While many of us avoid scary experiences throughout the year, the Halloween season is a bit different. This is a fun and spooky time when we welcome ghosts, goblins, and ghouls into our lives and embrace a good old-fashioned scare. There are lots of amazing haunted houses scattered around California where you can get into the Halloween spirit and see how your friends and family react to the haunts! These are our top picks for haunted house attractions in California to see for yourself this fall.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, Los Angeles
The haunted hayride is one of the most talked-about haunted attractions in Los Angeles. Here, you’ll sit on a hay wagon pulled by a tractor and ride through Griffith Park’s Old Zoo. On the ride, you’ll meet vicious clowns, demons, and a scary cast of characters from the safety of your wagon seat. Then, you’ll hop off to weave through the corn maze on foot. Other related attractions to check out are Purgatory, Trick or Treat, and House of Shadows.
Ultimate Terror Scream Park, Sacramento
The Ultimate Terror Scream Park has three mazes that are inhabited by sinister characters that will bring fear to even the most jaded visitors. At Voodoo Bayou, you’ll encounter a New Orleans-inspired haunted house, Midnight Asylum with tormented patients, and House of Undead where you’ll have to escape a killer. To keep the Halloween spirit going even after the spooky night is over, there’s a special event, Glowstick Night at the Museum.
Cemetarium Haunted House, Citrus Heights
At the Sacramento Raceway, you’ll find the Cemetarium Haunted House, which has been haunting visitors for over a decade. What’s great about this haunted house is that it offers both low-scare, family-friendly tours as well as full-scale tours for brave guests. The three attractions are the Cemetarium, Psycho Circus, and Zombie Heights.
The Haunted Hotel, San Diego
Located in the Gaslamp District, San Diego’s Haunted Hotel is a popular attraction that has new themes every year. It’s been featured on the Travel Channel’s “America’s Scariest Haunts.” It includes encountering upset souls in the Haunted Hotel, immersing yourself in the dark, damp cocoon of craziness at Kill-billy Chaos, and a 3-D blacklight experience at 3-D Freak-Fest. Located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, the mile-long Haunted Trail is a stroll through the park you will never forget.
Fear Overload Scream Park, San Leandro
If you’re in the Bay Area, don’t miss Fear Overload Scream Park in San Leandro. There are actually two haunted houses here, the Tooth Collector and Night Terrors. It has even been voted the scariest haunted house in California and one of the top Halloween events in the country.
Raisin Hell Ranch, Madera
Raisin Hill Ranch is once again haunting the valley this year. There’s something especially spooky about being out in a cornfield late at night, and onsite attractions include Hollywood Horror and Chaos. Raisin Hell Ranch is located off Highway 99 and Avenue 7, just one exit north of Herndon Avenue.
All Saints Lunatic Asylum, Apple Valley
This haunted attraction takes you into the world of a crazy house that supposedly lost funding and was forced to close its doors, leaving the patients, doctors, and nurses behind. There’s also an escape room challenge at the asylum that’s open every day and is fun for group events.
17th Door Haunt Experience, Fullerton
17th Door is a seriously haunting experience in Fullerton, California, and features the Perpetuum Penitentiary. This is a place of nightmares where evil pervades, and guests get a tour of the hellish prison where Paula, the main character, remains incarcerated. It takes about 35 minutes to take the haunted tour, making it one of the longest haunts in California.
Reign of Terror Haunted House, Thousand Oaks
Reign of Terror is one of the very best haunted houses in SoCal. Here, you’ll find multiple attractions, over 100 scary rooms, and 25,000 square feet of haunting space. You can choose from The Haunted House, Miner’s Revenge, The Asylum, Infected as well as Inbred, Casa Blood, Quarantine and Fun House or the all-new Containment.
