However, not all haunted houses are created equal. So if you’re looking for the very best haunted houses near you, here are the best (and scariest!) haunted houses in every state in the United States.
Why Do We Love Haunted Houses?
Haunted houses may have some people running the other direction, but others can’t get enough. Why is that? According to a study in the journal Emotion, the researchers found that after people had a voluntarily frightening experience going through a haunted house, most people said they were in a better mood. Mood increases were significant among people who said they had “challenged their fears.” They also noticed that people who had a positive experience going through a haunted house have the same inactive brain activity when they are doing meditative activities, like drawing or writing. That could explain the dazed feeling you sometimes get after the haunted house is over.
Best Haunted Houses In Every State
Alabama— Atrox Factory in Leeds, AL In addition to Atrox Factory being the largest haunted attraction in Leeds (it’s over 50,000-square-foot!), you’ll also have a chance to spot and meet actors from popular horror flicks. Alaska— Fright Night Manor in Anchorage, AK Fright Night Manor is not only the longest-running haunted house in Alaska (it’s been running since 1985), this Anchorage haunted attraction also has 3D rooms and what seems to be endless creepy clowns. Arizona — 13th Floor in Phoenix, AZ You’re in a haunted treat when you take the elevator to the 13th floor at this Phoenix scary house. The 13th Floor Haunted House offers plenty of monsters that will fright and delight. Arkansas— Reaper Haunted House in Little Rock, AR The Reaper Haunted House in North Little Rock boasts that it has over 15,000 square feet of horror with 30 scenes of sheer Halloween mayhem. One Google review says: “The Reaper Haunted House is the best one I have been to in years! Everything was on point! The actors, the costumes, the set design! It was all awesome and I was impressed!” California— Reign of Terror Haunted House in Thousand Oaks, CA The Reign of Terror Haunted House in Thousand Oaks has over 100 rooms that are all connected. So when you’re done with one room, you’ll be immediately transported to another haunted adventure. Colorado — Hellscream Haunted House in Colorado Springs, CO Want to check out a haunt so intense it’s been picked up by the likes of NBC, CBS, and many other national outlets? Known for its movie-quality special effects and killer costumes, the Hellscream Haunted House in Colorado Springs is one haunted house you won’t want to miss! Connecticut— Trail of Terror in Wallingford, CT Made up entirely of volunteers, the Trail of Terror in Wallingford donates all of its proceeds to charity (they have raised over $700,000 to the Red Cross). One Google reviewer says: “The haunt itself is totally worth it! The actors do a terrific job throughout the entire thing which takes nearly an hour to go through.” Delaware— Frightland in Middletown, DE Named one of the “Top Ten Scariest Haunted Attractions in America” by the Travel Channel, Frightland in Middletown lives up to its name. There are eight spooky highlights to explore, including a hayride, a haunted barn, and woods that will keep your heart pumping. Florida— Scream-A-Geddon in Tampa Bay, FL Scream-A-Geddon in Tampa Bay offers 6 ghoulish delightful attractions including one in 3D, a paintball attraction, and a newly added beer garden. Georgia— Netherworld Haunted House in Stone Mountain, GA Netherworld Haunted House has been spooking guests who dare enter since 1997 and it’s easy to see why. This Stone Mountain attraction has professional-quality special effects, costumes, and sets that will have you a screamin’ good time. Hawaii — Haunted Plantation in Waipahu, HI Strongly advising to keep the kids at home, Haunted Plantation in Waipahu is a haunted delight. Built on an actual haunted plantation, the site guarantees that “you will be chased and taunted by spirits of old Hawaii.” Idaho— Haunted World in Cladwell, ID Claiming that they’ve been “scarrorizing” Idaho for 20 years, Haunted World in Caldwell has plenty of things to be afraid of. They have 35 acres of scary attractions, including a 55-ft slide into darkness, a second haunted house, and a haunted corn maze. Illinois— Statesville Haunted Prison in Crest Hill, IL “If you are a true fan of haunted attractions and being scared out of your mind terror then come to Statesville!” An eager Google reviewer says about Statesville Haunted Prison in Crest Hill. As a guest, you’ll pass through 23 maximum-security prison cells with more than 100 creepy prisoners, and then you enter the horrifying City of the Dead where you’ll meet the Gatekeeper and his horde of zombies. Indiana— Fear Factory in Batesville, IN At the Fear Factory in Batesville, you’ll have to find your way through rooms that once held Batesville Coffin Company. Now, it’s filled with terrifying mazes and exhibits. All proceeds from Fear Factory go toward educating kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Iowa— The Slaughterhouse in Des Moines, IA Taking place in a real meat processing factory, The Slaughterhouse in Des Moines offers professional-quality special effects, makeup, and scary sets during the month of October. Kansas— Zombie Toxin in Junction City, KS Zombie Toxin in Junction City takes its time on the details, creating a