Have the Time of Your Life at These 6 U.S. Haunted Houses

By Meghen Jones

It’s official: autumn vibes are all around us—meaning, your favorite holiday is finally here! Yep, Halloween. Aside from scary costumes and sweet treats, what do you really know about the spooky holiday that our generation seems to cherish? Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, an event where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest, as well as the beginning of the dark, cold winter. Today, Halloween is celebrated a bit differently, with costumed children, ghoulishly fun parties, and of course, haunted houses.

Every Halloween, haunted houses open their creaky doors to crowds all over the nation, offering terrifying thrills that you cannot experience year-round. These frightening attractions include hair-raising experiences at every twist and turn – some of which cannot be explained. The most difficult part about the haunted house experience? Other than making it through them unscathed, it can be difficult deciding which one is the scariest, and therefore, the most fun.

Thankfully, uCribs knows a thing or two about must-see haunted attractions, and we have a few in mind that you’ll be “dying” to attend. Whether you’re bravely riding solo or going out with a group of friends, our list of haunted houses will provide the seasonal thrill you so desperately desire. Are you ready to take your Halloween to the next level with a terrifying haunted house experience?

Asylum 49 — Tooele, UT

What better way to experience a haunted house than to visit a location that’s actually haunted? Built in 1873, The Old Toole Hospital has a long history of paranormal activity. It’s said that the nurses and other staff were often subject to unexplained phenomena such as moving objects and eerie voices. The hospital, home to Asylum 49, is no longer in operation as a medical institution. It’s become a tourist attraction, where visitors can embark on a paranormal tour or full-fledged overnight experience. If you sign-up for an overnight stay at Asylum 49, there’s a possibility and you might be grabbed, carried away, and strapped to beds covered in fake blood. It’s apparent that Asylum 29 is not for the faint-hearted, and if you brave Utah’s scariest attraction and live to tell the tale, you’ll never view hospitals in the same way!

13th Gate Haunted House — Baton Rouge, LA

There’s no better time than Halloween to face your biggest fears. At 13th Gate Haunted House, visitors must encounter their worst nightmares across different realms, which do a horrifyingly good job of blurring the line between illusion and reality. Featuring 13 sections amidst 40,000 square feet, 13th Gate features high-tech, hyper-realistic rooms designed to make you feel like you’re really trapped in undeniably terrifying situations. Here, you can expect to find a snake-infested swamp sure to shake up your ophiophobia, a pre-historic ice cave, a voodoo séance, and of course, professional actors so convincing that you’ll forget that this haunted attraction is only fun and games.

 The Dent Schoolhouse — Cincinnati, OH

A school is usually a place for young children and teenagers to make friends and learn the fundamentals of various academic subjects. However, some students aren’t so lucky. In the case of The Dent Schoolhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, there are many more sadistic stories lurking the halls – and, if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime fright, you can experience them for yourself this Halloween at this landmark-turned-attraction! Every year, visitors come to learn the horror story behind a murderous janitor named Charlie, who allegedly killed several Dent students in the 40s and 50s before abandoning them in the basement of the old schoolhouse. During your visit, you’ll see catacombs lined with skulls, encounter terrifying teachers, and experience many ghastly things we’d dare not mention. Legend has it, Charlie’s ghost still haunts the schoolhouse-turned-haunted-house. Beware would be an understatement.

Terror Behind the Walls — Philadelphia, PA

The infamous Eastern State Penitentiary used to be known for housing notorious criminals. Now, it’s one of the most popular haunted houses in the United States. Now known as Terror Behind the Walls, this Halloween-worthy attraction in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania features a lock-down room with zombies, an infirmary with sadistic surgeons, and a 4-D quarantine room— just to name a few of its standout experiences. What really makes Terror Behind the Walls so creepy is its gothic setting, where inmates were once tortured. When you visit, you’ll have the option to wander the halls as an observer or participate in a slew of frightening activities. Choose wisely – no matter your choice, there’s a chance that you’ll be doomed to spend eternity with the hostile souls that met their fate in this very building!

Field of Screams — Maize, KS

When you think of Kansas, you probably think about its quiet plains and slow-moving residents. However, Kansas can also show you quite the fright at the Field of Screams in Maize, Kansas. Here, you’ll experience the haunted grounds that once belonged to the Spurlock family, witnessing first-hand where Jeb Spurlock’s infamous vigilante murders occurred. Trust us, you will want a friend nearby as you walk through sorghum fields, unruly forests, twisting trenches, terrifying tunnels, and the horrifying Spurlock workshops themselves, where unspeakable acts supposedly took place. What’s more, this attraction’s dizzying 3D effects will have your head spinning in circles. So, if you’re thinking about visiting the Field of Screams, we’ve only got one bit of advice: expect the unexpected and stay out of Jeb Spurlock’s way!

Netherworld Haunted House— Stone Mountain, GA

If there’s one thing that we know about Georgia, it’s that Stone Mountain is home to one of the top haunted houses in the nation— Netherworld Haunted House. Netherworld Haunted House is famous for its originality and movie-quality costumes and props. Even horror filmmaker, Rob Zombie, used several of Netherworld’s props and crew members in Halloween 2, and many of the people behind-the-scenes of the haunted house have also worked on The Walking Dead. These A-list credentials mean that you get to enjoy an experience that’s straight out of a Hollywood film, which offers only the most realistic of scares. Even if you’re a seasoned veteran of the haunted house scene, you’ll definitely leave the Netherworld Haunted House with goosebumps! ‘Nuff said.

There are plenty of ways to get your adrenaline pumping once the month of October rolls around. However, little compares to the terror of walking through a haunted house—whether it’d be completely fabricated or a true place with a horrific history. Even those, who are normally against horror films and all things Halloween, get in line for these creepy, once-in-a-lifetime experiences—and believe us, our top picks will keep you downright petrified! So, take a deep breath, grab your BFF’s hand, and remember to stay safe, as you get ready to have a spooky, good time on your next haunted house adventure.

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