As fall sets in, Ohioans are beginning to turn their attention away from swimming pools and outdoor concerts to the activities that define fall: apple- and pumpkin-picking, navigating corn mazes and being scared by strangers in the dark.
Haunted houses have recently begun to open up across the state, offering good fun for the brave at heart. There are plenty to choose from, especially if you're up for a drive.
Gannett Ohio has pulled together a list of 22 haunted attractions you can check out leading up to Halloween. Event range in size, approach, features and audience, so you can find something, no matter what kind of scare you're looking for.
NORTHERN OHIO
Haunted houses in Ohio: Full list of must-try scares in northern Ohio from the Akron Beacon Journal
Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory in Akron
There's a reason the Akron Haunted Schoolhouse and Haunted Laboratory has been around for 48 seasons: It offers some good, old-fashioned scares.
Tickets are available online, but advance reservations are not required this year. The season will run from Sept. 18 to Nov. 6. The haunt is at 1300 Triplett Blvd. in Akron.
Ticket prices are based on the day you tour but range from $20 for one haunt or up to $28 for both attractions. For more information, visit hauntedschoolhouse.com.
Hudson Haunted House
If there's a spooky grandparent of haunts, the Hudson Haunted House would win the prize.
This is one of the few remaining haunted houses that raises money solely for charity, in this case the Hudson Jaycees.
It is also one of the most inexpensive to visit. That means you won't see a lot of high-tech gadgetry here, as most of the scares are created by the actors.
The season will run from Sept. 24 to Halloween night. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids. The house is located at 2250 Barlow Road in Hudson.
For more, visit hudsonhauntedhouse.org.
Ghoul Brothers in Akron
This Akron haunt was years in the making.
David Barton, who grew up in the Akron area, worked in Hollywood as a special effects makeup artist and prop maker and always dreamed of opening up his own haunt in Akron. He did so in 2017 behind the Acme store in the Portage Lakes Plaza in 2017.
The fun thing about this particular haunt is that some of the props are from Hollywood movies.
It runs Sept. 24 through Halloween. Tickets are $20 to get in the haunted house at 3235 Manchester Road.
For more, visit ghoulbrothers.com.
The Slaughterhouse in Chippewa Lake
The Slaughterhouse in Chippewa Lake is a bit like the "Walking Dead" TV series because you have to wait each year for another season.
This is the fifth year for the haunt by Vaughn Lekan that is located in a real-life old market where they used to slice and dice up meat.
They only let a few guests in at a time with timed entries, so it is best to buy tickets well in advance at slaughterhouseohio.com. The season runs from Sept. 25 to Nov. 6.
Tickets are $30 per person. The slaughterhouse is at 5665 Chippewa Road in Chippewa Lake.
Carnival of Horrors – now in Canton
Like Jason from "Friday the 13th," the Carnival of Horrors lives again.
And this post-COVID sequel to the popular place that has called Blossom Music Center home for years will have a whole new location. Ryan Pluta is moving his collection of haunted houses and, of course, clowns to the Stark County Fairgrounds in Canton.
The site that features four haunted houses is open Oct. 1 through Halloween night.
Admission to all the haunts is $25. The events are located at 305 Wertz Ave. NW in Canton. For more, visit carnivalofhorrors.com.
Factory of Terror in Canton
Canton may be home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But for fans of haunts, it is also home to the Factory of Terror that's billed as one of the world's largest indoor haunted attractions, encompassing some 160,000 square feet with five different themed areas.
The terrifying factory is located at 4125 Mahoning Road NE in Canton. The season runs from Sept. 18 to Nov. 6, and tickets range from $25 to $28 depending on the night of your visit.
For complete details, visit fotohio.com.
Blood Prison in Mansfield
The old Mansfield Reformatory can be a pretty bleak and scary place to tour in the daylight. But throw in nightfall and some scary folks, and the former prison is perhaps the most unique haunt in the entire country.
It will be open for scary night tours Fridays through Sundays in October.
Tickets are $25; for more information visit bloodprison.com.
Haunted Hydro in Fremont
For spooky ambiance, it is hard to beat the Haunted Hydro in Fremont, which has been around for 32 years.
The old hydroelectric plant that houses one of the haunts has been around a lot longer than that.
The plant is at 1333 Tiffin St. and is open weekends from Oct. 1 through Halloween.
For more, visit thehauntedhydro.com.
HalloWeekends at Cedar Point in Sandusky
Cedar Point's HalloWeekends are back.
At night, the scary fun starts with haunted houses and mazes to explore along with Halloween shows, including a particularly spooky live music experience by the Midnight Syndicate.
HalloWeekends is open on weekends and select Thursdays in October through Halloween.
Tickets are $80 for adults, but discounts, along with more information, can be found at cedarpoint.com.
— Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
CENTRAL OHIO HAUNTED HOUSES
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Fear Columbus
Fear Columbus took over the space of a previous attraction last year, and this year has completely renovated the space. “The Summoning” now escorts visitors through a house occupied by a demonic cult, and “Aftermath Anarchy” imagines a post-apocalyptic city with plenty of fearsome action.
It runs Sept. 17 through Nov. 6, when the lights go out for the Blackout event. Hours and day vary as Halloween gets closer.
