12 Scariest Haunted Houses in the USA That Dare You to Enter
After an incident in 8th grade at a haunted carnival where I hid in a corner in fear of a nightmarish clown and lost my Kodak camera, I made it a point to have an annual tradition to face my fears at the scariest haunted house around.
I may not have kept up with my tradition into adulthood, but with Halloween fast approaching, haunted houses are open around the country for horror fans to enjoy. Sure, there are plenty of gimmicky haunted houses with creepy decorations and a jump scare or two. But, if you’re looking for a real, bone-chilling adrenaline rush, these are the scariest haunted houses in the USA that may even be borderline traumatizing.
1. Netherworld Haunted House, Norcross, GA
Netherworld Haunted House in Norcross, GA is probably the closest you will ever get to being in a real-life horror movie. Carefully crafted by TV and movie special effects experts, and planned for more than a year, every detail is meant to make you scream in horror and surprise.
Professional actors and minute attention to detail make this haunted house impressive as much as a scare you won’t soon forget.
2. Erebus, Pontiac, Michigan
Erebus, a haunted attraction in Pontiac, Michigan, consistently tops the list of scariest haunted destinations in the USA. Featured on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel, this four-story building is really haunted, according to A&E’s My Ghost Story.
The theme story changes yearly, but expect horrifying screams and blood-curdling special effects around every corner.
3. Dent Schoolhouse, Cincinnati, Ohio
If it weren’t creepy enough, the Dent Schoolhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio is set in an old abandoned schoolhouse. As a fictional backstory, a janitor from the 1950s, Charlie McFree, murdered several schoolchildren and hid their bodies in the basement.
Known as one of the scariest haunted houses in the midwest, the characters are spooky and the attention to detail as you wander through this maze of horror is definitely worth a visit.
4. Cutting Edge Haunted House, Fort Worth, Texas
The Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth, Texas is an award-winning attraction with four Guinness Book of World Records titles. With multiple levels and well-thought-out themes, terrifyingly realistic corpses make their way through this former meat processing facility.
Cutting Edge offers new thrills, twists, and turns each season to retain its title as one of America’s scariest haunted houses.
5. Field of Screams, Mountville, Pennsylvania
Field of Screams in Mountville, Pennsylvania, combines a haunted hayride with a terrifying walk through the woods. Not only are there plenty of chills and thrills to go around at this massive haunted amusement, but there is also a Midway with snacks and live entertainment.
You can pick one frightful encounter or visit all four in a single night.
6. Nightmare on 13th Salt Lake City, Utah
Nightmare on 13th in Salt Lake City, Utah has been consistently ranked as the scariest haunted house in Utah, as well as ranking on several top ten lists for best haunted houses in the US. This indoor haunted attraction will take you through 13 waking nightmare scenarios and leave you screaming no more.
Not enough Halloween horror for you? The Institute of Terror, an asylum home for those whose minds didn’t recover from their nightmares in the haunted house, is also on-site.
7. Hellscream Haunted House, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hellscream Haunted House in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been terrifying guests for 16 years. It has been consistently voted as Colorado’s best haunted attraction. You’ll confront your deepest fears and live your worst nightmares as you walk through.
The Fear Complex, Hellscream’s sister attraction, is another multi-story haunted attraction that will take you through a horrifying abandoned mine, a 3D haunted carnival with demented clowns, a haunted manor, and a sanitarium.
8. Bennett’s Curse, Jessup, Maryland
Bennett’s Curse in Jessup, Maryland, is a family-owned haunted attraction that has been terrifying visitors since 2001. Bennett’s Curse is an all-indoor experience with four horrifying attractions included in a single ticket price. House of the Demons, Ravenbrook Asylum, Legends of Halloween, and Halloween 3D are all in one location.
If that’s not enough to satisfy, they have a sister location, Creepy Woods Haunted Forest, on a nearby farm.
9. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Eastern State Penitentiary, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania turns fear into a festival around Halloween season. Here, you will find multiple spooky experiences and 11 acres of frightening fun, all within the walls of an abandoned prison.
There are five haunted houses, a light show, campfire ghost stories with s’mores, a speakeasy, a beer garden, and live performances for a Halloween festival experience that everyone can enjoy.
10. Haunted Overload, Lee, New Hampshire
Voted as one of the top haunted attractions in the US multiple times, Haunted Overload in Lee, New Hampshire is on a farm in the New England woods for an authentic horror experience.
The movie quality sets and attention to detail in the props make this haunted experience feel extremely realistic and very scary.
11. 13th Gate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The 13th Gate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is massive and nothing short of terrifying. According to Hauntworld.com, this is the scariest haunted attraction in America for 2024!
A lifelike pirate ship, a prehistoric ice cave, and a Louisiana swamp infested with real snakes are just a few things you will experience as you move through the 13 realms of fear.
Across the street from the 13th Gate, Carnevil Haunted Midway has live entertainment, free concerts, haunted carnival games, a sinister selfie museum, and food.
12. Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will give even the most seasoned haunted house aficionado chills and thrills. The sets, props, costumes, and special effects are all made in-house with minute attention to detail.
This trio of experiences includes a haunted house, a haunted hayride, and a haunted corn maze. Haunting visitors for more than 30 years, this experience gets bigger, better, and scarier every year.
Allison Manning
Allison Manning is the creative mind behind Simply Stunning Content. With more than 20 years of writing experience under her belt, she is a master of creating captivating content that connects with audiences of all types. When she’s not working on new content you can find her cooking, reading, or listening to a very eclectic library of music.
When she’s not working, she prioritizes her family above everything else. Whether it’s spending quality time with her loving husband, three amazing kids, or her faithful dog, family is where she finds her joy and inspiration. She strives to make every piece of content she creates simply stunning.
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