extreme haunted houses - ScareHouse Basement
[Photo via ScareHouse/© Undead Productions Inc.]

12 most extreme haunted houses to add to your Halloween plans

It’s that time of the year where we start making our fall plans and scouting out the best haunted houses to attend. There’s nothing quite like a good scare to get the adrenaline pumping and get you ready for Halloween

To help you in your quest to find the best of the best, we’ve gathered 12 of the most extreme haunted houses in the country. Do you think you have what it takes to survive these creepy and outrageous attractions? 

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1. McKamey Manor

Location: Nashville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama
Price: Voluntary donation 

Known as “The World’s Scariest Haunted House,” McKamey Manor is what many call a “horror boot camp.” Guests are required to watch a movie, read a contract and sign a 40-page waiver before participating. Instead of simply walking through a haunted house, guests are thrown into insane situations and stunts such as being buried underground, gagged and more. Those who are able to complete the so-called “tour” win $20,000. Seriously, it’s in the contract. Don’t get too excited, though: The average time guests typically last is eight minutes. 

2. Blackout Haunted House

Location: Manhattan, New York
Price: $55

Considered one of the scariest haunted houses in the world, Blackout requires both a waiver and a safety word. Upon entering, guests are thrown into a realm of strobe lights, psychosexual torment and faceless people shouting orders at you. The actors will touch you and interact with you as they please, and no, you can’t fight back. You must be 18+ to participate, and you must walk through the attraction alone.

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3. ScareHouse

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Price: $26-33

ScareHouse is one of America’s top haunted attractions, and guests can choose one of two attractions, The Basement or Stalked by a Killer. The latter is a horror-themed escape room for ages 12+, while The Basement features a series of intense R-rated horrors that will challenge your limits. Guests must be 18+ to go through The Basement and will be required to sign a waiver before entering. 

4. The 17th Door

Location: Fullerton, California
Price: $26-40

Clocking in at 37 minutes from start to finish makes The 17th Door one of the longest haunted attractions in California. A waiver is required for this one as well since “actors may grab you, and some things may fall on top of you.” There’s a strict safe word policy, so if you feel like you can’t continue for any reason, just yell “Mercy!” loud and clear. With different themes every year, The 17th Door is one haunted house you’ll want to visit again and again.

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5. Netherworld

Location: Stone Mountain, Georgia
Price: $20-60

An attraction featuring two haunted houses and movie-quality props, it will take guests more than an hour to complete both haunts. Not feeling up to fighting monsters and nearly passing out? Netherworld has also added a laser tag arena and an escape room game.

6. Asylum 49

Location: Tooele, Utah
Price: $25-100

At Asylum 49, guests can be grabbed, separated from their group, detained and even strapped down to a metal bed. $25 will get you general admission pricing, but if you’re willing to lay down $100, you can participate in Extreme Night. During these, you will be covered in blood, goo and other, uh, things. Featured on Ghost Adventures, there’s no better place to hold a haunted house than in a place that’s actually haunted.

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7. The 13th Gate

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Price: $30-65

The 13th Gate, otherwise called the “Ultimate Haunted House,” is home to 13 different realms where your nightmares and worst fears are brought to life. Known for its extreme ultra-realism, this attraction is one of the most detailed haunted houses in existence. From crawling through a crematory oven to walking through dark underground tunnels, The 13th Gate has 40,000 square feet of hell to endure. 

8. Dent Schoolhouse

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Price: $20-30

Set in what used to be a real schoolhouse that opened in 1894, Dent Schoolhouse is actually haunted by a murderous janitor. Aside from this terrifying haunted house, guests can also experience real-life paranormal activity by taking a Ghost Tour of the schoolhouse. Just don’t forget your flashlight. Can’t make it to Cincinnati this October? Don’t worry, Dent also holds a special Christmas-themed haunted house every year.

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9. Haunted Overload

Location: Lee, New Hampshire
Price: $6-26

Located on a farm and containing monsters nearly 34 feet tall, Haunted Overload goes above and beyond in treating guests to a creative and unique haunted experience. Offering “3 Levels Of Fear,” there’s something here for everyone to enjoy, no matter how big of a chicken you may be. 

10. Brighton Asylum

Location: Passaic, New Jersey
Price: $25-65.99

With two haunted houses and four escape rooms, you’ll have nothing to lose at Brighton Asylum—except your mind. The legend of the asylum dates back to the mid-1940s before intolerable living conditions and unexplainable staff and patient disappearances shut the place down. The location sat abandoned for 59 years before being turned into a haunted attraction in 2011.

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11. Terror Behind The Walls

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Price: $24-44

Terror Behind The Walls is a massive haunted house attraction set inside a real prison. With six attractions included in one admission price, it’s hard to pass up this creepy haunt. Guests can opt in for the ultimate spooky experience during which you’ll be grabbed, held back, sent down secret passageways and even temporarily removed from your group. 

12. Headless Horseman

Location: Ulster Park, New York
Price: $29.95-58.90

With a theatrical haunted hayride, corn maze and eight haunted attractions, it’s no surprise why Headless Horseman wins award after award every year. Completing every attraction will take over three hours, so you’ll want to make sure you get there with plenty of time to do everything.