the deep swamp, let’s head into the heart of the city, because even busy Boston Common has its ghost stories.
It’s the oldest public park in the U.S., and in the 1600s, this peaceful green space was actually a site of public hangings.
That dark history may explain why people describe a heavy feeling in the air at the Central Burying Ground and see ghostly figures wandering near Tremont Street.
Yep, the park might be beautiful by day, but it gets seriously eerie after sunset.
5. The Witch House, Salem
Of course, no haunted list in Massachusetts is complete without a stop in Salem, starting with the spooky Witch House on Essex Street.
This black house was home to Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the men who helped send 19 innocent people to their deaths during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
As the only building in the city still standing with direct ties to the trials, people say it gives off a heavy, eerie energy the moment you walk through the door.
Once inside, you’re surrounded by 17th-century furniture, period exhibits, and stories of phantom voices and cold drafts.
6. Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Sudbury
For a mix of haunted history and colonial charm, Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury delivers.
This place has been serving up meals since 1716, making it one of the oldest operating inns in the U.S., and it’s known for plenty of paranormal activity.
Room 9 is the hot spot here, where the ghost of a woman named Jerusha Howe is said to lie beside men who stay alone overnight.
Folks also report hearing music with no source, feeling sudden chills, and even waking up to find their suitcase mysteriously moved.
7. Hoosac Tunnel
Now, if ghostly inns are a little too cozy for your scare level, the Hoosac Tunnel in western Massachusetts cranks the creep factor way up.
This 4.75-mile tunnel runs through the mountains of the Berkshires and took over 20 years to build, with about 195 workers dying in explosions and collapses.
Locals have nicknamed it “The Bloody Pit,” and there are countless stories of ghostly cries, strange lights, and footsteps echoing through the darkness.
Even today, people say they feel a sudden drop in temperature and an overwhelming sense of dread when they pass through.
8. Houghton Mansion, North Adams
To wrap things up, the Houghton Mansion in North Adams is where things get even weirder.
This huge 1890s mansion was once home to Mayor Albert Charles Houghton, whose life took a tragic turn after a car crash killed his daughter and her friend.
In the days that followed, Houghton died from complications related to the accident, and the family’s chauffeur later took his own life, believing he was responsible.
Since then, the house has been a hotspot for strange activity, with reports of shadow figures, voices from empty rooms, and unexplained flickering lights.
All of that eventually drew ghost tours and paranormal investigations, and though the mansion is currently closed, it’s one to watch if it ever reopens.
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