Some people love fall for the apples and pumpkins, others for the blood and the gore. If you fall into the latter category then you’re in luck– Northeast Ohio lays claim to a veritable pumpkin patch of blood-curdling experiences. These haunted houses have pocketed many an award and left visitors with goose bumps for days.
By Xan Schwartz
Carnival of Horrors – Cuyahoga Falls
Named “Scariest Haunted House in All of Ohio” by WEWS, Carnival of Horrors is not to be missed. Located at Blossom Music Center, a sweet concert facility during the summer, Carnival of Horrors has been spooking visitors since 2003. Past attractions have included the Insane Asylum Cage Maze, The Fun House, The Freakshow and The Wicked Woods. (Photo via Carnival of Horrors Facebook page)
1145 West Steels Corners, Cuyahoga Falls; www.carnivalofhorrors.comThe Ohio State Reformatory Haunted Prison Experience – Mansfield
The Ohio State Reformatory’s Haunted Prison Experience might be the most unique. The whole frightful experience unravels inside the old reformatory in Mansfield that was closed in 1990. (This is the same prison that was used for location shots in The Shawshank Redemption, and it has developed a reputation as one of the scariest places in the world.) Complete with actors, visual effects and props, the Haunted Prison Experience has won multiple awards for being genuinely frightening. You must be 13 or older to enter, and if there’s any doubt, you will be asked to provide proof of a birth date. (Photo courtesy of Instagram user @shellelaurenxo)
100 Reformatory Rd., Mansfield; hauntedx.comThe Factory of Terror – Canton
What makes the Factory of Terror in Canton so notable? It’s set in an actual abandoned factory, for starters, and offers numerous attractions, including a mirror maze and a 3D-experience. Get your thrill on with The Scare Chair, which will take you on a bumpy, scary ride. Buckle up! (Photo via Factory of Terror Facebook page)
4125 Mahoning Rd., NE Canton; fotohio.comLake Eerie Fear Fest – Sandusky
Along with Ghostly Manor, an award-winning haunted house featured on Travel Channel, the Lake Eerie Fear Fest boasts frights for every taste: There’s also 3-D blacklight mini-golf, and an XD 4-D motion theater showing four different films. (Photo via Lake Eerie Fear Fest Facebook page)
3319 US Rt. 250, Sandusky; lakeeeriefearfest.comBloodview – Broadview Heights
Celebrating 35 years of terror this year, Bloodview has been a familiar name among haunted attractions in Northeast Ohio. Created by the Legion of Terror, the world’s oldest improvisational horror production company, Bloodview offers three attractions for one price, including the Gorehouse, billed as Bloodview’s goriest attraction ever. Bloodview’s actors also stage spontaneous performances in the outdoor lot, with a new theme every weekend. (Photo via Bloodview Facebook page)
1010 Towpath Trail, Broadview Heights; bloodview.netHauntville – Elyria
Hauntville offers an interactive fright experience, with 3-D glasses and new technology to create eye-popping visual effects, and professional actors ready to lock you in prison or worse. (Photo via Hauntville Facebook page)
1579 West River Rd., Elyria; hauntville.netThe Spooky Ranch – Columbia Station
The Spooky Ranch is back for its 24th year with dozens of scary attractions, including the Extreme Nightmares Haunted House (which children under 11 are not allowed to enter), Crazy Clowns in 3-D, and the famous Haunted Hayride. (Photo via The Spooky Ranch Facebook page)
19066 Mallet Creek, Columbia Station; spookyranch.com7 Floors of Hell – Middleburg Heights
Named one of the scariest haunted attractions in the country, 7 Floors of Hell is back for another horrifying year. Spread among seven different houses, it’s never the same two years in a row. (Photo via 7 Floors of Hell Facebook page)
19191 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights; 7floorsofhell.comHaunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory – Akron
The Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory has been around for more than 30 years, perennially making “Top 10 Best Haunted Houses” lists. Most visitors don’t know that the site has a haunted past–well known Ghosthunter Dr. Wilhelm Von Groddeck disappeared there in 1968. (Photo courtesy of Instagram user @xandrie)
1300 Triplett Blvd., Akron; hshlab.comThe Fear Experience – Parma
Voted one of the best haunted attractions in Ohio, The Fear Experience is back with four frightening haunted houses. While these creepy attractions may give you goosebumps, a heated indoor waiting area will kill the chill while you wait. (Photo via The Fear Experience Facebook page)
10701 Brookpark Road, Parma; thefearexperience.comZombie Paintball at Mapleside Farms – Brunswick
If a haunted hayride doesn’t give you the adrenaline rush you’re looking for, Mapleside Farms will be having a hayride where you get to shoot paintballs at zombies. (Zombie Paintball at Mapleside Farms Facebook page)
294 Pearl Rd., Brunswick; lightupthelivingdead.com
