Some suggestions of fun, ghastly places to get spooked...
Some of the best haunted attractions that are fast becoming popular are found at theme and amusement parks across the country. If you are looking for a spooky time coupled with rides and other things to do, a visit to these top haunted attractions might be just the ticket.
Don't forget what's home, either, as there may be local, dedicated haunted attractions that are just as adept at scaring the begeezus out of people. You definitely don't want to dismiss them! Oftentimes costing less money, they are quite attractive entertainment.
Haunted attractions present an adventure, a coming-of-age way to face one's fears. It's a quest to see how much you and your friends can take. Although these attractions are not about real ghosts and ghouls, some of the haunted venues certainly are not for the faint of heart. Some of these annual haunts are known for shutting visitors down due to extreme fear. You might wonder how? People find themselves confronting, and even fleeing, monsters while navigating dark, creepy mazes and strobe light-filled scenes. The disorientation itself is frightening enough, but the best of haunted attractions also have a very creepy collection of horrific-looking creatures. And as you may imagine, these well-trained actors, who are gifted in the craft of spook, live to torment paying guests. They view their visitors as a challenge.
Best Amusement Park Haunted Attractions
Halloween Horror Nights Orlando – Universal Studios in Florida knows how to frighten guests with 8 haunted houses. Hundreds of thousands of visitors will descend upon the park this year to experience their haunted attractions which began in 1991.
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood – The original Universal Studios knows how to put on one of the best haunted attractions by using Freddy Krueger and Friday the 13th's Jason. Also expect plenty of scares with zombies and vampires!
Howl-O-Scream – Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Tampa Bay and San Antonio all have their own spooky rides, coasters, shows and haunted houses.
Knott's Scary Farm Haunt – Knott's Berry Farm is featuring 13 mazes including the eerie 'Terror of London.' Rumor has it that guests will trek through foggy streets, hoping to avoid Jack the Ripper! This park full of haunted attractions started spooking guests way back in 1973 - look for it near Halloween.
Fright Fest – Six Flags amusement parks celebrate Halloween month each weekend by adding more terror and wandering zombies into its mix of thrill rides.
Halloweekends – The best park for roller coasters, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, adds haunted houses, scare zones, shows, and even dining with the dead to its repertoire of fantastic rides when you near Halloween time!
Best Haunted Prisons
Terror Behind the Walls – Easter State Penitentiary is known to be haunted, but now they've added six attractions inside the prison to really frighten visitors.
Haunted Prison Experience – Mansfield Reformatory has now added a haunted attraction within its 124 year old walls. Known for being haunted, the Ohio State Reformatory now brings the supernatural into vogue with Special FX! And if it is not Halloween time, the prison books up its full year of ghost hunts!
Dungeon of Horrors – The former West Virginia Penitentiary is known for the shadow man ghost. They have added a haunted attraction for October to complement the mystique...but you can go anytime throughout the year and ghost investigate!
Best Haunted Houses
These haunted houses are specially built attractions that provide a good spook or fright! For a more gentle scare (but really done well with the special effects), visit either Disneyland's Haunted Mansion or Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion.
Netherworld Haunted House – Atlanta's scariest haunted attraction is thought to be one of the best in the country. The experience has been described as “living in a horror movie.”
Haunted Mansion – Kevin McCurdy's masterpiece of fright is very interactive and attention to detail is phenomenal. Rated one of the best haunted attractions in the country.
Scarehouse – Pittsburgh's ultimate Halloween haunt! It's a must-see haunted attraction and a place that will scare visitors out of their wits!
Dead Acres – Situated in Columbus, Ohio, Dead Acres is a top rated haunted house and forest!
House of Torment – Austin, Texas world class haunted attraction is big and bad...
Dent School House – Cincinnati, Ohio haunted school house based upon a morbid past. One of the top haunted attractions in the country!
Nightmare on 13th Street – Salt Lake City, Utah venue was one of the choices of the Travel Channel for haunted attractions. A sophisticated pre-show sets the tone before guests ever enter the haunt!
Blood Manor – New York City's premier haunted residence. Sitting on its west side, Blood Manor is the Big Apple's best offering of haunted attractions. Actors and animatronics spook the living!