Have you ever felt a supernatural presence? Do you want to?
There’s no shortage of supposed “haunted” houses and structures on Cape Cod, with its nation-defining and often tumultuous whaling, fishing and developmental history.
If anything about the running theories on ghosts is to be believed (and we are neither confirming nor denying that one SHOULD believe them), the Cape is a breeding ground for legend and lore; a place near which fishermen lost their lives on ill-fated voyages; where natives were stripped from their own land; where prominent families harbored dark secrets; and where capricious citizens were all-too willing to explain the unknown with tall tales and far-fetched theories.
Wherever your position on haunted places may fall on the spectrum of belief, the impending Halloween holiday will bring with it many retellings of local lore. Seemingly overnight, makeshift haunted house attractions will pop up, and the owners of more permanent structures will start disseminating “true accounts” of their house’s hauntings.
If you’re hoping to get into the Halloween spirit, check out our list below of the best places on Cape Cod for spiritual encounters.
First, we’ll list some the more kid-friendly options. But after that, it’s “read if you dare.”
First, something for the whole family.
Tony Andrews Farm (394 Old Meeting House Road, Falmouth) is known for their Halloween festivities. Their Halloween Kids Fest occurs every weekend throughout October and features a walk through a mild yet entertaining haunted forest.
For something a little scarier, try the Tony Andrews Harvest of Horrors. This attraction brings participants on a haunted hayride through 20 acres of farmland, followed by a hike through a creepier forest than the one listed above.
Visitors to the 1790 Doctor Francis Wicks House (Palmer Avenue, Falmouth) around Halloween may encounter the Nightwatchman. A visit with this ghostly raconteur will give spectators an inside look at the spirits that hide within the old home.
The Enchanted Forest, a one-night only haunt at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary (345 Bone Hill Road, Barnstable), awakens the woodlands and features creatures of all kinds.
Now, for the truly brave…
Many police reports have been filed over the years regarding the Dillingham House (Main Street, Sandwich). Built in 1650, it has serious haunted credentials in age alone; but the structure also housed two deaths that left children orphaned. Branch Dillingham is said to have committed suicide in the home, leaving behind his wife, who died just weeks later, and nine children. Visitors should keep an eye out for moving rocking chairs which don’t have any visible occupants and lifting door latches.
The Wood Duck Inn (1050 County Road, Bourne) in the Village of Cataumet is secretly noted for the presence of only one ghost: a gentle elderly lady. She has appeared only a few times, usually sitting quietly at the foot of a guest’s bed. She reportedly also turns off the lights from time to time.
In 1855, Captain William Burgess died while aboard the famed clipper ship, Challenger. He left behind a widow, who survived another 63 years and received over 50 proposals for marriage, denying all of them. Their homestead, known as the Burgess House (1603 Main Street, Brewster), is still known to harbor a spirit, perhaps that of Burgess’s wife. Past owners of the home have remarked that artwork and adornments are sometimes rearranged, and footsteps are sometimes heard where there should be none.
The Penny House Inn (4885 US-6, Eastham) is another name in local haunts. Multiple guests have noted a friendly “goodnight ghost” who whispers to them at night and rearranges their items. One person said that “bottles of sparkling water I had placed in the room size refrigerator began exploding. The temperature control had mysteriously reset to full cold.”
Those that want to see more “haunted” Cape Cod destinations should really be in touch with the Cape and Islands Paranormal Research Society (CAIPRS). They offer 3 tours regularly: one which roams throughout Barnstable Village, a private tour for two, and a ghost hunter’s tour which explains how to capture the voices of the dead.
By Adam Forziati
