Each year the Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut keeps things creepy by opening up The Haunted Isle every weekend in October. As a walk-through attraction lasting roughly 40 minutes, it treats its victims to chills and chuckles. The Haunted Isle is an old school haunt and, as such, is good pick for haunt newbies who can’t handle extreme scares while also hitting the right notes for seasoned haunters trying to find a good throwback. Put on by and for its local community, The Haunted Isle is as wholesome as things can get with chainsaws involved. 

Brimming with scare actors of all ages and some of our favorite classic gags, The Haunted Isle feels homegrown in the best way possible. Although not technically advanced or aesthetically flawless, everyone working at The Haunted Isle seems to be having a great time which means, of course, that we had a great time, too. Organized into a maze system like most outdoor Halloween attractions, it showcases many of the same tried and true themes of other similar haunts. While it might seem schticky in other haunts, the use of slaughterhouse, circus, and asylum setpieces actually works in The Haunted Isle’s favor. Because its tinged with notes of nostalgia and hosts a familiar cast of characters, we were impressed by how much The Haunted Isle was able to accomplish on what is clearly a lower operational budget than similar attractions in the area. Ample laughs, screams, and squeals are to be had inside The Haunted Isle, making it one of the bigger bangs for your buck among all of Halloween offerings in Connecticut. 

Perhaps the most striking thing about The Haunted Isle is that it lives amid a cluster of suburban homes. Just when we thought we were lost in the winding side streets of East Haven, the Shoreline Trolley Museum appeared almost out of nowhere, offering up a warm autumnal glow on an otherwise pretty chilly night. While the museum does have parking, we found it easier and completely hassle-free to park in the surrounding neighborhood, which, by the way, leans into Halloween decor a bit heavier than the average block in New Haven or Orange. Since this haunt feels more like a local favorite than say, The Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce, be prepared to encounter more families and unaccompanied teens. Everyone was on best behavior, but the fact that The Haunted Isle is geared to serve its surrounding community means it has a slightly different texture than larger scale haunts in theme parks or off-the-beaten path places.  

Keep in mind that the attraction can only be accessed via trolley. Should you find yourself scheduling other haunts in the same evening, you might want to factor in an additional hour to hour and a half on top of the 30-40 minute walk-through to account for time in the queue and the trolley trips. Since the attraction is open from 7:00-10:00pm, we also advise that you try to make it onto the first trolley out to The Haunted Isle in order to beat the lines.

For those who may have sensitive constitutions or mobility issues, it seems important to note that The Haunted Isle is somewhat more walkable than the other attractions we’ve visited around Connecticut. There are areas where folks will need to get down steps, but, fortunately, the terrain was relatively even. They can’t quite accommodate wheelchairs, but that’s par for the course for outdoor haunts. Fog effects were minimal, so no need to pack an inhaler unless you want to be extra prepared. That said, it does make use of strobe and other strong lighting effects. 

You can catch The Haunted Isle this weekend and next! The Haunted Isle offers a 3-tier ticket system, starting at $13 a ticket if you book online. Each ticket includes the charming trolley ride to and from the attraction, too. As the lowest cost haunt in the area, The Haunted Isle packs enough punch for those in the New Haven area and, without a doubt, has just the right amount of campy humor that makes The Haunted Isle one of the more entertaining evenings we’ve had hopping around Connecticut’s many spooky season attractions. Budget friendly, family friendly, and all-around a creepy time, The Haunted Isle at the Shore Line Trolley Museum has just the right balance of tricks and treats with the added bonus of local New England neighborhood vibes.