Fear Columbus is located at 2605 Northland Plaza Drive. Admission varies by date, from $19.99 to $29.99. See website for details. Tickets are timed, and must be purchased online. For more information, call 614-344-4484 or visit fearcolumbus.com.
Carnage Haunted House
Carnage Haunted House has taken over a new location, with 60,000 square feet of scares. Make your way through two zones, “The Bayou” and “The Entity.”
Carnage Haunted House, 3770 Refugee Road, opens on Sept. 17 and runs through Nov. 6. See website for dates and times.
Tickets cost $25, and parking is free. Those younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit carnagehauntedhouse.com.
Pataskala Haunted Forest
Pataskala Haunted Forest has a motto: “Scaring is caring.” The forest has been creeping out families and raising money for service projects and community events, sponsored by the Pataskala Lions Club for 32 years now. “Grave digger” escorts keep groups socially distant.
Pataskala Haunted Forest, 8838 Refugee Road, Pataskala, will be open on Friday and Saturday nights in October, and tickets will be released a week ahead of time.
Tickets are $15 and must be bought online. For more information, call 740-755-9775 or visit pataskalahauntedforest.com.
Haunted Hoochie and Dead Acres
Haunted Hoochie and Dead Acres are not for the faint of heart or the easily grossed-out. The indoor and outdoor attractions promise explicit content, graphic violence and “full sensory assault.” Unlike the other local haunted attractions, these do not have a “no touch” policy.
Haunted Hoochie and Dead Acres, 13861 Broad St. SW, Pataskala, are open Thursdays through Saturdays starting Sept. 16 and run through the end of October.
Tickets cost $30. For more information, visit deadacres.com.
The Haunted Farm
The Haunted Farm is celebrating 25 years of scares this year. The family-friendly Pleasantville attraction offers a spooky hayride, a haunted barn maze, a bonfire and free entertainment.
The Haunted Farm, 5450 Old Millersport Road NE, Pleasantville, will be open from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays starting on Oct. 1 and running through Nov. 6.
Tickets and ticket prices will be available on the website before the attraction opens. For more information, visit haunted-farm.com.
Zombiezi Bay in Powell
For the first year, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will convert its waterpark, Zoombezi Bay, into a scare-focused attraction with haunted rides and more.
Zombiezi Bay is located at 4850 Powell Road, Delaware County. September hours are 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 6 to 10 p.m. on Sundays. In October, the park will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays and Thursdays (starting Oct. 14) and 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission is $28.99 to $32.99. Parking is $10. For more information, call 614-724-3600 or visit zombiezibay.columbuszoo.org.
— Margaret Quamme, For The Columbus Dispatch
SOUTHWESTERN OHIO HAUNTED HOUSES
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Terror Town in Williamsburg
Terror Town opened for the first time in 2019. Thousands of people visited the haunt during its opening month.
The haunt is on the site of Old West Fest. There are saloons, an outdoor theater with nightly live performances and a variety of haunted trails.
It runs through Nov. 6 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday through Saturday.
It's at 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg. Tickets at $25-$35. Info: allhallowsevellc.com.
Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park in Middletown
Like Terror Town, it could be called more of a haunted festival than a haunted house, due to multiple trails, houses and spaces for scares.
According to their website, Land of Illusion has seven haunts this year, live music and a full bar.
It runs Sept. 10-Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday through Saturday.
8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Tickets are $75 fast pass, $50 general. Info: landofillusion.com.
The Dent Schoolhouse
Dent Schoolhouse has been a Greater Cincinnati staple for more than 20 years. It was originally opened by the Boy Scouts as a charity haunt. The story is that a janitor murdered several children in an old schoolhouse. The janitor was never found.
The haunt features movie-quality sets and Hollywood animations.
It runs Sept. 17-Oct. 31. Hours are 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and Sunday, then 7:30-midnight Friday-Saturday
It's at 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent. Tickets are sold in time slots. Friday-Saturday tickets include admission to Queen City Slaughter Yard. $25-$55. Info: frightsite.com.
Nightmare Manor
It runs Sept. 17-Oct. 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday through Saturday. In October, it will open at 7 p.m. It's at 1601 S. University Blvd., suite A, Middletown. Info: 513-849-2021; nightmaremanor.net.
Halloween Haunt at Kings Island
The Amusement park becomes an immersive haunted attraction featuring scare mazes, scare zones, live entertainment and rides. Not recommended for ages under 13.
It runs Sept. 24 through Oct. 30 starting at 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday. It's at Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Tickets are $39.99 and up. Info: visitkingsisland.com.
Brimstone Haunt
This haunt is on the grounds of the Ohio Renaissance Festival.
There are three different scare options: the Haunted Hayride, a Forgotten Forest, Zombie Assault and an indoor haunt called "Psychosis."
It runs from Sept. 24 to Oct. 30 starting at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It's at 472 Brimstone Road, Wilmington. Info: brimstonehaunt.com.
Mount Healthy Haunted Hall
The attraction features classic favorites like Wolfman, Frankenstein, Dracula and the Bate's Motel.
It runs Oct. 1-30, from 8-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7-9 p.m. Sunday. It's at 7700 Seward Ave., Mount Healthy. Tickets are $15 fast pass, $10 general. Bring 2 cans of soup on Sundays for $5 discount. Info: hauntedhallinfo.com.
— Luann Gibbs and Briana Rice, Cincinnati Enquirer
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