Cassidy Landaker and Tuesday Mahrle for Phoenix.org
It’s October! That means Halloween and the chance to get the living daylights scared out of you.Whether you take a walk through a spooky corn maze or visit a haunted house with high-tech special effects, you will findplenty of frightful activities around the Valley to satisfy your adrenaline craving.
To help keep your blood pumping, we present— in alphabetical order— your best bets for frights and scares. Most of these events run all month, which means you can keep your heart rate upnon-stop if you want. Hint: Ifyou want something tamer, check out these fun farms with corn mazes and pumpkin patches.
13th Floor
In many tallbuildings the 13th floor doesn’t exist, but here it does — and it is frightfully creepy. Experience the truth about the 13th floor at a haunted house created from your darkest nightmares. You’re not even safe in the line as ghouls do anything but chat you up as you wait to enter. We don’t want to give away much more than that.
The creation of nationally recognized and award-winning designers, the 13th floor’s makeup and actors are known to be the best in town. Please leave children under the age of 12 at home.
Location:13th Floor Haunted House, 2814 W. Bell Road, Phoenix
Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight, weekends and select weekdays from Sept. 30 to Nov. 12
Cost:$24.99-$31.99
Website:13thflooraz.com
AZ Field of Screams
Like any good spookylocation, this 6-acre haunted corn maze sits over an old cemetery. Enter at your own risk! And be prepared for more than just a walk in a field.
The living deadlurk around every corner, and you can’t rely on light to spot them because darkness reigns. Fortunately for your heart, the living dead aren’t allowed to actually touch you. Afterward, you can calm yourself down with snacks and refreshments.
Allow 30 to 40 minutes to conquer the corn maze.We do not recommend this maze for children under 10, and an adult must accompany children younger than 15. However, Tolmachoff Farms does feature a family maze as well for the little ones.
Location:Tolmachoff Farms, 5726 N. 75th Ave., Glendale
Hours: 7 to 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, from Oct. 1 to 29, and Monday, Oct. 31
Cost: $17; $11 on Oct. 1 and 31
Website:azfieldofscreams.com
The Crypt Haunted Attractions
With three attractions in one location —The Crypt, The Asylum andThe Chaos corn maze —this adrenaline-infused adventure will bring you spine-tingling thrills.
“The Crypt” helps you plan your funeral to the scariest degree; be prepared to see your future death. Next door at “The Asylum,” we hope you’re not claustrophobic or squeamish about medical procedures gone awry. The awesome props and updated F/X in both haunted houses will rock your world.
Asylum and Crypt are not recommended for children under 10, and all children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Location:The Crypt Haunted Attractions, 1445 W. Southern Ave., Mesa
Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight, Wednesdays to Sundays and select days from Sept. 30to Oct. 31.
Cost: $18 for a single house, $5 for the corn maze, $25 for all three activities
Website:hauntedaz.com
Fear Farm
Phoenix’s largest Halloween event returnswith five terrifying haunted houses — The Bunker Invasion, Legends:Goatman, Undead, Mouth of Madness and Slaughterhouse — the largest haunted corn maze in the Valley — 10 acres — and a haunted hayride. If Fear Farm scared you in the past, buckled up. This place seems to get better each year!
Watch out, the food is tempting, but make sure you can keep it down with over 27 acres of screams. Despite having 5 different houses, expect some lines to get in — unless you spring for Skip the Line tickets. We do not recommend Fear Farmfor small children, babies or toddlers.
Location:Fear Farm, 2209 N. 99th Ave., Phoenix
Hours:7:30 to 10 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. to midnight, on weekends and selected weekdays fromFriday, Sept. 30to Saturday, Nov. 5
Cost:$24.99-$31.99 + $10 for the Phoenix Haunted Hayride
Website:fearfarm.com
Golfland Fright Nights — The Gauntlet Haunted House
The Gauntlet is a frightening maze filled with heart-pounding terror. This multi-level haunted house contains animatronics, astounding special effects and skilled live actors. Speaking of live, this haunt includesa live animal or two in the 15 rooms, but we won’t spoil the surprise.
