Elite Hunting Clubs
Best Haunted Attractions
Haunted house attractions are designed to give people a taste of what it is like to encounter a ghost or a spirit by creating a realistic and immersive experience. This is achieved through a combination of elements such as special effects, elaborate sets, sound design, lighting, and live actors.
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One of the key elements in creating a haunted house experience is the use of special effects. Haunted house designers use a variety of techniques to create realistic illusions, such as animatronics, fog machines, and strobe lights. These effects are used to simulate supernatural events, such as ghostly apparitions, and create an atmosphere of fear and tension.
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In addition to special effects, haunted house attractions also feature elaborate sets, designed to look like abandoned homes, graveyards, or other creepy locations. These sets often include intricate details, such as creepy wallpaper, cobweb-covered furniture, and eerie sound effects, all designed to enhance the feeling of being in a haunted place.
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Live actors are another essential component of haunted house attractions. These actors play the role of ghosts, ghouls, and other supernatural creatures, scaring and terrifying visitors as they move through the haunted house. The use of live actors also allows for a greater degree of unpredictability, as visitors never know what might happen next.
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Finally, sound design plays a critical role in creating a believable haunted house experience. Haunted house designers use sound effects, such as creaking floors, ghostly whispers, and blood-curdling screams, to add an extra layer of realism and increase the overall sense of fear.
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In conclusion, haunted house attractions are designed to give people a taste of what it is like to encounter a ghost or a spirit by creating a realistic and immersive experience. Through the use of special effects, elaborate sets, live actors, and sound design, haunted house designers aim to terrify and captivate visitors, offering them a unique and thrilling experience that is sure to be remembered for years to come.
Spring City, PA
Located about an hour from Philadelphia, Pennhurst opened in 1908 as a state school for the physically and mentally disabled and operated until it closed in 1986. Now the haunted hospital complex is open as Pennhurst Asylum, with three haunted attractions to push visitors to the limits of their sanity. The infamous Max Security Wing is home to some of the world’s most dangerous criminally insane. The Morgue performs services from draining blood to incinerating bodies, and the Tunnels take you to a hidden underground facility where patients are guinea pigs for inhumane experiments.
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Hidden in the old forests of northern Chester County, lies Pennhurst Asylum. Just forty-five minutes from Philadelphia is a sprawling campus of monolithic abandoned buildings which stand as sentries over you as you follow the dark and twisted paths and catwalks. Journey deep into the heart of one of the most haunted places in America as you experience new levels of fear.
Baton Rouge, LA
Widely regarded as one of the top haunted houses in the Country, The 13th Gate, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is the Ultimate Haunted House. Adventure through 13 nightmarish realms where your worst fears come true, and anything can happen.
Louisiana's known for its bayous, and 13th Gate is known for its swampy pools full of actual snakes. The 40,000 square feet of ultra-realistic sets and scenarios include an outdoor graveyard full of zombies, and an abandoned asylum. Looking for something even scarier? You can also purchase tickets for one of the two Flashlight Fright Nights (November 5 and 6), in which visitors can explore the completely dark passages of the 13th Gate...with just a few dimly-lit LED finger lights. Oh, and don't miss Carnevil across the street, a festive celebration full of costumed characters, fire artists, and more revelry.
Lockport, IL
The only haunted house in Chicagoland that is hidden deep in the woods, HellsGate challenges its audiences to a truly terrifying interactive experience with over 40 rooms and more than 150 live actors. This year, HellsGate is introducing the Escaped Prisoners of Statesville Haunted Prison into their dark world of attractions where guests can find new characters roaming the halls and hiding in the woods for a surprise scare.
St. Louis, MO
Some rank The Darkness as the best haunted house in America due to its amazing set design and the industry's largest collection of monsters, animations and special effects, along with a huge gift store. This season, The Darkness celebrates its 29th Year of Fear with a total renovation to make The Darkness longer and scarier than ever before.
Westland, MI
Located in the heart of southeast Michigan lies the most infamous haunted site in the Midwest – The Eloise Asylum. The massive building is a towering five-stories of brick and glass and is home to two of Americas most terrifying, cutting-edge haunted attractions. Guests will quickly find themselves overwhelmed by the army of monsters and killers they will face inside as they navigate the grotesque asylum.
