5 Spooky Outdoor Places in Massachusetts

Feeling brave? Visit these spooky, outdoor places in Massachusetts.

1. Rutland Prison Camp, Rutland

Ever explore an abandoned prison in the middle of the woods? The remains of the Rutland Prison Camp can be found in the Rutland State Park. Built in 1903 for those guilty of minor infractions, the prison had inmates work on a self-supporting farm.

Spirit sightings have been reported, and Ghost Hunter Steven Flaherty believes that there is something out there. As if walking around an old, abandoned prison wasn’t spooky enough!

Check out our visit to the Rutland Prison Camp!

2. The Fall River/Freetown State Forest, Fall River and Freetown

This 5,000-acre state forest has had a reputation for being haunted for ages. The Wampanoag Tribe believed that Pudwedgies, small, human-like creatures, roam the forest and live to cause mischief and hardship for visitors. Cults and Satanists have been known to have rituals deep in the woods, and ghosts have been allegedly seen jumping off an old ledge quarry into the man-made pond below.

As if that wasn’t enough, in 1974 Ronald Reagan, who was governor of California at the time, said he saw a UFO while flying in a small Cessna plane over the forest.

Whether you believe it or not, one thing’s for certain: You shouldn’t be roaming around there at night!

3. Dogtown Common, Gloucester

Dogtown was once its own town. In the mid 1700s, up to 100 families called this place their home. However, the threat of being attacked during the War of 1812 caused people to leave. As the population declined, rumors about its residents practicing witchcraft grew. By 1828, no one lived in the town. The remains of Dogtown were then bought by a local philanthropist for preservation, who had many of its boulders engraved with positive sayings.

Strange happenings have been reported in Dogtown for years: An elusive woman in black is known to wander the forest, personal equipment stops working, and some visitors feel a weird “vibe.”

4. Spider Gates Cemetery, Leicester

This 18th-century Quaker cemetery is shrouded in spooky tales and paranormal mystery. According to legend, the Quakers picked this location to bury their dead because they believed the land had special powers.

In the graveyard there is a patch of land where grass won’t grow, which is known simply as “The Altar.” Legends says that it’s on this area where sacrifices were made. If you come across Earle Marmaduke’s grave, you may want to think twice before staying around. Supposedly, if you walk around his grave 10 times at midnight saying, “Speak to me, Marmaduke,” he’ll talk to you.

Others say that by walking through the gates of the cemetery, you’re entering the 8th Gate of Hell. While that seems a bit dramatic for a hidden burial ground in small-town Massachusetts, perhaps you should walk around the gate. You know, just to be on the safe side.

5. Eunice Williams Covered Bridge, Greenfield

Eunice Williams’ story dates back to Queen Anne’s War in 1704. On the morning of February 29, an alliance of 300 French, Abenaki, and Mohawk fighters attacked nearby Deerfield, destroying locals’ homes and killing their livestock. 56 villagers were killed, and 112 were taken prisoner.

One of those prisoners was Eunice Williams, who, along with the other captives, was forced to begin a march to Canada. Being exhausted from giving birth the day before, she collapsed while trying to cross the Green River. The fighters were ordered to kill anyone who wasn’t up to the journey, and unfortunately she was killed by a tomahawk.

The covered bridge on the Green River marks the spot where she was killed. Legend says that if you drive on the bridge on a clear, moonless night, you may see her. She’s also been reportedly seen in the waters below.

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