scary, immersive experience filled with strobe lights, jump scares, and gory scenes. One Google reviewer says: “Definitely a must-see attraction every Halloween season! Something new and different every year and the staff puts on a great show! Well worth the money!” Kentucky— Asylum Haunted Scream Park in Louisville, KY Get ready to get scared! Located in the heart of Louisville, Asylum Haunted Scream Park offers five scary attractions for you to roam, including an interactive zombie play that you get to star in. Louisiana— The 13th Gate Haunted House in Baton Rouge, LA Known for its spooky roots in voodoo and magic, The 13th Gate Haunted House in Baton Rouge is known for its extreme ultra-realism and is one of the most detailed haunted houses in existence. This 40,000 square foot haunted house comes with a warning: it is definitely not recommended for the faint of heart, pregnant people, or anyone with a weak bladder! Maine— Destination Haunt in Lebanon, ME A Google reviewer has high praise for Destination Haunt in Lebanon: “Loved it! Nicely timed and set up. Was just enough time in between attractions to calm down before a new character jumped out at you. Different and original houses each time along with interesting characters. The lights and sound were great, I was definitely surprised when they jumped out. Would recommend it if you were looking for a moderately scary experience.” Maryland— Fog Aberdeen in Aberdeen, MD Legends of the Fog Aberdeen, named after the city it’s located in, is nightmare-inducing, and they’re working on a special COVID-19 show for 2020. Some of the popular past attractions included a haunted hayride, a creepy circus, and a corn maze—but there’s no telling what sorts of scares they’ll come up with this year. Massachusetts—Fear Town in Seekonk, MA With over 1,000 reviews, Fear Town in Seekonk is a must-see Halloween destination. “It is MUCH LARGER than it appears,” One Google reviewer gushes. “It goes deep into the creepy woods and it’s so unique! The sets were very imaginative and well done - it’s really a blast to go through it. This haunt has a lot of heart in it and I appreciate all the work that went into it. It even has a midway where you can play some cool, fun games! You definitely want to experience this fun and scary haunt!” Michigan — Erebus Haunted House in Pontiac, MI The story behind Erebus Haunted House in Pontiac makes guests coming back for more nightmare fuel. Dr. J. Colbert built the world’s first working time machine in the area, but it malfunctioned and instead attacked those who tried to use it. Get ready for things to bite, grab, and even fly at you as you walk through the creepy halls. Minnesota— Scream Town in Chaska, MN Get ready to feel like you’re living in a horror film at Scream Town. This Chaska haunted attraction gives guests nothing but a lantern to light their way through the woods. Mississippi— Tupelo Haunted Castle in Mooreville, MS Tupelo Haunted Castle in Mooreville has four different haunted paths to choose from, from the Haunted Castle itself to Lost in the Darkness. There’s even a creepy obstacle that can only be completed by one person at a time and requires guests to sign a waiver first. Missouri— Edge of Hell in Kansas City, MO It’s easy to see Edge of Hell in Kansas City has been frightening guests for over 45 years. Focusing on all types of phobias, including Medusa, a giant snake who is 25 feet 2 inches long and weighing 350 pounds, the Edge of Hell is a Halloween must. Montana— Field of Screams in Victor, MT The Field of Screams in Victor is marketed as being fun by day and scary by night! You’ll encounter zombie-filled graveyards and playgrounds filled with clowns when you walk through this 3-acre corn maze. Nebraska — Camp Fear in Elkhorn, NE If you ever wanted to spend the night at a haunted house, Camp Fear in Elkhorn is the place for you. But, if having a no sleep sleepover isn’t your cup of tea, the attraction also has options like the interactive Toxic Haunt, where you try to kill zombies. Nevada— first Asylum and then Hotel Fear in Las Vegas, NV If the glam and glitz of Las Vegas have you wishing for something gorier, check out the Asylum and Hotel Fear. Guests will move between two haunted houses that follow a murderous plot that takes place in a hotel with traps and hidden doors. New Hampshire— Haunted Overload in Lee, NH At this haunted New England attraction, you may want to look up to get the full effect. Haunted Overload, located in Lee, boasts that they have monsters over 42 feet tall, in addition to tons of other scary sets and attractions. Hold tight—it’s going to be a wild ride! New Jersey — Brighton Asylum in Passaic, NJ You may have heard Brighton Asylum from TV shows like the Today Show and Cake Boss. This Passaic haunted attraction is a giant walk-through dark attraction filled with terrifying live actors, and horror movie-style scares and special effects. New Mexico — McCall’s Haunted Farm in Moriarty, NM McCall’s Haunted Farm in Moriarty has a fictional dark history. Rumor has it, Farmer McCall slaughtered his wife and children here and that visitors have gone missing over the years. Walkthrough the corn maze to see if you have what it takes to survive. New York— Blood Manor in NYC Watch out—Manhattan is about to get a whole lot scarier! At Blood Manor in NYC, you’ll walk from one themed room to the next as you venture through this massive 