Nightmare On Moore Street: Boston couple build free Dracula castle; crowds return yearly

NewsWorld NewsUS NewsA Boston couple spent months wrapping their ordinary home in hand-carved foam to create a Dracula-style castle for Halloween 2026, and their free display has drawn visitors from other states and 70,000 video views A Boston couple spent months wrapping their ordinary home in hand-carved foam to create a Dracula-style castle for Halloween 2026, and their free display has drawn visitors from other states and 70,000 video views An ordinary house in East Boston has become a Halloween destination after a couple spent months transforming its exterior into a towering, Dracula-inspired castle.

Jimmy and Anna Magnasco, both 29, created the elaborate attraction, called Nightmare on Moore Street, using hand-carved foam, painted stonework, eerie lighting and animated creatures. According to Boston dot com, Hoodline and Boston 25 News, which reported on the display, the free attraction has drawn visitors from beyond Massachusetts, while videos shared on social media have accumulated around 70,000 views combined.

Now in its fourth year, the display has become a seasonal neighbourhood attraction, bringing families, Halloween enthusiasts and curious visitors to the couple’s home at 35 Moore Street.How an ordinary house became a Halloween castle The transformation involved months of planning and painstaking construction.

The Magnascos and their family covered the house with fireproof foam material, carved it by hand to resemble stone blocks, and added layers of paint and artificial moss to create the appearance of an ageing castle.The finished exterior features towering castle elements, a giant pumpkin, moving creatures, atmospheric fog and lights that illuminate the property after dark.

Some decorations also produce sounds, adding to the theatrical experience.The project has required thousands of dollars in materials and considerable time, although Jimmy Magnasco said he does not closely track every expense.

Despite the scale of the installation, he told Boston dot com that the additional electricity cost generally amounts to around $40 to $50 a month, with LED lighting operating during evening hours. For the couple, the display is not simply about building the most frightening house on the street.

It is an opportunity to create the kind of Halloween experience they remember wanting as children.A free attraction drawing visitors from other states The castle has attracted attention well beyond East Boston, with visitors travelling from places including New Hampshire and Salem, Massachusetts, to see it in person.The couple’s Instagram and TikTok posts have helped fuel that interest, generating approximately 70,000 views combined.

Some visitors have reportedly arrived after discovering the property through social media. The attraction is free to visit, making it accessible to families looking for Halloween activities without the expense of a ticketed event.

The couple also distributes candy and plans a special Halloween show featuring music, fog and a giant talking pumpkin.Their costumes are part of the spectacle, too. Anna plans to appear as a half-deer, half-goat creature on stilts, while Jimmy will dress as Jeepers Creepers, complete with custom wings that unfold.

Despite the dramatic appearance, the couple emphasises a family-friendly approach. They avoid approaching children who appear frightened, aiming to make the experience enjoyable rather than overwhelming.Neighbours welcome the spooky spectacle While elaborate Halloween installations can sometimes create concerns about noise, crowds and bright lights, the Magnascos’ neighbours have largely welcomed the display.

Residents have watched the castle take shape piece by piece over several months, turning the construction itself into a neighbourhood event. The finished attraction brings unusual sights and sounds to the otherwise quiet street, including animated ghouls and illuminated decorations after dark.For local families, the display has become an opportunity to enjoy Halloween close to home.

Its appeal extends across generations, with adults as well as children stopping by to admire the decorations and collect candy.Creating Halloween memories for the next generation The Magnascos built Nightmare on Moore Street around a simple idea: giving children the memorable Halloween experiences they once imagined having themselves.

They hope visiting children will remember the castle long after the season ends, perhaps carrying the tradition forward when they grow older and have homes of their own to decorate. The couple are already looking ahead to future editions, with plans for next year’s display beginning even as this year’s attraction draws crowds.For now, the East Boston castle stands as an example of how a homemade Halloween project can grow into a community tradition, combining elaborate craftsmanship, social media attention and a shared love of the holiday without charging visitors for the experience.

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