SouthCoast Halloween Favorite Returns with Massive New Haunted Trail in Acushnet
What started as a small Halloween display in a Dartmouth driveway has grown into a full haunted attraction with actors, special effects and thousands of visitors. This fall, Dark New England: The Haunted Trail is returning to the SouthCoast with a new home at Silverbrook Farm in Acushnet.
For Harrison Ingham, the story began when he was around 10 years old. He and his father would decorate their Dartmouth home for Halloween, with his dad buying the props and helping bring each spooky idea to life. As Harrison grew older and started working, he began adding decorations of his own.
The display continued getting bigger, especially after the family purchased props from the former Lakeville Haunted House. One Halloween night, more than 1,000 people visited the Dartmouth yard. That was when the family realized their home could no longer handle the growing crowds.
From a Driveway to a Full Haunted Trail
Dark New England moved to East Providence, where the attraction spent three years growing into something much larger. By its final season there, it had more than 35 actors and staff members, along with packed parking lots and cars waiting for spaces. Once again, the Ingham family had outgrown its home.
That led Ingham to Silverbrook Farm at 934 Main Street in Acushnet. After seeing the attraction in person, Silverbrook’s owner J.J. Pereira knew it would be a strong fit for the farm.
The move also gives Dark New England something it has never had before: a permanent home. Instead of building the attraction in two months and tearing everything down three weeks later, the walls, scenes and structures can remain in place for future seasons.
Bigger Scares in the Acushnet Woods
Guests will begin their visit with a nearly 10-minute hayride through the farm and into the woods. Once they arrive, they will enter a roughly 30-minute haunted trail filled with zombies, graveyards, clowns, witches, chainsaws and other Halloween scares.
“It’s on a way bigger scale,” Ingham said. “Everything towers over you.”
The nighttime experience is intended for older teenagers and adults. Ingham said guests should expect intense scares, gore and some strong language. Dark New England will also offer special blackout nights in November. What does this mean? Well, most of the trail’s lights will be shut off, leaving brave visitors to find their way using LED torches, candles and the glow of a few special effects. Talk about spooky.
A Halloween Tradition Built by Family
Despite all the screams and scares, there is a heartwarming family story behind the attraction. Ingham’s mother, father, daughter and son are all involved, along with childhood friends and former workers from the Lakeville Haunted House.
After years of relying mainly on volunteers, Dark New England has also grown enough to pay its actors and staff this season. “My whole family’s involved,” Ingham said. “We just have a huge team, and I’m super excited about that.”
Daytime Fun for Younger Children
Families with younger children do not have to miss out. Dark New England will hold two toned-down daytime events on October 24 and Halloween, October 31.
There will be fewer actors, no strong language and far fewer scares. Instead of jumping out, some characters may appear with candy. Harrison or another manager will also guide families through the trail, explain how the effects work and answer questions along the way.
READ MORE: Acushnet Creamery Is Haunted, Trust Me, I Lived There
Dark New England opens for the season on October 2. All visits use timed tickets, which can be purchased through DarkNewEngland.com.
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