The team at The Gauntlet recommends visitors dress up for a bit of extra fun.There is no age limit to attend, but it is not recommended for children under 13 or those with a heart condition.
Location:Golfland Sunsplash, 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa
Hours: 7 to 10 p.m., 11 p.m. or midnight, Fridays, Saturdays and select days from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31
Cost:$15
Website:golfland.com/frightnights
The Haunted Harbor at Lake Un-Pleasant
For two weekends in October,Happy Harbor at Lake Pleasant turns into the spooky, yet family friendly, Haunted Harbor at Lake Un-Pleasant. It features a scary haunted house and slightly less scary Halloween games, face painting, a bounce house and free lakeside movies “Hotel Transylvania,” “Hotel Transylvania 2” and the classic“Ghostbusters.”
Also on hand will be tethered hot air balloon rides, a special Halloween cruise for kids and one foradults, a Halloween bonfire and more. Perhaps we can’t totally call this a “scream-worthy” event, but it is one of the few on the list that the whole family can enjoy.
Location:Pleasant Harbor,40202 87th Ave.,Peoria
Hours:5 to 10 p.m., Oct. 21 to 22 and 28 to 29
Cost: $10 general admission, Free for children 10 and under; $10 for haunted house and other special activities
Website:pleasantharbor.com,www.facebook.com/Hauntedharboratlakeunpleasant
Jack & Jill’s Haunted Hill
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water; they fell into an abandoned mine and were never seen again. The old nursery rhyme takes on some disturbing twists and turns as you try to help the two teens out of this psychological thriller crammed into a two story building.
Explore the mine and see what happened to the two by booking a reservation online. This fright recently won “Best Haunted House 2016” by AZFoothills.com. You can take the children through a less scary tour from noon to 5 p.m. on event days, but leave them at home for the evening showings.
Location:Jack & Jill’s Haunted Hill, 3401 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix
Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. or midnight, Thursday to Sunday and Halloween from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31
Cost:$25-$35
Website:jackandjillshauntedhill.com
The Outbreak at Schnepf Farms
A disease spreads across Arizona, and it turns people into … zombies! Schnepf Farms growsa unique plant that contains the vaccine to stop the outbreak, but zombies seek to destroy the crop.Hundreds of zombie fighters are needed to save the plants and Arizona, so come join the fight.
Each fighter getsa paintball gun, 100 paintballs and a hayride trip to hunt the zombies. Only you can save us! Note that this event is for all ages, however children 9 and under don’t get weapons. Fortunately, plenty more goes on a Schnepf Farms that they can enjoy.
Location:Schnepf Farms, 24610 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek
Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, Oct. 1 to 30
Cost:$25 adults (at the gate), $18 adults (online), $15 students and military with ID, $15 Pumpkin & Chili Party attendees, $10 for children 9 and under, $10 daytime practice shooting
Website:schnepffarms.com
Sanctum of Horror
Take a journey through the mind of Lenore, a twisted girl with a violent past. Tour her childhood home that witnessedthe brutal murder of her family and, if you’re really looking for a fright, the insane asylum where she currently resides.
This year, the Mesa venue doublesin size and featuresa brand new, second haunted house called “The Breach.” At this new haunt, you find yourself in a desert military research facility that houses strange — and frightening — mutations.
Location:Sanctum of Horror, 6555 E. Southern Ave., Mesa (Note that the address changed from last year)
Hours: 7 to 11 p.m., Friday to Sunday and select weekdays, Sept. 30 to Oct. 31
Cost: $15 per haunted house, $22 for both
Website:sanctumofhorror.com
Scarizona Scaregrounds
Arizona’s newest place for fear, Scarizona Scaregrounds features two haunted houses —Epic Fear and Slayer’s Slaughterhouse — plus an interactive zombie paintball shoot called Operation Zombie Storm. Visitors can also attempt the chainsaw gauntlet, a timed event where contestants enter and attempt to escape with the fastest time.
