By Dr. Klopek — THE Halloweeniac of Mayfield Place
Ah, fiends and phantoms, the veil thins and the scream season awakens! Matt’s already got his die cuts up. Mike’s been watching movies that take place on Halloween. And Greg is, well, CrossFitting. But he’s wearing his Stay Spooky shirt while doing it.
Ah, fiends and phantoms, the veil thins and the scream season awakens! Matt’s already got his die cuts up. Mike’s been watching movies that take place on Halloween. And Greg is, well, CrossFitting. But he’s wearing his Stay Spooky shirt while doing it.
If the scent of pumpkin spice and fog juice isn’t enough to raise your spirits, fear not, as I, Dr. Klopek (the real Halloweeniac), have stitched together some of the nation’s top terrors to visit. Here’s what’s rising from the grave this week in haunted houses, hayrides, infernal immersions and jack-o’-lantern jungles . . .
🔪 Opening This Week (Sept. 18 to 23)
🕸 Knott's Scary Farm (Buena Park, CA — Sept. 18 to Nov. 1)
The O.G. of haunts turns 52 this year! Mazes, monsters and mayhem await in what remains the gold standard of Halloween horror. Here’s a tidbit for the kids: Fifty years ago, radio personality and TV star Wolfman Jack (made even more famous as the radio DJ in the 1973 film “American Graffiti) had a show at Knott’s Scary Farm called “Wolfman Jack’s Shock and Rock Revue,” which took place at Knott’s Mystery Theatre. According to Ted Dougherty’s “The History of Knott’s Scary Farm” book, Wolfman was a howling success!
👻 Six Flags Fright Fest (Valencia, CA — Sept. 19 to Nov. 2)
Step into cinematic nightmares with mazes themed to “Trick 'R Treat,” “The Conjuring” and “Saw.” Add coasters in the dark and you've got a recipe for pure panic.
🧛♀️ Los Angeles Haunted Hayride (Griffith Park, CA — Sept. 19 to Nov. 2)
Climb aboard and descend into a haunted hamlet. This year features a zombie shooting gallery (with GellyBall!) and an Elvira-inspired maze (you know Greg’s all about this!). Spooky, campy, glorious. And did I mention Elvira-inspired maze? Also original Elvira merch!
🔥 Delusion: Harrowing of Hell (Downtown LA, CA — Sept. 18 to Nov. 9)
Not your average haunt. This is interactive horror theater at its finest. You play a role in a descent into a cult obsessed with Dante’s “Inferno.” May you survive your lines.
⚓ Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor (Long Beach, CA — Sept. 19 to Nov. 2)
The most haunted ship on Earth returns! Fog-filled corridors, cursed spirits, secret bars. Pack sea legs and holy water.
🎃 Magic of the Jack O' Lanterns (Palos Verdes, CA — Sept. 19 to Nov. 2)
Not into the gore? No worries. This serene stroll through thousands of glowing pumpkins delivers fall magic without the bloodshed.
🧟 13th Floor Haunted House (San Antonio, TX — Opened Sept. 13)
New attractions include “The Bloodshed” and “The Legend of the Donkey Lady.” Plus escape rooms, secret bars and a zombie shooting range. Let’s waste some zombies!
🎢 Six Flags Fiesta Texas — Fright Fest (San Antonio, TX — Open Now)
Features scream-worthy new haunts like “Saw: Legacy of Terror” and “Nosferatu.” Pair it with thrill rides and a Texas sunset. Yee-haw and AHHH!
👿 Purgatory Scream Park (Kingwood, TX — Sept. 19 Opening)
This one's billed as "Houston's top-rated haunted house in Kingwood." Four intense haunted attractions with detailed production and relentless pacing. Even the screams are bigger in Texas.
🕸 Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX — Sept. 19 Opening)
Nationally recognized for pro-level set design, costuming and fear factor. This one’s not for the faint of heart — or bladder.
🎭 The Thirteenth Hour (Indianapolis, IN — Sept. 20 Opening)
A cinematic, lore-heavy haunted experience with multiple chapters. Think immersive horror meets twisted bedtime stories.
💀 Nightmare on Edgewood (Indianapolis, IN — Sept. 20 Opening)
Indy’s most in-your-face haunt. Tightly packed, actor-driven and terrifying from the first step to the last scream.
👹 Brighton Asylum (Passaic, NJ — Sept. 26 Opening)
One of the East Coast’s most infamous extreme haunts. Industrial horror done right — metal, madness and malevolence.
🧛 Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando, FL — Running Now to Nov. 2)
Ten haunted houses, massive scare zones and the debut of the “Jason Universe” maze. The budget is big, but so are the screams.
😱 Universal Studios Hollywood — Halloween Horror Nights (Hollywood, CA — Running Now to Nov. 2)
New houses include “Poltergeist,” “Terrifier” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Oh, and a walk through an abandoned Depression-era farm in "Scarecrow: Music by Slash" maze. Hollywood horror at its finest.
🎭 Bob Baker’s Hallowe’en Spooktacular (Highland Park, CA — Running Now to Nov. 9)
Need something charming with a dash of creepy? This puppet-powered musical revue celebrates Halloween with vintage flair and over 100 quirky characters. This one’s just fun!
Now, these haunts might not be anywhere near you. So, if that’s the unfortunate case, then check out HauntWorld.com for a pretty comprehensive list of haunts, escapes and attractions, which you can search by city and state. You can also try out Haunts.com, which is a similar resource to find haunts by you. Let us know which gravesites (we mean websites) you dig most.
Whether you're a doom-driven dark tourist or just looking for a weekend fright fix, this week’s lineup has something for every monster and mortal. So, sharpen your claws, dust off your capes and … stay spooky!
