Satan's Kingdom In Massachusetts: 10 Scary Local Landmarks To Visit

This article was originally published in October 2020. It has been updated for Halloween 2022.

MASSACHUSETTS — If recent foggy, spooky weather hasn't got you in the mood for Halloween, then maybe a trip to a local haunt will.

In ye olde Massachusetts, there are plenty of ominous landmarks to see outside the Salem area (which is going to be quite a mess this weekend, no doubt). From Satan's Kingdom in Northfield to another Satan's Kingdom in Westwood, here are 10 landmarks to see before Halloween.

UFO Bridge, Sheffield

This covered bridge in the Berkshires is the spot in September 1969 where a 9-year-old boy claims to have been abducted by aliens while riding in a car with his mother and grandmother. But he wasn't alone. Dozens of nearby residents reported a strange light in the sky. Some saw a flying saucer.

Skull Tomb, Worcester

Delve into the world of secret societies by visiting the Skull Tomb at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The tomb, located on campus near Boynton Street and Institute Road, was once home to the secret Skull fraternity, founded in 1911. Not to be confused with Skull and Bones at Yale.

Skull Rock Lock, Millville

Don't fear, this is just a stop along the former Blackstone Canal in Uxbridge. It's a good place to soak up a little local history with a dose of scary.

"The Conjuring" House, Burrillville, RI

No, it's not in Massachusetts — but it's a literal stone's throw from Douglas along Route 96. The home is said to have inspired the events in "The Conjuring" movie series. The house just went up for sale in September for $1.2 million, and the new owners are opening it up this Halloween season for some scares.

Witch Caves, Ashland

The Salem Witch Trials weren't confined to the North Shore. Rumor says that people accused of witchcraft during the trials fled to what is now the Ashland-Framingham border and hid in caves there.

The caves are a little hard to find in the sprawling present-day Ashland Town Forest. To find them, park in the lot along Winter Street just west of Pine Hill Road (the first of two parking lots on Winter Street). Take the blue trail up to the water tower, and follow the yellow trail east. Take a right when you hit a T-shaped intersection to see the caves. (See the trail map)

Spider Gates, Leicester

Of all the places on the list, you really need to take care when visiting Spider Gates.

This cemetery in Leicester is an active resting place for the Worcester Friends Quakers, and so it should be treated with the same respect you'd give any cemetery. Visitors are allowed during daylight hours only, and only personal photography is allowed. It also borders a reservoir watershed, so don't venture into the woods around the cemetery.

That said, the wrought-iron gates to the cemetery are quite a sight, although they are meant to represent the sun, not a spider's web.

Bridgewater Triangle

Going off vibes only, this 200-square-mile triangle between Abington, Freetown and Rehoboth is full of supposedly haunted landmarks — from spirit-rich Hockmock Swamp to a UFO landing site along Route 44 near Taunton.

RELATED: MA Haunted House Guide 2022: 13 Creepy Haunts, Hay Rides And More

Satan's Kingdom, Northfield

You might not be able to imagine the horrors of Satan's Kingdom today. It's a largely unpopulated area on the other side of the Connecticut River from Northfield with a nice series of trails maintained by the state. But in the 1670s, it was the site of attacks during King Philip's War. An estimated 2,500 colonists died during a war they, after all, did incite by violating agreements with the Wampanoag tribe and Chief Metacom.

A King Philip bonus: Visit the Rocky Narrows reservation in Sherborn and take a short hike to King Philip's Overlook, a strategic location during the war that overlooks the Charles River.

Devil's Oven, Westwood

Devil's Oven, more commonly known as Oven Mouth, is near the Hale Reservation in Westwood. It's located near a patch of forest called Satan's Kingdom (yes, another one).

According to Westwood, the cave was used by indigenous people for cooking, hence the "oven" name. But they also used it to hide from treacherous colonists. The cave is located near the Highland Glen entrance along High Street/Route 109. Refer to this town history for clues about how to find its location.

Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, Fall River

For being the site of one of America's most infamous murders, it's a pretty nice little place to stay. Now that it's Halloween season, you can take a tour of the home — and there's even a virtual option if you want to stay at home.

Bonus landmarks

Medfield State Hospital — A very nice park amid the former asylum's shuttered buildings. There's also a cemetery for inmates that was built during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Danvers State Hospital — This infamous "state lunatic hospital" has been demolished, but you can see it in all its scary glory in the 2001 movie "Session 9."