Halloween attractions are half the fun of the season. I love feeling like the star of my own horror film as I'm venturing through haunted houses and rides. If you want to be scared out of your mind this year, then I recommend you check out these horrifying Halloween attractions!
1 Blackout Haunted House
Blackout Haunted House is one of the most hardcore Halloween attractions you could possibly go through. It has locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The New York Post, The New York Times, The LA Times, and Fangoria have all raved about how truly horrifying this haunted house really is. You have to be 18 or older to enter and you must walk through alone. Unlike many haunted houses, you will be touched and you will be forced to perform certain tasks, such as crawling on all fours or sticking your hand into buckets of fluid. This haunted house aims to make all of your worst nightmares a reality. You walk through scenes of gore, torture, and nudity. Ticket prices can be up to $50 and the attraction is so intense that they give you a safety word in case you've had enough and need to get out.
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2 Eli Roth's Goretorium
Eli Roth is the mastermind behind scary movies like Hostel, so it's no wonder he chose to open up his very own haunted house in Las Vegas. The Goretorium is open 365 days a year, but it's especially fun to go through during Halloween. The premise is that you are wandering through the Delmont Hotel, where over 1000 murders have occurred since it opened. You go through mazes and rooms all aimed to give you the fright of your life. Once you're finished, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Las Vegas Strip all while relaxing in the Babydoll Lounge, where you can sip on gore-themed cocktails and see zombie go go dancers. In true Vegas fashion, you can also have a horror-themed wedding inside the Goretorium! Standard tickets are $30.
3 ScareHouse
ScareHouse made the list of "America's Scariest Halloween Attractions" by the Travel Channel and has been featured in many other online and print magazines. This haunted attraction in Pittsburgh doesn't skimp when it comes to bringing the horror. They assembled a talented team of artists, performers, and designers who work together year round to make all of the sets look like they came straight out of Hollywood. Not only is the attraction itself scary, but it's inside the former Elks Lodge, a building that dates back to 1915, where many members, visitors, and workers have come face to face with the paranormal. General admission is just $20.
4 The 13th Gate
MTV, Playboy, and The Travel Channel, among many others, have declared The 13th Gate one of the scariest haunted houses in the world. This haunted attraction in Baton Rouge sits on a 40,000 sq. ft. indoor and outdoor lot. During the tour, you go through 13 different "gates," all with horrifyingly surreal images. Some of the scenes include crawling through a crematory oven, being lost in underground tunnels, and standing on an old rickety bridge where you overlook hundreds of live snakes. Standard tickets are $25.
5 Haunted Hayride and Pennhurst Asylum
The Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farm just outside of Pittsburgh has been scaring visitors for over 20 years. The hayride lasts 25 minutes but every second is action packed. The forest is filled with special effects, pyrotechnics, giant monsters, and detailed sets. Some of the highlights include a 40 ft. tall drive-through insane asylum, a full scale mock up of a New England Church, and a 200 ft. long cave. This year they added on a drive-through slaughter house. This Halloween attraction has been on countless lists of scariest haunted attractions and has been dubbed the scariest hayride in the nation. Tickets for the hayride are $20.
6 Thrillvania
Thrillvania has been named one of the best haunted houses in America by Haunted House Ratings, AOL, Fangoria, and others. Located 33 miles east of Dallas in Terrell, Thrillvania aims to give you the scare of your life. There are 4 attractions spread across 50 acres, the most famous of which is the Verdun Manor. Legend has it that Baron Michael Verdun, a psychopathic werewolf, built his home on top of Voodoo Bayou. He lives there with his vampire wife, Lady Cassandra, and together they hosted grotesque masquerades where they served human flesh to their undead guests. An angry vigilante lit the house on fire, killing Verdun and Cassandra. Verdun's dying words were a promise of vengeance upon those who enter his final resting place. In order to get to the manor, you must cross the Voodoo Bayou and the old graveyard. Other attractions include Cassandra's Labyrinth, Thorn Hall, and Sam Hain's Trail of Torment. There is enough activity here to last all night! An adult ticket for all the attractions costs $30.
7 Netherworld
Netherworld Haunted House has received praise from countless publications. Located in Atlanta, Netherworld is a self-guided, walk through haunted attraction. It is known for its insane special effects, intense makeup, out-of-this-world costuming, and skilled stunt actors. When it began in 1997, they decided to give the house a unique storyline instead of basing it off of slasher films. Since then, many haunted attractions have followed suit. The theme has changed throughout the years, but it's always terrifying. A fun fact is that the movie Zombieland filmed portions of the movie inside Netherworld. Rob Zombie also used props from this haunted house for HALLOWEEN 2. Several of the staff members for this haunted attraction also work on set for the TV series The Walking Dead. Their main events right now are Banshee and The Hive. Weekend ticket prices to see both main attractions are $28 per person.
Each of these Halloween attractions has their own way of providing horror but each of them will terrify you. I can't wait to visit some of these attractions this year. Have you made it through any of these attractions? What's the scariest Halloween attraction in your hometown?
