A legacy of horror: Barrett's Haunted Mansion opens on Sept. 20. Here's what to know

Now in its 33rd year of existence, Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, Massachusetts is poised to scare the heck out of everyone that dares to enter its doors.

People come from all over New England to visit the mansion, Mary Barrett-Costello, founder of the mansion told Wicked Local in a past interview.

She said in the same interview that more than 40 groups take part in playing live characters at the mansion that can interact with the guests. Those groups are from all over Massachusetts, not just the South Shore. They include youth groups, sports groups, non-profit groups and other kinds of organizations.

The house features the actors, along with state-of-the-art horror effects, and switches "themes" every year. For instance, one year the theme was clowns. Another year, the theme was a twisted rendition of "Alice in Wonderland."

What's this year's theme? When is the mansion going to be ready for guests?

Here's what to know.

What is this year's theme at Barrett's Haunted Mansion?

This year's theme is called "The Game Master," a fictional character known to be a notorious kidnapper who plays sadistic games with his victims.

The Barrett's website states, "With a sadistic flair, (The Game Master) forces (victims) into increasingly dangerous and cruel games, each designed to test their wits, endurance, and will to live. The Game Master’s hideouts are rumored to be elaborate mazes of psychological and physical trials, where escape is only possible if they can outwit their captor and survive his nightmarish trials. His reign of terror continues to haunt the streets, leaving a trail of fear and desperation in his wake. Will you make it out? This isn't a game."

Are there other attractions onsite aside from the mansion?

Yes. There is another attraction onsite called "Condemned," which is outdoors. The attraction entails visitors walking through an area where a group of laboratory staff members were infected by a fictional NOx leak, which is a poisonous gas of sorts.

"The entire community was locked down on Friday Sept. 13, 2013, leaving those within to fend for themselves," the website states, regarding the attraction. "Studies indicate that the level of NOx exposure has left the survivors’ skin discolored, scarred, and their mental state possibly affected. Due to their altered appearance and forced adaptation to the environment they are now referred to as Coulro-Sapiens."

When will the mansion open for the season, and when will it close?

The mansion will be open for business starting this Friday, Sept. 20.

The 2024 dates include:

• Sept. 20, 21, 27, 28

• Oct. 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23*, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31

• Nov. 1, 2

Where is the mansion located? Can someone there be contacted?

It is located at 1235 Bedford St., Abington, MA. It can be reached at 781-871-4573 or you can send questions to [email protected].

Do you need tickets to get in?

Yes. Tickets are available on the Barrett's Haunted Mansion website.

General admission tickets - which includes admission to both onsite attractions - cost $40 each; VIP tickets (referred to as "RIP" tickets) to both attractions are $65 each; and group rates with discounted tickets are also available.

"Tickets are on sale at our ticket booth beginning at 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday-Sunday, and 6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday," according to the Barrett's website. "The mansion opens at 7 p.m. If you are in line by the time the ticket window closes, you will be able to go through the attractions."

What are some other facts about Barrett's Haunted Mansion?

According to the attraction's website:

• "On Sundays and Thursdays in October, our special 'Bite and Fright' deal gets you dinner at the Abington Ale House (special event menu applies), tax and tip included, and tickets to both attractions for $55. Tickets for 'Bite and Fright' are only available in person at our ticket counter or from the Abington Ale House and must be purchased and used the same night."

• The mansion hosts an event called "Darkness Unleashed," where guests can go through the mansion in complete darkness, dealing with all the "characters" without being able to see. Guests must be 18 or older to participate.

• Barrett's does not recommend the mansion for children under 13 years old. The staff there also does not recommend the attraction for pregnant women, or those who have reactions to flashing lights.

• Guests are allowed to exit the attraction if they get too scared.

A brief history of Barrett's Haunted Mansion

In a past interview with Wicked Local, Barrett-Costello said the haunted mansion grew into something special, but was a project that almost never happened.

“My dad actually lived in the house that is now the haunted mansion,” Barrett-Costello said at the time.

The late Francis M. Barrett later moved out and started a mini-golf course on the property.

“My dad was a restaurateur,” Barrett-Costello said in the interview. “When I was growing up, my dad owned about 14 restaurants, and they were all over the place. He had restaurants in places like Amherst, the North Shore, Quincy and even in Connecticut. My dad really liked to wow people.”

A little more than 30 years ago, Francis, unsure of what to do with the empty home on his property, decided to start a pumpkin patch near the existing mini-golf course.

But Barrett-Costello had different thoughts when it came to redesigning the property. She liked the idea of a huge pumpkin patch, but she also liked the idea forming in her mind at the time.

“I said to my dad, ‘What about using the old house for a haunted mansion?’” Barrett-Costello said, noting she was always a fan of horror movies. “At first, he thought the idea was crazy. But he was a very open-minded man. He always took our thoughts into account.”

Barrett-Costello, an art school graduate, started designing plans for the old house on the golf course property. And the rest is horror history.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington Massachusetts scares visitors