For some, the best part of fall isn’t the changing leaves, pumpkin-spiced drinks or cozy sweaters. For some, the coming of autumn means something far more sinister: It’s almost Halloween. If you thrive in spooky season, this is for you. Here’s a guide to Greater Cincinnati’s scariest haunted trails, houses and hayrides. Beware.
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 (Coney Maul, Dance of the Macabre, International Street Fear, Rivertown Reaping, Shipwrecked, Zombie Mall and Pumpkin Eater), spine-tingling live shows and freaky haunted mazes. The attention to detail and craftsmanship throughout KI is grisly, awe inspiring and otherworldly, featuring enough thrills to strike fear into even the most hard-hearted of monster movie fanatics with indoor and outdoor themed mazes. Snaked in-between are costumed actors stalking the park grounds, and their only job is to make you scream with fright. You can also experience the park’s everyday thrill rides like The Beast, Mystic Timbers and the Vortex — one of your last times to ride the coaster before it’s gone forever. If you’re not vying to get scared, KI offers a “No Boo” necklace for $13, a glowing protective charm that acts as a visual indicator to the park’s actors that you don’t want to be scared. Before the sun sets (noon-6 p.m.) on Saturdays, visit the family-friendly Great Pumpkin Fest or HalloTween, a slightly less scary Haunt. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26. Tickets start at $33.99. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com. Photo Provided By Kings Island
Brimstone Haunt Home to four separate attractions, guests can opt to venture through Brimstone Farm haunted hayride, the Forgotten Forest, Psychosis or Zombie Assault. 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. And at Zombie Assault, guests must attempt to survive a barrage of the undead in a small refugee camp after the zombie apocalypse has claimed the rest of the globe. Board an armored bus with friends and an assault team will train you to survive on your way to the camp. In terms of intensity, the hayride is a more family-friendly, low-to-medium intensity scare while the Forgotten Forest and Psychosis are high intensity. Zombie Assault is a simulator. Ticket office 7-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights through Oct. 26. $15 Haunted Hayride; $12 Forgotten Forest; $8 Psychosis; $5 Zombie Assault; $27 combo; +$20 fast pass. 472 Brimstone Road, Wilmington, springborohauntedhayride.com. Photo via Facebook.com/BrimstoneHaunt
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 Wednesdays in October sans props or actors offering actual history and paranormal experiences. There are also lights-out nights Nov. 1 and 2 for those looking for a true fright, plus lights-on tours for kids and wimps and those interested in seeing the detail that went into building the Dent operation. A Christmas Nightmare returns this year (Dec. 6-7 and 13-14) for a little yuletide terror. Dent is frequently named one of the best haunted houses in America. 7:30-10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; 7:30 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 2. $20-$25 general admission; +$20 fast pass; +$30 front of the line. 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com. Photo Provided By Dent Schoolhouse
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.” If you are a sadomasochist, upgrade to the super intense RIP Experience that offers a “hands-on, immersive experience that is not for the faint of heart.” You’ll get an extended tour of the USS Nightmare, plus “the potential for complete separation from the civilized world.” Nov. 2 offers an all-night-long Captain’s Extreme Tour during which the crew of the ship is “unleashed” and allowed to use adult situations and adult language, with more extreme special effects. During the Extreme Tour, crew members can touch you, separate you from your group and are allowed to use more dark humor. There is also the chance you may get wet, whatever that means… If you aren’t into being scared but still like haunted ships, there is a lights-on matinee on Oct. 27. 7 -11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 1. $20-$25 general admission; $30-$35 fast pass; $50-$55 front of line; RIP Experience starts at $30. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, ussnightmare.com. Photo Provided By USS Nightmare
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 intense haunted trail based on Wild West folklore. If you want an intense experience, opt for a red bracelet — it allows actors to touch you, grab you or pull you into a scare. All Hallows’ Eve recommends all visitors be at least 16 years old. They also have a text system to alert you when it’s your turn on the trail so you can enjoy the rest of the park while you wait instead of standing in line. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7 p.m.-midnight Sundays through Nov. 3. $25; $35 for red bracelets. 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg, allhallowsevellc.com. Photo Provided By Terror Town