Every Thursday you can play“Who’s Got Brains?” zombie trivia to win prizes and free tickets. The scaregrounds will feature different live entertainment each night and plenty of food vendors. For visitors 21 and older, there will be a beer and wine cemetery. All ages may attend, but the littlest ones probably should stay out of the haunted houses.
Location:Scarizona Scaregrounds, 1901 N. Alma School Road, Mesa
Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. or 11:30 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays and Halloween, Sept. 30 to Oct. 31
Cost: $20 for two haunted houses, $20 Operation Zombie Storm, $35 for all three
Website:scarizona.com
FAQs
What are the top 5 scariest haunted houses? ›
- Headless Horseman. Location: Ulster Park, NY. ...
- Field of Screams. ...
- The Dent Schoolhouse. ...
- 13th Gate. ...
- Netherworld. ...
- Nightmare on 13th. ...
- Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory.
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.
What is the 13th floor in Phoenix? ›World's largest halloween entertainment company
Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group is the world's largest Halloween-themed entertainment company, with over 15 locations and counting! We bring a premier haunted house experience to markets all across the country.
Fear Farm is multiple smaller mazes which generally cuts down the wait in line compared to 13th Floor. Paying the extra $10 for Fast Pass offsets long line, but reduces the cost vs value. No Carnival games and No food vendors. This lack of additional content means unlike Fear Farm, there is no point to hanging around.
What is the number 1 haunted house in the US? ›RANK | HOUSE NAME | STATE |
---|---|---|
1 | Creepy Hollow Haunted House | TEXAS |
2 | Purgatory Scream Park | TEXAS |
3 | New Orleans Nightmare Haunted House | LOUISIANA |
4 | House of the Occult at Lemp Brewery | MISSOURI |
- The White House.
- Franklin Castle. ...
- Sprague Mansion. ...
- Chambers Mansion. ...
- Myrtles Plantation. ...
- Stranahan House. ...
- Whaley House. ...
- Amityville Horror House. ...
Some will only brush your shoulder, while others may pick you up and toss you on a bed. Some will have you sign a waiver, others will not. Some will let you opt in/out of physical contact, others will not.
What is the biggest haunted house in the world? ›...
Cutting Edge Haunted House.
Cutting Edge logo | |
---|---|
Location | Fort Worth, TX |
Operating season | Halloween |
Website | Official website |
We have a "no touch" policy - you don't touch us, we don't touch you. Unfortunately, due to the very dim lighting inside the haunts, you may occasionally come into accidental contact with one of our staff. Our monsters will not grab or maul you.
Is it OK to live on the 13th floor? ›Although the 13th number is considered unlucky as per western superstition, there is no such belief in vaastu shastra that buying a flat on 13th floor is unlucky. Although flats beyond the 4th floor are considered to be devoid of the water element.
Does the 13th floor exist? ›
Ever wonder why you've never stayed in a hotel room on the 13th floor? The answer is simple: The floor doesn't exist. It all comes down to triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13.
Why do building skip the 13th floor? ›Early tall-building designers, fearing a fire on the 13th floor, or fearing tenants' superstitions about the rumor, decided to omit having a 13th floor listed on their elevator numbering. This practice became commonplace, and eventually found its way into American mainstream culture and building design.
How long does the thirteenth floor last? ›The Thirteenth Floor | |
---|---|
Production companies | Columbia Pictures Centropolis Entertainment |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release dates | April 16, 1999 (Denmark) May 28, 1999 (United States) November 25, 1999 (Germany) |
Running time | 100 minutes |
People who are looking for a real fright should pick Woods of Terror. From these two attractions, I would say that Woods of Terror is the better one. But Spookywoods is by no means an attraction worth skipping. Horror junkies such as myself are likely to have a frighteningly good time at both of them.
What was the first haunted house? ›History. One of the first recorded purpose-built haunted attractions was the Orton and Spooner Ghost House, which opened in 1915 in Liphook, England.
What is the most Halloween Town in America? ›For the past 99 years, Anoka, Minnesota, has been celebrating Halloween like no other city in the world. Courtesy Halloween, Inc. No city in the country—or the world—does Halloween quite like Anoka, Minnesota.