Cincinnati, OH
Relive the legend of a murderous janitor and find out the truth about what went on behind the walls of Cincinnati's Halloween Tradition. Cinematic sets, award winning makeup, and sinister storytelling makes each trip through the Dent Schoolhouse feel like a real-life horror movie. With mini escape games, festive fall treats, axe throwing, The Spooky Gift Shop and massive photo-ops, visitors can enjoy a night out at The Dent Schoolhouse for a fun fall experience! Taken with a grain of salt, the allegedly-true Dent Schoolhouse storyline is a fun one: The attraction's website claims it was once an actual public school, but it closed in the 1950s after a janitor known as Charlie was suspected of foul play after kids started going missing. These days, brave visitors roam the schoolhouse halls and the outdoor Queen City Slaughter Yard to find horrors around every corner.
The attraction—which has been frightening guests for 25 years—opens September 17, and true thrill-seekers can experience the Dent Schoolhouse *in complete darkness* on November 5 and 6.
Baltimore County, MD
Bennett's Curse is Maryland and DC's number one Halloween event. A locally owned, small family business that opened in 2001, Bennett's Curse is known far and wide for its incredible array of giant monsters, detailed sets, and impressive theming. The legendary haunted attraction consistently ranks as one of the best Haunted Houses in America year after year.
Archdale, NC
Kersey Valley is located right in the heart of North Carolina. Founded in 1985 from a dare between teenagers to enter an abandoned farmhouse, Kersey Valley has evolved to become a full weekend of attractions – from zipline tours, escape games, ax throwing tours, daytimefamily events with the Maize Adventure and the popular spooky woods. Come hungry as the Tumbleweeds Grub House and Watering Hole serve up some tasty options along with the famous Apple Cider Donuts, Fudge, and Funnel Cake shops.
Look, it's right there in the name: This is haunted ground. "From the moment you arrive on Kersey Valley property, you are fair game to each and every haunted creature residing here," the site warns. The tour offers a veritable small town of hair-raising sets, and actors in admirably-detailed costumes.
Ulster Park, NY
Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions is a unique, immersive experience for Halloween lovers and haunt seekers alike. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, the attraction's theme this year is The Horseman's Night of The Shadows, featuring a theatrical walk through and nine additional haunted attractions including stunt performers, trained actors, monsters, pyrotechnics, professional illusions, and a cast and crew of over 300. In addition, there is a magic illusion stage show, food eateries, retail shops, and donut bakery. Fans flock to Ulster Park, NY, every year for the theatrical Headless Horseman Hayride, corn maze, and several haunted house experiences on the grounds of a gorgeous, historic 18th-century manor. In 2020, the hayride was be replaced by a drive-through experience titled "The Horseman's Trail," but details regarding the 2021 season have yet to be released. Keep in mind, though: The website promises it's "returning bigger and better" this year.
Bethel Park, PA
Pittsburgh's Top Halloween Tradition, Hundred Acres Manor, brings visitors a whole new vision of horror and fun all within one haunted house. Hundred Acres Manor features five-themed haunted house sections with add-on attractions like burial simulators, a beer garden, and insanity maze and more.
Seattle, WA
The Georgetown Morgue is open each Fall, offering a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience including five-minute escape games and haunted walk throughs like the Dark Maze and the Spooky Shack for merchandise, photo ops and more. The attraction caters to more than just adventurous city folk looking for a good scare – thrill-seeking visitors to make the journey from all over the Puget Sound region because the Georgetown Morgue isn't just a haunted house, it's legendary.
Salt Lake City, UT
Fear Factory is one of the top Halloween attractions in the world, made up of six buildings up to six stories high with two underground passages, and is a massive haunted attraction in Salt Lake City, Utah. Fear Factory has quickly grown to be one of Utah's - and the world's - favorite Halloween entertainment attractions. The attraction has seen more than 11 documented historical deaths and boasts over 100 nightly live actors. It is a great destination to bring family, friends, coworkers and more for an evening of entertainment, thrills and fun.
