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Would you pay $1 million for a haunted mansion? Inside creepy house with history of violent ghosts and gruesome deaths READ MORE: My mansion creeps 17 inches closer to the ocean every week By MARTHA WILLIAMS, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:36 EDT, 25 October 2025 | Updated: 15:38 EDT, 25 October 2025 A group of brave buyers just snapped up one of America's most haunted homes. The historic Massachusetts mansion has a longstanding reputation for housing spirits and paranormal activity. Along with a scary past, the property also came with a scary price tag. undefinedundefined Full Screen (F) Pause (SPACE) Read More (Shift + O) ?lit$248372382$? Continue watchingafter the adVisit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE The 10 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home sold for $1 million in late September. Previously referred to as the Gardner Mansion, but more recently known as the SK Pierce Haunted Victorian Mansion, the property was under the same owners for the past 10 years. Now, just in time for spooky season, four fearless souls have taken over the haunted house. John Godino, Rob Gilman, and Rhonda Bettez and David Bettez are the buyers, and they have vowed to keep the property as a popular tourist attraction. 'Me and my partner Rob already own other properties and do business in the city, Godino told the Daily Mail. 'Rob grew up here. We're all pretty deeply connected to the area.' This historic Massachusetts mansion has a longstanding reputation for housing spirits and paranormal activity A group of four brave buyers purchased the spooky property in late September for $1 million The previous owner had restored the historic mansion and transformed it into a place for tours and visitors Third person dies at Disney resort in Florida over past two weeks 1.4k viewing now Tupac's humiliating intimate disfigurement revealed 40.5k viewing now Psychotherapist says No Kings rallies full of 'educated white women' 764 viewing now The SK Pierce House is located in the village center of South Gardner, on the south side of West Broadway. The house was built between 1873 and 1875 for Sylvester K. Pierce - a Westminster native who moved to Gardner and became involved in the locally-prominent chair manufacturing business. 'This nearly 7,000-square-foot Victorian masterpiece showcases the wealth, craftsmanship, and elegance that earned Gardner the title "Chair City",' the house's website says. Pierce's son converted the house into an inn, with visitors including former United States President Calvin Coolidge, artist Norman Rockwell, movie star Bette Davis, and circus legend PT Barnum. The home also served as a gathering place for the Freemasons, adding to its 'rich and storied past.' While the mansion's owners welcome guests to explore the unique architecture and history, they warn that it is not a place for those who are easily disturbed. 'The S.K. Pierce Victorian Mansion offers an intense and unforgettable experience, but it is not recommended for the faint of heart,' the website advises. 'Guests should be aware that paranormal activity is frequently reported, and the entities within the mansion have been known to interact in ways that may feel physical and unsettling.' Movie star Bette Davis (pictured) was one of the mansion's many famous visitors Artist Norman Rockwell was another icon to visit the Massachusetts mansion The haunted mansion has a rich history - including deaths and murders that some are convinced has left it with ghosts and paranormal activity The mansion was built between 1873 and 1875 for Sylvester K. Pierce The mansion is so haunted that it gained fame for its paranormal reputation, and was ranked as the second most haunted house in Massachusetts — losing only to a home in bewitched Salem — and ninth in the US overall. Its hauntings come from the murders and deaths that have taken place in the home, as well as the Masonic rituals that once took place within. When the Great Depression hit, the Pierce lost their family fortune and fell on hard times. The many deaths that have occurred in the mansion over the years have resulted in countless alleged sightings of floating orbs, spirits, and disembodied voices. Visitors have claimed to witness first-hand accounts of objects moving on their own and doors slamming shut. The string of deaths began soon after Pierce settled in, with his wife Susan allegedly contracting a flesh-eating bacteria that killed her quickly. Pierce married a woman 30 years younger, Ellen, and they had three children. However, years later when their parents passed away, the brothers became entangled in a bitter feud over who the rightful owner of the home was. Photographs of the mansion's original owner, SK Pierce, remain in the home Visitors have claimed to hear suspicious noises, smell awful scents, and experience sudden temperature changes The new owners plan to open the house up even more to the public and also allow overnight stays and 'investigations' The owners themselves don't intend to live in the haunted mansion, but there is a housekeeper who stays there The mansion fell into the hands of the youngest brother Edward, and tragedy struck when his two-year-old daughter, Rachel, died in the house not long after moving in. By the 1930s, Edward couldn't keep up the expensive house and transformed it into a boarding house, which welcomed unwanted activities like gambling, drug use, and prostitution. Guests claim to have seen the spirits of Pierce and his family around the mansion, and believe they are responsible for the paranormal activity that is rumored to take place in the home. Visitors claimed to have heard everything from low chanting to a house-shaking lion's roar, and say furniture will move suddenly one moment, followed by a bad smell in the air. One person even claimed that they felt as though they were being pushed down the stairs, and another described being nearly shoved out of a third-story window. Whether or not the mansion is actually haunted is up for debate, but $1 million is certainly no small amount to pay to do some ghostbusting. Godino said he purchased the house from Rob Conti, who bought it with his wife in 2015, but the couple lived far away from the property. 'From 2015 to 2022, they did a fantastic job restoring the property. Once the restoration was complete in 2022, they opened it up for tours and paranormal investigations,' Godino said. The spooky house has 10 bedrooms One visitor claimed that they felt as though they were being pushed down the stairs, and another described being nearly shoved out of a third-story window SK Pierce, the original owner of the mansion, was a Westminster native who moved to Gardner and became involved in the locally-prominent chair manufacturing business Little-known town dubbed 'America's Amalfi Coast' sees wave of listings: 'This does not happen' 'They ran that for about three years, but I think distance became a challenge.' The new owners will not be living in the mansion themselves. They purchased the property with the goal of making it more available to the public, while also generating enough money through tours and rental opportunities to pay their own bills as well as the staff — including a housekeeper who does live in the property. 'We've already started working to make it even more accessible to the public. In addition to tours and investigations, we now offer it for events and overnight stays —both public and private.' Godino says that, despite it being a for-profit business, the aim is to give back to the community. 'We've also begun working with local charities, like the Veterans Organization and Gardner's Community Action, which helps with rental assistance and clothing. We're exploring filming opportunities and collaborations with YouTubers and paranormal investigators.' He continued: 'Yes, it is a for-profit business. But it's not about charging $3,000 a night and packing the calendar. When we bought it, we worked with the caretaker, tour guides, and community members to find a fair pricing model. 'Obviously, we need to cover costs, but we didn't come in trying to maximize profit. The house means more to us than that. Our main goal is accessibility and preserving its legacy.' Massachusetts Share or comment on this article: Would you pay $1 million for a haunted mansion? 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