How scary is dark hour haunted house? ›Dark Hour is a fun, terrifying, amazing haunt that will surely satisfy the need for something spooky. The actors are dedicated to terrifying the customer and the creatively horrifying sets will scare the pants off of any participant. This entire haunt gets well above an A+.
What is the scariest horror creature? ›- 7/7 The Bear - Annihilation.
- 6/7 Death Angels - A Quiet Place.
- 5/7 The Entity - It Follows.
- 4/7 The Babadook - The Babadook.
- 3/7 The Alien - The Thing.
- 2/7 Xenomorph - Alien.
- 1/7 Pennywise - It.
Rank | Animal |
---|---|
1 | Nile Crocodile |
2 | Blue-ringed Octopus |
3 | Golden Poisonous Dart Frog |
4 | Stonefish |
Rank | Animal Name |
---|---|
1 | Arthropleura |
2 | Coconut Crab |
3 | Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula |
4 | Aye Aye |
What happens inside McKamey Manor? ›
McKamey deducts $500 from the prize for every failed challenge or the use of profanity. During the tour, employees of the Manor may physically assault patrons, waterboard them, force them to eat and drink unknown substances, have them bound and gagged, and engage in other forms of physical and psychological torture.
What mansion was used in the haunting? ›The Haunting
The production filmed at the Ettington Park Hotel, a Gothic Revival mansion in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
Your group will be taken by customized passenger van to a remote, off-site location for 50 minutes (part drive-thru/part walk-thru) of intense scares, a whole lot of FUN and maybe some dancing, chasing, hiding, bumping music, sparks, partying & cool cars .
What are people most afraid of in haunted houses? ›Other things that people are afraid of in haunted houses are chainsaws, the dark, zombies, Jason, Freddy, Samara from the Ring, etc… Many of these fears are irrational, and deep down we know that these things aren't truly dangerous or a threat. There's something thrilling about seeing what we fear and overcoming it.
What do you wear to a haunted corn maze? ›Be sure to wear sneakers, boots, or perhaps rain boots depending on the weather. The last thing you want to do is hurt yourself in the dark while in the scare-filled maze because of your shoes!
What US state has the longest haunted house? ›LEWISBURG, Ohio —
A walk through the haunt will take you 80-feet below ground. The attraction holds a Guinness World Record for the longest walk-through horror house at 3,563 feet. And its scares are not to be outdone by its length.
An Ohio cave holds the world record for the longest walk-through horror house, delivering true nightmares below ground. The Lewisburg Haunted Cave has been named one of the best haunted attractions in the nation, housing ghouls and terrors as well as 30,000 live bats.
What is the biggest one story house in the world? ›Istana Nurul Imam Palace, Brunei
The first biggest house in the world, Istana Nurul Imam, translates to The Light of Faith Palace in English.
In 2002, they opened Louisiana's Ultimate Haunted House, The 13th Gate. Located at 832 St. Philip Street in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this 40,000 sq.
Who owns the 13th Gate? ›Photo provided by Dwayne Sanburn -- Dwayne Sanburn is the owner/creator of 13th Gate, a haunted house located in downtown Baton Rouge. Horror and Halloween fanatics know that one haunted house they have to visit year-in and year-out is 13th Gate.
Does the 13th Gate have snakes? ›
The attraction features a life-like pirate ship, a stroll through the dangerous streets of Whitechapel, hidden subterranean passages filled with live snakes, and even an outdoor, zombie-infested graveyard, all seamlessly woven together and nothing short of masterful.
Why there is no 4th floor in China? ›But the number four is considered unlucky because it sounds a lot like the word for “death,” and as a result Chinese buildings often lack a fourth floor (just as American buildings sometimes skip the 13th). Likewise, Chinese drivers avoid license plates ending in four.
Do hospitals have 13th floors? ›2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.
What do hotels do with the 13th floor? ›Is your hotel 13th floor missing? Some hotels skip the number 13 and go straight to 14 when numbering floors. This is true for other tall buildings as well. It is because of the disorder triskaidekaphobia and a general dislike of or superstition regarding the number 13.
