All Hallows Eve Terror Town
The former grounds of the Old West Fest have been transformed into a Dodge City ghost town — literally. Well, almost literally. A prop fabrication and haunted attraction team has transformed the space into an immersive 19th-century Terror Town with shops, vendors, restaurants, bars and an outdoor movie theater screening classic horror films. There are also theater performances, games and a 30-minute haunted trail based on Wild West folklore. Through Nov. 3. $25. 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg, allhallowsevellc.com.
Brimstone Haunt
Home to three separate attractions, guests can opt to venture through Brimstone Farm haunted hayride, the Forgotten Forest or Psychosis. The farm was a prosperous place until it was laid bare by the curse in the corn. Now it’s home to monsters, madmen and all other iterations of macabre characters whose main goal is to cause chaos on your twisted ride. The Forgotten Forest, a higher-intensity scare experience, is a quarter-mile walk through a supernatural wood. Psychosis offers “disturbing scenes of horror that will pull you further from reality” in an indoor experience. Opens Sept. 27. $15 Haunted Hayride; $12 Forgotten Forest; $8 Psychosis; $27 combo; +$20 fast pass. 472 Brimstone Road, Wilmington, springborohauntedhayride.com.
Dent Schoolhouse
According to legend, the bodies of several missing Dent Schoolhouse students were discovered in barrels in the building’s basement — and the janitor did it. Housed in an actual public school, Dent offers real ghost tours and lights-out experiences for those looking for a true fright, plus lights-on tours for kids and wimps. Touch passes are available if you want to let the actors touch you. A Christmas Nightmare returns this year (Dec. 6-7 and 13-14) for a little yuletide terror. Sept. 13-Nov. 2. $20-$25 general admission; +$20 fast pass; +$30 front of the line. 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com.
Halloween Haunt
Fear awaits at Kings Island’s annual Halloween Haunt, named the “Best Theme Park Halloween Event” in the country by readers of USA Today. There are seven outdoor scare zones (Pumpkin Eater, Coney Maul, Dance of the Macabre, International Street Fear, Rivertown Reaping, Zombie Mall and Shipwrecked), spine-tingling live shows and freaky haunted mazes. Plus, experience the park’s everyday thrill rides like the Beast, Vortex and Mystic Timbers. Before the sun sets (noon-6 p.m.) on Saturdays, visit the family-friendly Great Pumpkin Fest or HalloTween, a slightly less scary Haunt. Sept. 20-Oct. 26. Tickets start at $33.99. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.
Heritage Village Haunted Village
Described as a “slight fright,” this haunted attraction is completely kid-friendly, offering trick-or-treating, balloon art, wagon rides and a lower-key haunted house experience that won’t leave the youngsters with recurring nightmares until Christmas. Although there is a headless horseman… 6-10 p.m. Oct. 11-12; 18-19; 25-26. $10; free members and kids 2 and under. Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
Highway 50 Fright Field
This cornfield and haunted woods attraction is back with a vengeance on a real 1830s farm near an actual Indian archaeological site — both of which are rumored to be haunted. Keep an eye out for zombies on winding trails throughout the woods, and when the sun sets, try your luck at maneuvering a nighttime corn maze. Operation Termination Zombie Paintball arms you with 100 paintballs against a horde of zombies. Oct. 4-26. $15 adults; $12 kids. 11294 State Route 50, North Bend, highway50frightfield.com.
Land of Illusion
Why only have one haunted house when you could have six? Land of Illusion has six frights to choose from: Killer Klowns, Temple of Terror, Phobia, Zombie Sniper Patrol, Middletown Haunted Trail and Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate, plus live music and/or DJs every Friday and Saturday. They also have a full bar: the Vodoo Lounge and Creepy Cafe. Through Nov. 2. $39.99; $59.99 with fast pass. 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, landofillusion.com.
The Mayhem Mansion
As legend has it, when bootlegger Robert Haverford’s 8-year-old daughter Elizabeth died, he poisoned Elizabeth’s mourners and himself in an elaborate alcohol-fueled murder-suicide plot in the family home. Allegedly actually haunted, this collection of gung-ho actors will attempt to scare you to death in the former mansion. Outside, Haverford’s Hollow Terror in the Woods zombie paintball challenge is an interactive zombie trail. Sept. 20-Nov. 2. $18; $12 ages 10 and under; $10 zombie challenge; $3 paintball shooting range; +$5 fast pass. 13966 DeCoursey Pike, Morning View, themayhemmansion.com.
Mount Healthy Haunted Hall
Experience 20 different scenes at this favorite local haunt, featuring a host of classic creatures like the Wolfman, Frankenstein and zombies. In addition to its central house, the hall is comprised of tents, backyard areas and a swirling, brain-bending vortex. Popular scenes returning this year include the Hellavator, Satan and Bate’s Motel. Sept. 27-Oct. 26. $10; $2 discount with a canned good donation; $15 fast pass. 7700 Seward Ave., Mount Healthy, mthealthyhauntedhall.com.
Queen City is Haunted
On this guided walking tour of downtown and OTR, hear stories of grisly murders, ghastly deaths and other disturbing tales buried deep within Cincinnati’s storied past. Now offering a two-hour Ultimate Queen City is Haunted Tour, which ends in the most haunted room of OTR’s boutique Symphony Hotel. Through Nov. 2. $25-$35. Tour begins at 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, americanlegacytours.com.
Newport is Haunted
Surprise! Newport is haunted, too. Take a lantern-led walking tour and listen to tales of murder, suicide, decapitation and the horrifying origin of Bobby Mackey’s famous portal to hell. Through Oct. 26. $25. Tour begins 18 E. Fifth St., Newport, americanlegacytours.com.
Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride
Hold on tight: During this hellish hayride through a cornfield, riders are stalked and taunted by creatures hidden amongst the crops. Familiar faces like Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface and a bloodied take on Santa Claus appear alongside zombies, backwoodsmen, clowns and chainsaw-wielders. Cash only. Sept. 13-Oct. 26. $14 hayride; $10 Farmer’s Revenge; $23 combo. 4172 Belleview Road, Petersburg, facebook.com/shhfr.
USS Nightmare
The death dredge is celebrating more than 25 years of horror. On a dark, foggy night, the William S. Mitchell steamboat careened into a bridge, killing many on board, including the captain and his daughter. Ever since, anyone who has worked on the now-defunct ship has been doomed to die onboard, cursed to forever haunt the vessel along with the other deceased. Fifteen percent of people who attempt to make it through the USS Nightmare “jump ship.” Nov. 2 offers an all-night-long Captain’s Extreme Tour. Sept. 13-Nov. 2. $20-$50 general admission; RIP Experience starts at $30. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, ussnightmare.com.
Wilmington Haunted Hollow Ride
Hop on a bus straight out of hell and be trailed by fire-belching semis. Riders will venture through fog-filled tunnels, an abandoned mine, an eerie hallow and more, with peculiar creatures hitching rides along the way. Other on-site attractions include two indoor haunted houses and Death Trap, a group adventure where one of you is “locked” inside of a coffin and the remaining participants must work together to complete a task to get you out — like a very, very twisted escape room. Sept. 21-Nov. 2. $28; $48 VIP speed pass; $22 Haunted Hallow only; $5 Death Trap. 1261 W. Dalton Road, Wilmington, wilmingtonhauntedhollowride.com.
This article appears in Sep 4-11, 2019.