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. 7:30 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 2. $28; $48 VIP speed pass; $22 Haunted Hallow only; $5 Death Trap. 1261 W. Dalton Road, Wilmington, wilmingtonhauntedhollowride.com. Photo via Facebook.com/TheWilmingtonHauntedHollowRide
Land of Illusion Land of Illusion has six frights to choose from: Killer Klowns, “a 3D maze that will put you in a daze;” Temple of Terror, where “souls from the past feast tonight;” Phobia, where you can dare to face your fears; Zombie Sniper Patrol, a family-friendly thrill ride where you hop in a cargo truck and situate yourself behind a paintball turret before shooting a bunch of zombies before they can escape from the woods; Middletown Haunted Trail, the Midwest’s longest haunted trail where “cackling chainsaw sickos crunch through the undergrowth, soft-footed murderers bare bloody little blades and blowtorch-wielding madmen rip across the trail in hot pursuit;” and Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate, a haunted hospital chock full of emaciated corpses, mutilated bodies, decomposed limbs and labyrinthian hallways. In addition to six stations full of live actors in horrifying makeup, the park also offers live music and/or DJs every Friday and Saturday, plus costume parties and even family-friendly “creature features.” They also have a full bar: the Vodoo Lounge and Creepy Café. You never have to leave! 7-11 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 2. $19.99 general admission with 1 attraction; $38.99 Thursday and Sunday all-night pass (includes access to 4 haunted attractions); $49.99 Friday and Saturday all-night pass (includes all 6 haunted attractions and live entertainment); $53.99 Thursday and Sunday all-night VIP; $74.99 Friday and Saturday VIP with fast pass. 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, landofillusion.com. Photo via Facebook.com/LandofIllusion
Twisted Trails This outdoor attraction asks, “What’s in the woods?” Find out as you make your way through a maze of terrifying characters — witches, vampires, werewolves and more — all attempting to evade the Collector. The trail is part wagon ride and part walk and features a “dark and twisted labyrinth of trees filled with lights, sounds, ghoulish characters and terrifying surprises,” as well as a variety of sets and animatronics. Because it is an outdoor attraction, Twisted Trails may be closed because of weather; closings will be announced on the Twisted Trails website, Facebook page and phone system. Box office 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26. Extreme Night is Thursday Oct. 24. $20 general admission; $30 fast pass. 5719 W. State Route 73, Wilmington, Ohio, twistedtrailshaunt.com. Photo: facebook.com/twistedtrailshaunt
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. Corn Cob Cannon gives you three shots for $5; hit a target a win. The Buckeye Trading Post offers gifts, antiques and oddities, plus snacks and drinks. 8 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26. $15 adults haunted trail and woods; $12 kids haunted trail and woods; $10 Operation Termination Zombie Paintball; $5 paintball refill; $23 adult combo; $20 child combo; $27 adult triple threat; $24 child triple threat. 11294 State Route 50, North Bend, highway50frightfield.com. Photo via Facebook.com/Highway50FrightField
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. 8 p.m.-midnight Fridays; 7 p.m.-midnight Saturdays through Oct. 26. $18; $12 10 and under; $12 zombie challenge; $30 family package; +$5 fast pass. 13966 DeCoursey Pike, Morning View, themayhemmansion.com. Photo via Facebook.com/TheMayhemMansion
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 five tents, backyard areas and a swirling, brain-bending vortex. Popular scenes returning this year include the Hellavator, Satan and Bate’s Motel. There will be a lights-on night from 6-6:45 p.m. on Oct. 20 so kids can trick-or-treat through the less scary hall. 8-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7-9 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 26. $10; $2 discount with canned goods; $5 with two cans of soup on Sundays. 7700 Seward Ave., Mount Healthy, mthealthyhauntedhall.com. Photo via Facebook.com/MtHealthyHauntedHall
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. 8 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26. $14 hayride; $10 Farmer’s Revenge; $20 hayride VIP; $23 combo. 4172 Belleview Road, Petersburg, sandylandacres.com. Photo via Facebook.com/SandylandscresHauntedHayride
Queen City is Haunted Tour On this guided walkthrough 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. Photo via Facebook.com/AmericanLegacyTours
Newport is Haunted Tour 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. Photo via Facebook.com/AmericanLegacyTours
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. 18-19; 25-26. $10; free members and kids 2 and under. Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, heritagevillagecincinnati.org. Photo via Facebook.com/HeritageVillageMuseum