Top Ten Halloween Haunts in the U.S.

Spooky Thrills on All Hallow's Eve Entertain Thousands Every Year

Oct 8, 2009 Karen Stephenson

Every year thousands of thrill-seekers set out to find the ultimate Halloween horror. Halloween attractions have become big business in providing a haunting experience.

Every October thrill-seeking Halloween revelers demand the ultimate in adrenalin rushes. The imagination and a great production team can provide a haunting experience that, in some cases, can truly petrify a person. Creating the ultimate spooky Halloween fun is huge business and creative ideas provide that haunted Halloween memory for thousands of people every year.

Terror Behind The Walls

In Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary, built in 1829 was home to thousands of convicts until 1971. There are plenty of witnesses that say this structure truly is home to many spirits that wander the cellblocks. Terror Behind the Walls was ranked #1 haunted house in America by AOL City Guide. 140 actors train for weeks to provide their visitors with an intense interactive show no one will ever forget.

Witch's Woods

Westwood, Massachusetts is the obvious home for Witch's Woods. This Halloween scream park sends visitors into many levels of terror. A haunted hayride takes riders into the spooky woods while the Castle Morbid and Nightmare Mansion holds lots of terrifying moments.

Other Popular Attractions

13th Gate Haunted House, Baton Rouge: 13th Gate haunted house is rated the best haunted house by Hauntworld.com. Very few haunted house attractions have the level of detail, set design, special effects, make-up and costumes all packaged into one scream-factory. Thirteen levels of fear will satisfy the most discerning fright-seeker.

Netherworld Haunted House, Atlanta: There's a battle to the death between werewolves and humans at Netherworld. Gruesome scenes and interactive action takes visitors through tunnels beneath the city in a search for 'The Mangler'.

The Beast, Kansas City: This haunted attraction is one of the best indoor haunts spanning five floors of special effects and fear. This Halloween marks their 35th season of action-packed fear and terror. There are dozens of phantasms and optical illusions, but take a second look – is that 24-foot Python fake or is it real?

Bayville Screampark, Long Island: This Halloween thrill park has an amazing façade that was designed and created by major production companies. This favourite haunt features five houses, a 3D clown maze, a haunted forest and more. This park was voted the scariest attraction on Long Island for the third year in a row.

The Darkness Haunted House, St. Louis: This powerhouse haunted house with Hollywood special effects, live actors and an amazing set design throughout two floors of terror sends visitors home with frightful satisfaction. New for 2009, Terror Visions in 3D, which many in the haunt industry deem as the best 3D haunt ever created.

House of Torment, Austin: This creepy haunt will satisfy any thirst for adrenalin. Nothing is as it seems and evil lurks all over. This fear-in-your-face takes horror to new heights with amazing interactive sets, edgy scenes and great sound effects.

Dent Schoolhouse, Akron: This boarded up schoolhouse with a lone school bus in the courtyard flashing it's lights in the fog draws a lot of attention. A spinning vortex, shock walls and a claustrophobic maze is only a small part of the fear experienced at this frightful haunt.

Graystone Manor, Killen: What better location for Graystone Manor than in Killen, Alabama. A fright for life is guaranteed at this 40,000 square foot setting that's filled with horrific actors, adrenalin-pumping scares, detailed sets and amazing animatronics.

There's hundreds of other great Halloween haunts across the United States and Canada that provide great entertainment for those looking for a frightful thrill. No horror movie can replicate the true fear an interactive production can provide.

Visit Hauntworld for a comprehensive listing of Halloween attractions across the U.S. and Canada.

Additional Reading:

Halloween Haunted Attractions

The copyright of the article Top Ten Halloween Haunts in the U.S. in Vacations & Leisure is owned by Karen Stephenson. Permission to republish Top Ten Halloween Haunts in the U.S. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.