Forsaken Lands haunted attraction seeks special permit in Winchester; hearing continued to May 4

Alex Fortuna, owner and operator of the Forsaken Lands seasonal haunted attraction, asked the Winchester Planning & Zoning Commission on April 27 for a special permit to operate on a roughly 63‑acre parcel at 32 Norfolk Road.

Fortuna told the commission the proposal uses a timed-ticketing system, a 1.2‑acre grass parking field and a 25‑minute walk-through attraction built from temporary, wall-panel structures. "We utilize a strictly managed time ticketing entry system to contain all traffic on‑site and prevent local congestion of any kind," Fortuna said, adding that the operation uses directional audio, shielded lighting and an on‑site security team.

Why it matters: The proposal would introduce a seasonal commercial recreation use to a rural residential parcel and could draw regional visitors and seasonal jobs. Commissioners and nearby residents raised safety, noise, parking and lighting concerns that the applicant and staff agreed should be addressed in writing before the commission acts.

Concerns and follow-up requested by the commission and residents included decibel testing methodology and results, emergency‑access drawings and written comments from the fire chief and police chief. Resident Cosmos Heitman, who said he owns property nearby, asked how acoustics were measured and warned that simple speaker‑face decibel readings can understate real impacts on neighboring properties. "If that decibel level is actually much greater in a broader scale than what you're talking about, that could potentially affect my business," Heitman said.

Fortuna repeatedly emphasized coordination with town safety officials and offered more detail in the submitted design and life‑safety plan. He said he had reviewed egress and evacuation plans with the town fire marshal and that the operation would staff at least one EMT/CPR‑trained team member each night, maintain temporary fencing and cones for circulation, and schedule training for staff prior to opening. "In an emergency, we call 911. Security or management coordinates traffic and guides emergency vehicles to the emergency vehicle access point," he said.

Action: After public comment and questions from commissioners, the commission voted to continue the public hearing and requested written comments from the police chief and fire chief and incorporation of any required changes into the final site plan. Commissioners set a special meeting on May 4 at 7 p.m. to reconvene the hearing and review the requested reports.

Next steps: The hearing will resume May 4; staff will provide the commission with the chiefs' written comments and the applicant may be asked to submit revised plans or additional test data prior to final action.