With long-standing traditions like Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights and Tampa’s Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream, Central Florida is well known for haunted house attractions. In addition to these major Halloween-inspired events, there are quite a few other more hair-raising haunts sure to pack plenty of adrenaline, jumps and screams as you make your escape attempt. Here are a few of our favorite ways to get freaked out this season.
A Petrified Forest
1360 E. Altamonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, 407- 468-6600, $15-30, Select nights Oct. 6 – Nov. 4
This Altamonte Springs fall scare-trail tradition celebrates 10 years of fears. On two special Thursday events, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, you can experience the “Total Eclipse” nights, where each group is only equipped with one glowstick to make it through the woods.
Photo via A Petrified Forest/FacebookSir Henry’s Haunted Trail
2837 S. Frontage Road, Plant City, 863-944-0748, $20-30, Select nights Sept. 29 – Oct. 29
Experience a terrifying walk through two trails as Sir Henry hunts for the murderer of his bride. This scary event serves a good purpose too, with benefits going to the VS. Cancer Foundation for pediatric brain cancer.
Photo via sirhenryshauntedtrail/InstagramOminous Descent
2837 S. Frontage Road, Plant City, 863-669-7547, $20-30, Select nights Sept. 29 – Oct. 29
Due to damage from Hurricane Irma, Ominous Descent will be offering a third of their planned haunted experience outside of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail. The attraction is still sure to scare as you try to escape butcher Wade Harris and his tortuous ways.
Photo via Ominous Descent FL/FacebookHaunt Nights at Adventure Landing
1944 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, 904-246-4386, $26.99- $32.99, Oct. 6 – 31
This Jacksonville haunt is full of fright with four houses developed on solid scary concepts. Escape killer clowns in the 3D house, demented patients in an asylum, zombies in a contamination outbreak and demons in an earthly descent.
Photo via Haunt Nights/FacebookHaunted Angelus Scream Park
2413 Hudson Ave., Hudson, 727-364-2868, $15-$35, Oct. 6 – 31
If you’re looking to beat long lines at other fearful attractions, Angelus Scream Park in Hudson might good option. With that extra time, you’ll have a chance to take a ride on the haunted hayride.
Photo via _stormymoon/InstagramChamber of Terror in Tampa
705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 813-275-9712, $24.99 – $75, Select nights Sept. 29 – Oct. 31
Tampa’s Chamber of Terror offer a different haunt house experience aboard the SS American Victory’s nautical nightmare. From the weather deck to the depth’s of the ship’s cargo, you’ll have to evade Captain Berwick and his henchmen in order to survive.
Photo via Chamber of Terror/FacebookUniversal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 27
6000 Universal Blvd., 407-224-7840, $59.99-$83.99, Select nights Sept. 15 – Nov.4
No other haunted attraction does Halloween bigger than Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. This year’s event packs fear from the screen with Saw, The Shining and American Horror Story themed houses along with traditional Halloween villains like vampires and scarecrows.
Photo via horrornightsorl/InstagramBuckingham Terror
2600 Buckingham Ave., Lakeland, 863- 688-5491, $5 – $8, Oct. 30-31
Schoolchildren can be so cruel, but at Buckingham Palace the student body is truly terrifying. Evil lingers in the halls after a seemingly innocent prank becomes deadly.
Photo via Buckingham Terror/FacebookCity of Ocoee Haunted Hause
951 Ocoee Apopka Road, Ocoee, 407-905-3180, $5, Oct. 20-21, Oct. 27-28
Join the city of Ocoee for its 10th annual haunted house. Aside from the ghostly path filled with surprises, games, activities, refreshments and prizes will also be available. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable items to donate to the West Orange Christian Service Center.
Photo via City of OcoeeBusch-Gardens Howl-o-Scream
10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa, 813-884-4386, $34.99, Select nights Sept. 22 – Oct.29
Take on the undead and demented dimensions at this theme park tradition. Meat market, paranormal playground and other creepy scare zones will keep your adrenaline pumping between all the houses.
Photo via Howl-O-Scream/FacebookScream-A-Gedddon
27839 Saint Joe Road, Dade City, 813- 452-5412, $21.95-$40.95, Select nights Sept. 22 – Nov. 4
Scream-A-Geddon’s new attraction Infected: Ground Zero is a truly thrilling, interactive experience. Attendees must decide if they want to watch the action play out on an infected farmland or if they want to be “marked,” permitting themselves to be separated from their groups, grabbed, held back and sent to hidden rooms.
Photo via aportraitofinsanity/InstagramThe Haunt at Old Town
5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, 407- 396-4888, $5-40, Select nights Oct. 11 – Oct. 31
Watch fears and phobias come to life through haunted mazes and scare zones at the Haunt at Old Town. Explore three mini houses and check out the major attraction hosted by Mortem Manor.
Photo via The Haunt Old Town/TwitterZombie Hunt & Haunted Barn
1710 W. State Road 60, Plant City, 813 – 850-7705, $5 -$30, Select nights Oct. 6 – Nov. 5
For an extra active scary outing, dodge paintballs on this grotesque zombie hunt and try to escape killer clowns in the haunted barn. This attraction helps you beat the lines by taking reservations.
Photo via Zombie Hunt & Haunted Barn 2017/FacebookThe Shallow Grave
701 42nd St. NW, Winter Haven, 863- 661-4445, $25, Select nights Sept. 29- Nov. 4
Winter Haven is home to one of the country’s top rated haunted houses. In the Shallow Grave, you’ll be forced to face some phobias and navigate through hordes of undead on a rundown property.
Photo via The Shallow Grave/FacebookMickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, 407- 939-5277, $89-99,
Select nights Aug. 24 – Nov. 1
Although this event offers less fright, there is plenty of fun at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. From Cadaver Dan’s Barbershop Quartet to Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, there’s lots of Halloween festivities to enjoy at this Central Florida tradition.
Photo via Disney WorldThe Neverending Nightmare Haunted Attraction
9401 W. Colonial Dr., Ocoee, $13, Every Friday and Saturday in October
In a rehabilitation attempt gone wrong, you’ll have to escape violent mental patients addicted to a ban drug.
Photo via thennhaunt/TwitterAlcatraz Haunted Prison
7830 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, 904- 800-8452, free, Oct. 28 -31
Alcatraz Haunted Prison is a thrilling attraction that won’t be so scary for your wallet. This haunt featuring abandoned prisoners runs for three nights at no cost.
Photo via Joseph Kranak/FlickrNitemare Insane Asylum in Longwood
1889 SR-434, Longwood, 407-967-1107, $7-8, Oct. 26- Oct. 28
Take on the mentally deranged as you make your way through this Longwood haunted attraction. You’ll need to come prepared with a non-perishable item, which will be donated to hurricane and earthquake victims.
Photo via waferboard/FlickrFace the Fear in Longwood
111 N. Longwood St., Longwood, 407- 324-0203, $6-$13, Oct. 20-21, 27-29
Face your fears in this closed-down clown university. Clown criminal killers banned from public appearances try to take you out during your escape attempt.
Photo via Face the Fear
