The best haunted houses mix theater and carnival-sideshow design to propel you through dark corridors of adrenalized catharsis.
In other words: bloody good fun for Halloween season.
Here are 10 of the best haunted houses and spooky attractions in the metro area through the end of October and first week of November. They’re open for timed entry on weekends and, closer to Halloween, most weeknights unless otherwise noted. Most are recommended for ages 12 and up, and some are 21-and-up. See websites for details.
The Frightmare Compound
This haunted house complex bills itself as Colorado’s oldest, with more than four decades of scaring the wits out of Westminster and other metro area victims. It offers the main haunted-house attraction, plus “heart-pounding horror escape rooms, a one-of-a-kind Monster Museum and gift shop packed with the creatures of your darkest dreams, and even a Crypt Keeper Coffee shop where you can catch your breath (and a caffeine buzz) …” organizers wrote. If you’ve never taken a coffin-simulator ride or played a Zombie Brain Smash arcade game, now’s your chance.
Through Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10798 Yukon St. in Westminster. General admission tickets: $43.23, with add-ons available. 720-399-6318 or
13th Floor Haunted House
The themes at this big-budget attraction play on classic horror-movie tropes, including resurrecting Jason Voorhees from the “Friday the 13th” franchise (or as it’s now predictably called, The Jason Universe). That “Survive the Night” attraction is joined by the “The Stitchworks: House of Reanimation” mad-scientist environment and the dark fantasy/demon-themed “Cathedral of the Crimson Queen.” There are also mini-games, axe-throwing, a tiki bar, a clown-themed maze, VIP cabanas and a pair of 21-and-up “secret” bars.
Through Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3400 E. 52nd Ave. in Denver. General admission tickets: $25-$40, with add-ons available. 303-355-3327 or
Haunted Field of Screams
This outdoor scare-complex offers the classic haunted-house experience for those who want it. But as Haunted Field of Screams devotees know, the trapped-in-the-corn feeling can be almost as terrifying as claustrophobia. And with 40 acres of corn maze at this Thornton attraction, you’ll encounter endless hiding places for costumed ghouls, ghosts and monsters. There are multiple haunted house stops within the sprawling cornfield and the Riverdale Gates of Hell, the attraction’s signature encounter, producers said. And, perhaps mercifully, no VIP cabana packages, even after 26 years on the scene.
10451 McKay Road in Thornton. General admission: $33.19-$45.64, with add-ons available.
Terror in the Corn
Don’t judge Anderson Farms only by its festive, family-friendly offerings, which include games, activities and a massive pumpkin patch. Come nightfall, this Erie property begins to take on a more sinister vibe with the mile-long Terror in the Corn. It’s set in the fictitious town of Raven’s Gulch, where a pair of evil twins likes to stalk and torture unsuspecting victims. Flashlights won’t save you.
Through Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6728 County Road 3¼ in Erie. Tickets, $43-$50, include entry to Anderson Farm’s daytime Fall Festival. 303-828-5210 or
Fright Fest at Elitch Gardens
Denver’s biggest theme park trades roller coaster thrills for Halloween chills during Fright Fest. Sure, you can still ride all of your favorite rides, but also get into the spooky spirit with “new tricks, fan-favorite frights and six weekends of Halloween thrills,” owners said. That includes three haunted houses with unlimited entry (as with rides), four “scare zones” with costumed performers, and live entertainment. Daytime events for kids include the Booville area with Halloween activities, rides, a Trick-or-Treat Trail and fall decorations.
Through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2000 Elitch Circle in Denver. Tickets: $60 for adult park admission, plus $35 on-site parking. Kids 2 and under are free. 303-595-4386 or
Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion
Greg and Chris Reinke have been in the haunted house business since 1968, so they know a thing or two about how to scare people. More than five decades later, they’re still drawing crowds of brave visitors to their haunted mansion in Littleton. If someone in your crew isn’t ready for the full-blown spooky experience, they also offer “lights on” tours of the mansion while the monsters are out to lunch. And if you still need a Halloween costume, they have more than 20,000 to choose from, plus wigs, masks and props.
Through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5663 S. Prince St. in Littleton. Tickets: $23.96-$32.38. Call 303-795-5006 or visit
Scream Acres at Fritzler Farm Park
Come dark, the creepy lighting and characters come out at this haunted Weld Country corn maze, which itself is part of the larger Fritzler Farm Park’s fall festivities. In the maze, you’ll stumble upon horrific scenes while navigating jump scares and costumed freaks. Around it you’ve got a beer garden, interactive games, slides, racing and pedal karts, and fireworks on select days.
Through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 20861 County Road 33 in LaSalle.General admission is $47.76 and includes the “Curse of the Blood Moon — Revenge of Khravos” attraction, plus access to the Fritzler Farm Park courtyard after dark (but only some of Fritzler’s fall attractions). 970-737-2129 or
HellScream Haunted House
Using movie-grade special effects, detailed sets and a cadre of talented actors, HellScream immerses visitors in the nightmarish world of Von Helton Manor. Murderous clowns, a criminal mastermind, an evil doctor and other monsters (or “relentless live actors,” as organizers call them) roam the grounds. The multi-story experience is intended to disorient visitors as the navigate the twisting space, so don’t expect an easy out. Lights Off, in which your group must find its way using only the light of a single glowstick, takes place Nov. 6-7.
Through Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3021 N. Hancock Ave. in Colorado Springs. Tickets: $29.22-$32.38, with discounts available by bundling with The Fear Complex (see below). 719-633-8252 or
The Fear Complex
At the sister-house to Hellscream, you can find four spooky attractions under one roof at this Colorado Springs property: Haunted Mines, The Sanitarium, 3-D Carnevil and Sinister Manor. Tickets start at $24 plus taxes and fees. Open on select days from Sept. 26 through Nov. 1, as well as the Lights Out event on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8.
Through Nov. 14, at 2220 E. Bijou St. in Colorado Springs. Tickets: $32.38, with discounts available by bundling with Hellscream (see above). 719-633-8252 or
The Ritual
The new location of this Englewood favorite promises to keep this unique attraction’s appeal, which is partly due to its single-group launches (as opposed to being crowded in with folks you don’t know). “Ritual begins inside a rickety shack, barely held together with the souls of the damned,” organizers wrote. “You are invited to take part in The Ritual while navigating through a cursed swamp fueled by fear.” If ample water sounds unusual for Colorado, you’re in the right place!
Through Nov. 7, at 895 W. Hampden Ave. in Englewood. Tickets: $21.61. Call 720-837-3425 or visit for more.
The Denver Post’s Barbara Ellis contributed to this report.
