Every October, Salem becomes the epicenter of Halloween: packed streets, haunted happenings, and selfie-ready witches around every corner. But just fifteen minutes down the coast, another kind of haunting waits, one that’s quieter, older, and perhaps just as real.
Lynn is rich with centuries-old legends, eerie landmarks, and a moody coastal atmosphere that feels lifted straight from a New England ghost story. If you’re craving mystery without the mayhem, this is your escape route.
The True Haunting of Dungeon Rock
Tucked deep inside Lynn Woods Reservation, Dungeon Rock has been a local legend since the 1600s. The story begins with pirates, specifically one named Thomas Veale, who supposedly buried his treasure in a cave before an earthquake sealed him inside forever.
Centuries later, in the 1800s, a man named Hiram Marble became convinced Veale’s ghost had spoken to him, guiding him to dig out the cave and recover the lost treasure. He spent decades carving into the rock by hand, dying before he ever found what he was looking for.
You can still explore the cave today (bring a flashlight). Inside, the air turns cool and damp, the tunnel twisting into darkness. Whether or not Veale’s ghost is still there, most visitors agree on one thing: the place feels different, alive with history, echoes, and something unexplainable.
High Rock Tower: Watch the City Under the Stars
Rising above the city, High Rock Tower is Lynn’s Gothic crown, a stone observatory with sweeping views of the coastline and Boston skyline. By day, it’s a favorite for photographers and stargazers. But come twilight, its looming silhouette and wind-swept cliffs feel like the opening shot of a classic horror film.
The tower’s history stretches back to the 19th century when the Hutchinson Family Singers built their utopian community nearby. Ghostly lights and strange noises have been reported for generations, and locals still tell stories of mysterious figures glimpsed on foggy nights.
Coastal Chill: Where the Fog Tells Stories
Lynn’s shoreline, from Red Rock Park to Lynn Harbor Park, captures the kind of atmosphere that defines New England horror. The crash of the waves against stone. The salt air mixing with the cold wind. It’s not hard to imagine scenes from The Fog or The Lighthouse unfolding here.
Stand at the water’s edge at dusk, and the city feels suspended between worlds: part ocean, part ghost story.
Make It a Salem-to-Lynn Adventure
This Halloween season, don’t stop your spooky travels at Salem’s city limits. Follow the coast a little further south to Lynn, where the ghost stories are rooted in history, the fog rolls in heavier, and the spirits feel closer to the surface.