Why is there no 4th floor in Korea? ›In South Korea
The number 4 sounds like the hanja for "death" (사) (although Korean has no tones), so the floor number 4 or room number 4 is almost always skipped in hospitals, funeral halls, and similar public buildings.
Here's the thing. While to some of us, this may come across as a baseless superstition, the fear of the number 13 is a real thing and is known as Triskaidekaphobia. This fear is as common among guests as much as it is among hotel owners. So, unlike the others listed above, this one affects hotels internally as well.
Why is there no room 13 in hospitals? ›It is an old superstition that 13 is an unlucky number.
Is 13 floor unlucky number? ›Many residents live on floor 13 and in fact many projects also have the 13th floor where people are living without any issues. Traditionally, number 13 may be considered unlucky, yet there is no relevance of this belief in the Indian context.
Why do some buildings not have a 4th floor? ›In Chinese culture, fourth floor is usually omitted from most elevator fixtures in a Chinese building, this is because the number means "death (死)". It was considered that the number 4 in Putunghua means "sì" while death is "sǐ" and Cantonese means "sei3" while death is "sei2".
Are higher floors better in hotels? ›Next time you are booking a hotel room, you should make sure it isn't any higher than the fourth floor. A travel risk expert has revealed the best way to stay safe at a hotel – and rooms below the second floor are advised against as well.
What do you wear to a haunted house? ›
Your waiting area may not be covered. You should never wear high heels, open-toed shoes or sandals to a haunted house. If it's going to be cold, dress in layers (don't forget hat, gloves and scarves) and consider bringing hand and feet warmers if you're really concerned about cold temperatures.
Can you wear a costume to 13th floor? ›No costumes, facepaint, prop or handheld items are allowed inside.
Is there a 13th floor on elevators? ›The Otis Elevator Company reports that 80 to 90% of the elevators it has installed in skyscrapers and large hotels do not have a 13th-floor button. The lack of a 13th floor is especially common in residential buildings.
How long does it take to walk through the Woods of Terror? ›It takes over an hour to go through the Woods of Terror. There are 14 attractions including games, food, a parade, and more.
Does Woods of Terror have snakes? ›This past season Woods of Terror presented over a dozen frightening haunts: “Arachnophobia” This haunted attraction features an assortment of live snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlers.
Where can I find spooky wood? ›Spooky Wood is a type of wood dropped by Splinterlings and Mourning Wood during the Pumpkin Moon event.
Which is the most horror story in the world? ›- Frankenstein. by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. ...
- Dracula. by Bram Stoker. ...
- 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne. ...
- 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. ...
- 'Carmilla' by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. ...
- 'The Turn Of The Screw' by Henry James. ...
- 'The Great God Pan' by Arthur Machen. ...
- 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs.
History. One of the first recorded purpose-built haunted attractions was the Orton and Spooner Ghost House, which opened in 1915 in Liphook, England.
What is the shortest horror story? ›The world's shortest horror story was originally published in 1948; it was written by Frederic Brown, and consists of two sentences. It reads: "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door ..."
What's the scariest story ever written? ›A frightening creation myth for our own time, Frankenstein remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind.
Where is the real Halloween house? ›
Michael Myers House - “Halloween”
The Haddonfield, Illinois residence where a young Michael Myers murdered his sister in John Carpenter's original Halloween (1978) is actually located in South Pasadena. Abandoned at the time of the filming, it was later remodeled and moved a few blocks north from its original location.
By the 1930s, pranks escalated to the point that they were costing cities millions of dollars. "They were smashing light fixtures and setting fires and tripping people on sidewalks, and, in 1933, vandals did so much damage it became known as 'Black Halloween,'" Morton said.
Is the house scary? ›Parents need to know that the animated film The House seems intended for adult viewers. While its three stories aren't outright horror, they all evoke a feeling of dread and a sense that something bad is going to happen. The first chapter is especially spooky and characters face threats, seem to go crazy, and die.