5,000 square foot haunted attraction. North Carolina— Kersey Valley Spookywoods in Archdale, NC Kersey Valley Spookywoods in Archdale is definitely not for ones who are easily scared! Expect special effects such as lights, sounds, smells, and even air pressure changes and claustrophobic spaces. North Dakota— Haunted Fort in Mandan, ND What was once known as the Custer House, the Haunted Fort in Mandan is rumored to be haunted by its one-time inhabitants. However, the creators decided to fill their haunted attraction with classic villains like Freddy Kruger and Jigsaw. Ohio— 7 Floors of Hell in Middleburg Heights, OH 7 Floors of Hell claims they are not just a haunted house, they’re an entire scream park! This Middleburg Heights Halloween must-see has 7 completely different themed haunted attractions that change every year! Oklahoma— Trail of Fear in Lawton, OK Get ready to navigate yourself through some pretty terrifying scenes when you visit the Trail of Fear in Lawton. Attractions include a haunted hayride and a 3D maze, among other spook-worthy spectaculars. Oregon— Fearlandia in Portland, OR Fearlandia has two options for your Halloween night out. The first option is you can venture into Asgard to retrieve Odin’s Eye but you must watch out for the traps, vengeful Gods, and horrifying monsters. If you want something a little more hands-on, the second option is being plunged into darkness and being forced to feel your way out of this Portland haunted attraction. Pennsylvania— Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA Known for housing notorious criminals like Al Capone and Willie Sutton, the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia gets a little spookier come Halloween time. The whole prison becomes a haunted house that takes a little less than an hour to walk through (but you can enjoy a drink at the speakeasy in Al Capone’s old cell!). Rhode Island — Scary Acres in Hope, RI Scary Acres in Hope starts with an innocent hayride through zombie-infested woods before you are dropped off at the start of a corn maze with nothing but a flashlight! When you get through that, you’ll be faced with the Fun House of Fears where there may not be more than one evil clown lurking about. South Carolina — The Dark Knight’s Terror Trail in Elgin, SC If you ever wondered how you’d do during the zombie apocalypse, The Dark Knight’s Terror Trail in Elgin is your answer. In their Zombie Zone you will have to combat the living dead to make it out alive. South Dakota— Fear Asylum in Brookings, SD One reviewer says this about their experience on the Fear Asylum website: “The production value is all there, making you feel as though you are really in a strange environment straight out of a video game or movie.” This Brookings attraction also adds an escape room at the end of the haunted house so get ready to think outside of the box! Tennessee— Nashville Nightmare Haunted House in Madison, TN Nashville Nightmare Haunted House in Madison is your one-stop shop for all things haunted. This annual spooky event boasts six haunted houses in one location, as well as creepy carnival games and a few escape room activities. Texas— House of Torment in Austin, TX If you’re taking a Halloween stroll in Austin, be sure to check out House of Torment. This nightmare-fueled attraction offers 3 different scary experiences plus escape games and a spooky bar. Perfect for the girls and ghouls who are looking for a spooky night out! Utah— Fear Factory in Salt Lake City, UT Fear Factory is something so scary to behold that you need to sign a waiver just to walk in the place. In this Salt Lake Halloween must-see, you’ll experience six buildings of terror with over 100 freaky actors and optional add-ons like zip lines. Vermont— Nightmare Vermont in Essex Junction, VT Nightmare Vermont is perfect for the wannabe horror movie actor. This all-volunteer show in Essex Junction is filled with all kinds of unique and fun haunts where you can even be a part of the show! Virginia— Shocktober in Leesburg, VA Shocktober is where guests can brave 3 levels of a manor that is actually haunted. This Leesburg attraction also offers a spooky carnival which is located in the basement. Washington— The Georgetown Morgue in Seattle, WA The Georgetown Morgue is an actual morgue built in 1928 turned haunted house. So if the actors don’t scare you from this Seattle Halloween attraction, the ghosts most definitely will! West Virginia— The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was built in the 1800s, and during the month of October, it offers flashlight tours of the building. As you walk through the Weston historical landmark, keep in mind that there have been lots of “apparition sightings, unexplainable voices and sounds, and other paranormal activity.” Perfect for the amateur ghost hunter! Wisconsin— The Burial Chamber in Neenah, WI The Burial Chamber in Neenah features five full hauntingly good attractions with more than 100 talented actors and plenty of scary scenes– including one where you can see what it’s like to be buried alive! Wyoming— Nightmare on 17th Street in Cheyenne, WY Nightmare on 17th Street has been offering superb scares for 30 years. When you walk through this Cheyenne Halloween spot, you are given only a glow stick to light your way! Before you check out the best-haunted houses near you, deck out your home with these 25 easy DIY Halloween decor ideas.
