The Warren Occult Museum: Is It Still Open and Safe to Visit?

Nestled in Monroe, Connecticut, you’ll find the Warren Occult Museum. It’s an intriguing attraction for horror movie fans and those obsessed with the paranormal.

If you fall into one of those categories, the Warren Occult Museum may be for you.

But we’ll take a closer look at this famous attraction before deciding.

Let’s dive in!

Who Are the Warrens?

In 1952, Ed and Lorraine Warren founded the New England Society for Psychic Research. These two paranormal investigators became famous for their discoveries over the years. Their work also inspired horror movies like “The Conjuring” (2013).

They investigated paranormal activity within the Perron family house in Rhode Island. The Warrens came in to conduct a seance to get rid of the spirits.

Ed and Lorraine Warren worked on hundreds of cases using Lorraine’s gift of clairvoyance to drive out demons and spirits. Both have since passed away, but their memories live on in the Warren Occult Museum.

How Did the Warren Occult Museum Get Started?

The Warrens collected memorabilia throughout their investigations. They wanted to lock away these items that contained evil spirits to protect the public.

Ed and Lorraine Warren were religious people who attended church and believed in God. Perhaps their faith influenced their decision to lock away such items.

As they traveled all over the world to perform various rituals, the Warrens brought back evil objects. There are artifacts from Asia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico, as well as the U.S. The museum is actually in the basement of their residence in Monroe, Conn., and not a separate building in town.

Pro Tip: Enjoy exploring museums? Take a stop at The House on the Rock is Wisconsin’s Strangest Museum.

What Are the Spookiest Exhibits at the Warren Occult Museum?

The items in the Warren Occult Museum have been used in satanic rituals. The Warrens disclosed that they have demonic forces attached to them.

This explains why no visitor is allowed to touch any item in the museum. According to an interview with the Warrens, these items maimed or killed people or even drove them into mental hospitals. Because of this diabolical activity, you shouldn’t treat the Warren Occult Museum like a haunted house. It contains the “real thing.”

One of the spookiest exhibits is the Annabelle doll, the Raggedy Ann doll that inspired the “Annabelle” horror movies. After experiencing paranormal activity, the doll’s owners contacted a priest, who then contacted the Warrens. Ed and Lorraine performed an exorcism over the apartment.

Then, they took the doll with them to prevent the inhuman presence inside from invading a human host.

Another of the most famous cases investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren was the Amityville House haunting. The owners of the house, the Lutz family, left the house after only 28 days and called in the Warrens. Ed and Lorraine explained that this house was one of the most terrifying places they had ever visited.

They later learned about the very dark history of the land and concluded that demonic forces felt an attraction to the place. The photographs of their experience are in the Warren Occult Museum. (This story also became a popular film in 1979 called “The Amityville Horror.”)

You’ll also find shadow dolls, voodoo dolls, Satanic idols, various masks, possessed toys, and other cursed items at the Warren Occult Museum. The basement contains objects from exorcisms and other supernatural practices.

What Movies Were Inspired by the Warrens’ Experiences?

As mentioned above, Annabelle, the Raggedy Ann doll, inspired the trilogy “Annabelle” (2014), “Annabelle: Creation” (2017), and “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019). The Amityville haunted house investigation inspired the horror film “The Amityville Horror” (1979).

Finally, “The Conjuring” (2013) was based on the real-life house haunting experienced by the Perron family in Rhode Island. Additional films have since come out in the “Conjuring” series.

Pro Tip: In search for a scare? Listen to one of these 7 Spooky Campfire Podcasts for Your Next RV Trip.

Can You Visit the Warren Occult Museum?

No. Ed Warren died in 2006, and Lorraine Warren died in 2019. It closed due to zoning issues since it’s located on their private property in the basement.

The local police chief explained that this is a residential area, and there’s no room for traffic and parking.

Tony Spera, Ed and Lorraine’s son-in-law, has tried to comply with regulations and keep unwanted visitors away, but up to this point, the Warren Occult Museum has remained closed.

Are There Any Plans to Build a New Occult Museum?

Although Tony Spera and others would like to reopen the Warren Occult Museum, it doesn’t look like that will happen. It’s listed as “permanently closed” on Atlas Obscura.

Since the Warrens emphasized the importance of not touching anything in the museum, there doesn’t appear to be any conversation about moving the items to another location either.

Is It Worth a Trip to the Warren Occult Museum?

If paranormal activity isn’t your thing, this is definitely not the place to go. Some guests have said it’s the scariest place they’ve ever visited.

But if evil spirits, seances, and haunted artifacts intrigue you, keep following the developments on the Warren Occult Museum. Maybe one day it will reopen for visitors. If it does, will you go?

Discover the Best Free Camping Across the USA

To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers who love to score the best site! 

We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Access the list by submitting your email below: