October is the best time of the year for people who like to be spooked. For some, scary movies or haunted hayrides will contain the urge; however, for the adrenaline junkie, they take scary to a whole new level. Haunted houses have completely upped their game in the scare department; Some may even include ghosts, zombies, spirits, and demons. These are some of the scariest haunted houses from all over the world, enter if you dare.
Scarehouse- Pittsburgh, PA
This haunted house, located in the zombie capital of the world, has just updated its “basement” in 2013 to create an extreme and unusual kind of experience. This is not a multibillion-dollar empire, Scarehouse actually started as a family-owned business and has grown into an extensive production that now has hundreds of actors. The building itself dates back to 1915 that is worked on all year round to building amazing sets and storylines. The building creates a sense of haunting that works really well with the themes of the house. The Scarehouse is known for having a “Scarehouse bunny” that follows you around the house that keeps you on your toes throughout your entire experience. The new big thing for the Scarehouse takes place in some of the oldest parts of the building, a place that the creatures like to call “the basement.” This point in your experience pushes boundaries by being very intimate with the customers. By design, the best way to describe this experience is very R rated– there is no nudity or inappropriate behavior, but the language that is used and the things that the actors talk to you about is very explicit. This is not a place where scary things jump out to you and say, “BOO,” it’s a place where the actors will have a conversation with you and get in your head. Warning, these actors will put their hands in your hair, handcuff you, and push you mentally. The experience can be so extreme for some people that you have to sign a waiver to prove that you are at least 18 years of age and have the mental ability to handle these situations.
Image from: https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/a-peek-inside-the-new-sc…
The Dent Schoolhouse- Cincinnati, OH
The Dent Schoolhouse is one of the most unsettling haunts as the house is actually a school that opened in 1894 and shut down in 1850. It is said that the school had a murderous janitor called Charlie Mcphee that started killing some of the students, put them in the basement, and lead the school to shut down. Around the scare house, you get to see real pictures of the students from that time, paint falling off the walls and cobwebs. Throughout the experience, you don’t have a point to stop and catch your breath, every corner is filled with paintings that open with a character waiting behind it to grab you. One room that is very well thought out is the skull room; this room really captures the catacombs hidden under the grounds of Paris. Skulls are stacked on top of one another on every wall in the basement, bodies are included, and if you’re one of the lucky few, you might even get to experience a sacrifice. Afterward, a possession happens between a ghost and the grim reaper. Other special events that occur in the house are a mouse head that can fully move and ‘eat’ the wanderer, a saw that follows you into the next room, and various trick doors that open into other terrifying hallways.
Image from: https://frightsite.com/photos/
FrightWorld Scream Park- Buffalo, NY
The FrightWorld Scream park is not just a park like Kennywood, this park includes five different haunted attractions. It takes around 2 hours for a visitor to go through each themed park, however, based on popularity, some lines could take longer than others. Each haunted park has its own theme: GrindHouse (think Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Condemned, an “interactive flashlight experience” called Night Stalkers, the horror movie-inspired Eerie State Asylum, and the maze-based Insanity. All 5 of these parks will keep any and all tourists on their toes while even making them scream and cry all the way back to their cars.
Image from: https://frightworld.ticketleap.com
Pennhurst Asylum- Spring City, PA
Asylums are the closest thing to drop dead scary you can think of, and the Pennhurst Asylum is no exception to that. The asylum was opened in 1908 and was a place of neglect and abuse, so it closed in 1986. It is said that this place has been haunted ever since. Today, Pennhurst opens its doors to tell it’s history to all who enter. The building still has items and furniture that were used during the asylum days and is considered one of the most haunted places in the United States. Expect to live through the most frightening moments of your entire life from the moment you enter the gates. The drive up to the asylum is said to be just as creepy as the building. Lobotomies, rooms where they performed shock therapy, and basements where you can hear people still scream are all on your tour as well. The attraction is set up for the people on the outside to hear the screams of the people on the inside. If you can make it into the building before you get scared off, get ready for the scariest night of your life.
Image from: https://pennhurstasylum.com
Netherworld- Atlanta, GA
This haunted house holds the #1 spot for the scariest houses in the world. Down in the south, everything seems more frightening. The difference between all the other scare houses compared to this one is that Netherworld does not have tour guides. Guests must explore the land by themselves while also discovering what’s lurking around. Another thing that sets this haunting experience from the rest is the terror one must go through without before entering the building. These actors are present from the moment you park your car to the moment you decide to go home, once you step outside you are in danger. The idea behind this adventure is that Netherworld wants to transport visitors into another world. Yes, these actors can touch, scare, and lurk around you just as much as the rest, but there is a reason that this is the scariest in the world. Get ready to scream.
Image from: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/netherworld-haunted-house-announces-2019-…
For anyone daring enough to try any of these parks/experiences, hopefully, the demons do not make it home with you. For those who decide not to participate, there’s nothing wrong with that. Actually, by human nature, people do not like to be scared. Our bodies go into a panic, however, depending on how you are as a person, people find different scares to be “a joyful experience.” So, whether you want to get so scared that you pee your pants, or if you just want to get spooked enough to watch Halloween town, be sure to stay safe and watch out for your surroundings. As everyone knows, bad things can happen around Halloween.
- Scarehouse- Pittsburgh, PA
-
house- Pittsburgh, PA
This haunted house, located in the zombie capital of the world, has just updated its “basement” in 2013 to create an extreme and unusual kind of experience. This is not a multibillion-dollar empire, Scarehouse actually started as a family-owned business and has grown into an extensive production that now has hundreds of actors. The building itself dates back to 1915 that is worked on all year round to building amazing sets and storylines. The building creates a sense of haunting that works really well with the themes of the house. The Scarehouse is known for having a “Scarehouse bunny” that follows you around the house that keeps you on your toes throughout your entire experience. The new big thing for the Scarehouse takes place in some of the oldest parts of the building, a place that the creatures like to call “the basement.” This point in your experience pushes boundaries by being very intimate with the customers. By design, the best way to describe this experience is very R rated– there is no nudity or inappropriate behavior, but the language that is used and the things that the actors talk to you about is very explicit. This is not a place where scary things jump out to you and say, “BOO,” it’s a place where the actors will have a conversation with you and get in your head. Warning, these actors will put their hands in your hair, handcuff you, and push you mentally. The experience can be so extreme for some people that you have to sign a waiver to prove that you are at least 18 years of age and have the mental ability to handle these situations.