Lynnfield haunted house operator has a whole new frightfest
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One of the creepiest parts of the Egyptian-themed haunt. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios
Tucked behind Hood Park's office buildings is a minefield of jump scares, skeletons and monsters.
- Wicked Haunt Fest, a spooky extravaganza, opened last weekend in Charlestown — and what a thrill.
The intrigue: Carl Rugato, the mastermind behind the famous haunted mansion in Lynnfield, has brought his vision of a Halloween-themed festival to one of Boston's few open lots.
- "I've been thinking about this my whole life," he told Axios.
- "My ultimate goal is just to entertain and entertain every different type of [person]."
Zoom in: The fest has three "haunts." There are jump scares and screams, but no gore.
- One is based on ancient Egypt, where an archeological dig disturbs a pharaoh's tomb and triggers a curse.
- The second takes you through a farmhouse where a contaminated fertilizer drove the farmer insane.
- The third, "Into the Astray," is more cerebral. It could be illustrating the darkest corners of your mind, someone else's perceptions or another dimension entirely, Rugato says.
There are seven themed bars, food stalls and decorations like skeletons or dinosaurs.
- Some bars are placed in the middle of the queue for people waiting in line for the haunts.
- And for a more family-friendly option, Rugato designed a graveyard.
Rugato also bought a 19th-century hearse he insists is haunted.
- He put up a 6-foot perimeter around it to keep spectators at bay.
When to go: Wicked Haunt Fest runs through the first weekend in November.
- Price: $26 for the festival. $50+ for the festival and haunt.
- The site offers free parking for up to three hours, but the team suggests taking the T or a rideshare.
Steph's thought bubble: I live for haunted houses — the scarier, the bigger the sh—eating grin on my face.
- I only toured the Egyptian-themed haunt before opening, but it did the trick.
