BURRILLVILLE – The owner of the Round Top Road property known as the Conjuring House has said she plans to continue offering guests tours and overnight stays despite the losing her license to operate in town.
Town Manager Michael Wood described the situation this week as “complicated,” this week saying that if necessary, the town will enforce violations against the business through the court system.
Wood’s statement this week is the latest in what has been nearly a year of drama surrounding the 300-year-old farmhouse that inspired the 2013 hit horror film The Conjuring. Jacqueline Nuñez, a real estate developer from Massachusetts, bought the property in 2022 with plans to expand a business offering tours, investigations and overnight stays at the home established by the previous owners.
But the past year has brought troubles for Nuñez, including a number of well-publicized clashes with her staff, mass resignations, an arrest, a lapse in workers compensation insurance and more. And when her license to do business in town came up for renewal last month, Nuñez submitted a bizarre seven-page essay instead of the required paperwork, leading to denial by the Town Council.
The business’s most recent entertainment license officially expired on Saturday, Nov. 30, but the owner has reportedly remained defiant, telling potential customers she is working to set up a new booking site, and continuing to run tours through December.
In a statement, Wood noted Nuñez has not provided information or follow up with the town since the denial, and pointed out that activities at the site can be disruptive for neighbors.
“The Conjuring House is a unique business operating a business that is effectively open 24 hours in a residential neighborhood,” Wood said. “We understand that property owners have the right to use their property, and the town respects these rights. However, if the Conjuring House continues to operate without the appropriate license, the town, on behalf of the neighbors, will enforce the violations through the court system.
Wood said town officials are currently monitoring activities at the property.
“The owner has been difficult, uncooperative and aggressive throughout the licensing process,” he said.
“The town is always willing to work with applicants for various licenses, but in this case, the relationship has deteriorated such that the town is taking steps to protect its interests as well as those of the neighbors in the vicinity of the Conjuring House,” Wood said. “We ask for patience as we attempt to address a complicated situation.”
“behaviour”?? Do we have a couple of residents from England posting here?
The Para-Karen!
I’ve never been. It seems to me that the woman is in psychological crisis. Erratic behaviour, increased irritability, writing a letter instead of an application could be the result of partial functioning to know the date it was due, but not how to go about it or possibly paranoid and not wanting to give information. I saw news clips about her erratic behaviour and loss of staff. I didnt see her letter, of course, but the overall idea I get from the coverage leads me to believe she has had a psychological break. Stress, depression, anxiety could have brought it on. I have firsthand knowledge of such. Needless, I think a Psychiatrist should pay her a visit, at the city ‘s expense, because she may need help. We have to remember, people dont act like this out of the blue. These people worked for her before and saw her change. Something more is going on than just a ‘grumpanella’ in a haunted house.
She’s already even in hospital twice on a 24 hour hod over her behaviour but she keeps fooling them enough to keep discharging her
You’re insightful & kind. Everybody has hidden struggles, some more than others.