Canton, OH
The Factory of Terror, located in Canton, Ohio, is one of the largest indoor haunted houses in the world recognized by Guinness World Records three times for this achievement. This enormous haunt is more than a mile long and consists of five unique spine-chilling attractions including the brand new, The Abyss and Zombie Bar Crawl, where patrons experience five themed bars throughout the building.
​Denver, CO
What terrors await on the cursed 13th Floor? Actors in exquisitely ghoulish costume, for one, plus high-tech animations, and rooms that may move to shake your sense of reality. While details about the 2021 attractions will be released in the coming weeks, there were three in 2020: Dead End District, an abandoned "town" with lingering residents you don't want to run into, a Creature Feature starring silver screen vampires, mummies, and werewolves, and Deadly Reflections (LOVE a good haunted mirror).
Haunted house aficionados should also check out the 13th Floor's YouTube channel, which offers "Behind the Screams" videos highlighting the artistry that goes into creating these annual experiences.
Olney, MD
Enter a horrifically terrifying world beyond imagination at the Fields of Screams in Olney, Maryland. A walk through the woods on The Haunted Trail and Trail of Terror leaves visitors scurrying away. Along their journey, guests are welcomed into 13 haunted houses, where they might find anything from dead bodies to clowns and butchers. Enjoy Body Bean Bag Pumpkin Toss, Zombie Brain Smash and other Carnival Town Games for a thrilling, competitive experience.
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Glen Mills, PA
Located just outside Philadelphia on Arasapha Farm, the Bates Motel offers an incredible experience of terror and mayhem. Check into the motel to experience a new level of horror, with high-tech special effects and lighting, including levitating spirits and pictures with eyes that follow you. Their Haunted Hayride is a 25-minute ride through the forest, complete with detailed Hollywood-style sets and props, giant monsters and “more pyrotechnics than a KISS concert.” Also on offer is a haunted corn trail.
Fort Worth, TX
So named for its location in a former meatpacking plant, Cutting Edge has made the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest walk-through haunted attraction (everything really IS bigger in Texas). It'll take you about an hour to get through, and expect hanging butchered bodies, maniacs with chainsaws, and—well, we'll let their site say it: "Beware: You’ll receive ELECTRICAL SHOCKS. The floors are uneven; the slides are fast and dark; you WILL be enveloped by creeping fog and vapors." Did we mention there's a ghostly drum corps?
More than just a haunted house, Cutting Edge Haunted House begins its entertainment the moment guests enter the parking lot. Located in a historic area of Fort Worth, Texas, known as “Hell’s Half Acre,” this 100-year-old abandoned meatpacking plant takes visitors on a 55-minute haunted experience with its twisting corridors, live actors, special effects and a human maze. Come experience this multi-themed, multi-storied haunted attraction.
Lee, NH
Haunted Overload in New Hampshire does an excellent job of providing various levels of scares with their Day Haunt and Friday Night Lite offerings, so everyone can enjoy. They pull out all the stops for Haunted Overload, a fully immersive (and terrifying) haunted trail through the woods of New England.
New England is famous for its eldritch history, with its real-life witch trials and 19th century "vampire hunters." New Hampshire's Haunted Overload channels that mood at the DeMerritt Hill Farm each year, transforming it into an immersive experience that's more spooky than gory—but always chillingly done. For those seeking a more family-friendly experience, bring kids before dark for the Day Haunt where there won't be any monsters.
Stone Mountain, GA
Netherworld Haunted House near Atlanta is a self-guided dark attraction known for its incredible sets, animatronics, special effects and makeup created by film and television industry professionals. Each year, thrill-seekers from around the country come to experience this warehouse-sized haunt divided into two different chilling themed areas. Every night that Netherworld is open, 100-plus actors are transformed into monsters, some who perform stunts with bungee jumps and sliding, while other nightmarish creatures stalk the parking lot to frighten visitors from the moment they arrive. Georgia's Netherworld has been consistently ranked as a top scary Halloween attraction. The main theme of last year, "Halloween Nightmares," centered around a centuries-old feud between two rural Georgia clans, but as the website promises, the themes change dramatically each year, so so expect new effects, costumes, sets and scares.
