Boston Area's Best Haunted Houses

The Daily Meal Staff|Oct. 10, 2014 5:00 am EST

Corn mazes, hay rides and haunted houses – all are beloved autumn traditions in Massachusetts. While every suburb of Boston seems to offer hayrides at local farms, good haunted houses are harder to find. Especially for those who have already spent a Halloween or two in Salem, it may be time to try something new. Here are the top-rated haunted houses in the Boston suburbs. These terrifying haunts will get just about anyone's adrenaline pumping.

(Image: Asylum of Terror)

Asylum of Terror
18 Pocasset St.
Fall River, MA 02721
(508) 324-7709
www.asylumofhorror.com

Date: Held weekends throughout October, 2014

Located a stone's throw from Battleship Cove, the Asylum of Horror is one of the scariest haunted houses in New England. For 14 years, the asylum has been the "most original and horrific sensory-based dark attraction in Massachusetts." The attraction is completely indoors, so don't worry about rain or snow (concentrate your fear on zombies and ghosts instead)!. This haunted house is not for kids and has been said to make even grown men cry.

(Image: Barrett's Haunted Mansion)

Barrett's Haunted Mansion
1235 Bedford St.
Abington, MA 02351
(781) 871-4573
www.bhmansion.com

Date: Held select days in October and November, 2014

This super-creepy haunted house keeps visitors coming back year after year with new elements and designs. Returning visitors will never lose the element of surprise. What makes Barrett's a worthy trip to Abington, Massachusetts is that each year the haunted house donates $10,000 to charity. This is a wonderful way of making Halloween festivities more meaningful.

Braintree Haunted House
26 Plain St.
Braintree, MA 02184
www.braintreeshauntedhouse.com

A visit to the Braintree Haunted House is yet another way to make your favorite spooky activity more meaningful. The haunted house is a fundraiser for the Highlands Elementary and Liberty Elementary School PTOs and is run by volunteers. For Braintree, the haunted house is a time-honored tradition – this will be the 34th year of the event. The haunted house is a family-friendly event that has activities for all ages (and levels of fear).

(Image: Factory of Terror)

Factory of Terror
33 Pearl St.
Fall River, MA 02721
(508) 324-1095
www.factoryofterror.com

Date: Held select days in October and November, 2014

The Factory of Terror is widely known as New England's best haunted house. In fact, the spooktacular event has three locations throughout October: Fall River, Worcester and Warwick, Rhode Island. Each factory-themed haunted house is guaranteed to scare visitors "out of their minds!" Enthusiasts can sign up ahead of time as a VIP and receive a t-shirt upon arrival to the haunted house. Be warned, the Factory of Terror is intense and not recommended for children, people with heart conditions or pregnant women. Enter at your own risk!

Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.