Halloween is an occasion of horror movie marathons, eerie snacks, spine-tingling stories and elaborate costume planning – but for the truly adventurous among us there’s no greater thrill than visiting a haunted house.
Blood Manor has long been considered one of the scariest houses in New York City, featuring many scary rooms such as Maggot Invasion, Hannibal’s Hell, and Killer Clowns.
The Headless Horseman
No matter your opinion of him, the Headless Horseman has an uncanny way of captivating our imaginations. First featured in Washington Irving’s 1820 short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, his tale has continued to fascinate generations ever since.
He has often been likened to the Death Reapers from English folklore or Irish mythology’s demon-fairies known as dullahans, often depicted as men on horses carrying or lacking heads, appearing in literature, film and music.
The Horseman can be seen in classic silent film The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, where Ichabod Crane attempts to court Katrina Van Tassel, only to be terrified away by him one dark autumn night and never heard from again. Additionally, he appears as an outlaw biker collecting souls of sinners in Kolchak: The Night Stalker TV series played by actor Will Rogers.
Blood Manor
Blood Manor in Manhattan has long been known for reenacting nightmares of screaming victims, psychopath predators, and zombies – with an intensely popular line that extends well past its front door to get in. With such an indescribably good time guaranteed at each visit – its popularity ensures its return.
Attraction features a 5,000-square-foot maze of themed rooms and corridors designed to trigger fears, according to its website. Visitors must evade miners wreaking havoc in the Mines of Terror, escape a slaughterhouse in Slaughter House and avoid evil prisoners in Containment attraction.
Russ McKamey, a California businessman and creator of this experience, bases it around free will donations from visitors to his greyhound rescue charity. According to him, no physical torture or any form of psychological stress is used during any interaction within this attraction – all those entering must agree to a comprehensive waiver form prior to entry as well as provide medical certification of physical and mental wellness prior to admission.
McKamey Manor
McKamey Manor is widely considered the scariest haunted house on Earth, as well as one of its most dangerous haunted attractions. It has been featured on Netflix’s Dark Tourism and Haunters: Art of the Scare programs; however, critics often label it an abusive torture chamber; owner Russ McKamey denies this claim, maintaining that they only play mind games to tailor each experience specifically to each guest’s phobias and use minimal physical abuse when necessary – in which guests have had their teeth pulled out.
Preconditions to enter this event can be demanding; you need a letter from a physician certifying you as physically and mentally fit, take part in a drug test on test day and sign a 40-page waiver that waives the right to sue if something goes wrong during your experience. No one has completed it so far – McKamey even live-streams some shows to allow viewers to watch participants being beaten, tied up and terrified before exiting safely.
A Haunting in Hollis
Fright fans, despite worries over COVID-19’s spread, are eagerly preparing for an unforgettable Halloween experience this year. Most haunted houses include a meat packing plant, deranged mental patients and Victorian mansion, all filled with characters sure to thrill even fearless thrill seekers.
This haunted attraction draws its inspiration from a town synonymous with witch trials and 19th-century “vampire hunters,” using an abandoned schoolhouse to provide frightening encounters in its hallways and outdoor Queen City Slaughter Yard. For an enhanced experience, consider attending on one of its blackout days when the Dent Schoolhouse will be completely in darkness!
Reputable for its realistic special effects, this haunted house draws from horror iconography to shock visitors. They will traverse two haunted houses within its 60,000-square foot facility including two haunted houses with pirate ships, streets from Whitechapel with Jack the Ripper lurking nearby and hidden passageways filled with live snakes – making for an unnerving visit!
