We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and supporters of Salem, Massachusetts, strongly oppose the proposed “Annabelle” exhibit and any Warren-style occult museum being brought into our city.
This project has nothing to do with Salem’s real history, culture, or community. It reflects a pattern of outside groups attempting to profit from Salem’s name without understanding—or respecting—the people who live and work here. Salem is not a blank slate for exploitation. It is a real city with a lived identity that deserves protection.
Salem Is Not a Horror Attraction
Salem is the site of the 1692 witch trials. Real people suffered and died here. That history is not entertainment—it requires respect, education, and care.
The “Annabelle” doll, popularized through modern horror films, has no authentic connection to Salem. Bringing it here replaces truth with fiction and remembrance with spectacle. It shifts focus away from real history and toward manufactured fear.
We are more than that.
Impact on Residents
Salem is already beyond capacity, especially during peak seasons.
Residents deal with:
- Overcrowding
- Traffic and noise
- Public safety concerns
- Rising living costs
- Strained infrastructure
Adding another high-traffic attraction—especially one encouraging late-night activity—will only make these issues worse. The burden falls on residents, not the developers profiting from it.
At some point, residents must come first.
Respect for Salem’s Spiritual Community
Salem is not just historic—it is a living spiritual community.
Local practitioners and businesses are rooted in:
- Witchcraft and Wicca
- Pagan traditions
- Energy healing
- Tarot and divination
- Spiritual growth and empowerment
These practices are not fear-based. They are ethical, intentional, and community-driven.
An attraction centered on a “possessed” object reinforces harmful stereotypes that practitioners have worked for decades to dismantle. It misrepresents spiritual work as dangerous or dark, rather than what it truly is.
Salem has become a safe space for many. This undermines that.
Concerns About Outside Influence
This proposal is driven by non-local interests, raising serious concerns:
- Profit over people
- Lack of accountability
- Ongoing commercialization of Salem’s identity
We have seen this before, and it consistently harms the community.
Our Demands
We call on the City of Salem to:
- Revisit and revoke approval of this project based on public impact
- Deny permits tied to the exhibit
- Reject late-night operating expansions
- Prioritize historically accurate, community-based projects
- Listen to residents before approving major attractions
- Protect Salem’s identity and spiritual community
Conclusion
Salem is not a gimmick.
It is not a brand.
It is not a horror attraction.
It is a real place with a painful history, a strong community, and a spiritual identity that deserves respect.
We urge city leadership to stand with residents and reject this proposal.
Protect Salem’s history.
Protect its people.
Protect its integrity.
