From century-old schoolhouses to concrete factories, this year’s scariest haunted houses are offering frightening experiences for fright seekers. Be prepared to scream!
Experience high-intensity audio, extreme low visibility, strobe lighting, fogging or damp or wet conditions and sudden actions for an unforgettable sensory adventure. Not recommended for individuals suffering from cardiovascular, respiratory or mental ailments as well as those experiencing claustrophobia.
1. McKamey Manor
McKamey Manor is an extreme haunted house designed to give participants the experience of a real-life horror film. Based in California and lasting up to eight hours, it aims to scare its participants so much they cannot finish it. Participants have reported being bound, slapped and thrown around during their experience; bound and slapped hands as well as being forced to face fears such as cockroaches and tarantulas are common elements within its walls.
Russ McKamey denies all claims against his haunted house of torturing participants or forcing them to take mind-altering drugs or consume bugs; another accusation has been that they must fight off animals using whips or tasers.
Before entering a haunt, individuals must obtain a letter from their physician certifying they are physically and mentally healthy to endure it. Furthermore, they must sign a 40-page waiver and donate a bag of dog food for McKamey’s dogs.
2. Pennhurst Asylum
Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City, PA stands out as one of the country’s most haunted locations with an aura of otherworldly urban decay that paranormal research teams study and where spirits have been known to cry, whisper and laugh eerily. Buildings and tunnels filled with foul smells, layers of graffiti, rusted wheelchairs and the sound of outside rain seeping in can all add up to create an uncanny ambience that is filled with ghostly presences.
Pennhurst Asylum has taken an approachable yet serious approach to their performances this year, employing dark humor, physicality in scenes and visual mapping techniques to deliver terrifying experiences. Their actors are stellar performers who utilize every available space – whether that means life-like morgues or tunnels – with blinding strobe lights or biohazard containment units providing terrifying experiences at every scene imaginable – truly an impressive show by Pennhurst!
3. Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus may not be scary in comparison with real-life locations like Colorado’s Stanley Hotel or Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary, but that doesn’t take away its unique charm. Hocus Pocus attempts to be something different every time; trying its hand at horror, adventure flick, musical, camp comedy – never really finding itself and remaining enjoyable regardless.
This film boasts a charming cast of characters that makes it easy to overlook its flaws, including minor scares and humorous moments, plus iconic costumes from 17th century witches – making it a wonderful Halloween film and worthy of watching every year.
The sequel, recently released on Disney+, follows Winnie (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker) decades after their last appearance in Salem. While its plot touches upon serious spiritual concepts like raising the dead or child-eating, its tone remains lighthearted.
4. The 13th Gate
The 13th Gate haunted house is considered to be one of the scariest attractions worldwide, featuring both indoor and (weather permitting) outdoor environments that bring patrons’ worst nightmares to life.
As they embark on this experience, guests are led into an outdoor area awash with chainsaws. After witnessing this unnerving scene, guests must navigate their way through 7th Gate The Voodoo Bayou through which a swamp with real trees, foliage and slimy water awaits them.
The 13th Gate is world renowned for their set construction skills, especially their horror sets. Their specialty lies in creating frightening scenes quickly by taking advantage of this set. Their scare tactics include head popouts from walls and statues that move, to give patrons that needed shock!
