13 haunted attractions in Greater Columbus and beyond will send shivers down your spine
Whether you want to stick to Greater Columbus or head farther afield, now is the time for haunted attractions.
In Columbus itself, Fear Columbus and Carnage Haunted House both offer a double dose of horrifying experiences.
Outside the city, outdoor experiences abound, including the relatively family-friendly Haunted Woods at Shawnee Hills and Pataskala Haunted Forest, and the definitely adult-oriented Haunted Hoochie.
Ohio amusement parks take on the season with haunted spaces and transformed rides. Close to home, Zoombezi Bay becomes ZOMBIEzi Bay, while those willing to take a road trip can explore the nighttime worlds of Cedar Point and Kings Island.
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Abandoned jails and prisons, including those in Newark and Mansfield, also make suitable settings for hauntings.
Details on these and more are included in our list.
Check websites for updates before heading out for adventure, and take a look at the weather if you're planning an outdoor experience. Many of the attractions offer Fast Passes and group rates.
Brimstone Haunt
Where: 525 Brimstone Road, Wilmington
When: Friday and Saturday nights, opening at dark and running until lines are empty, through Oct. 29.
Highlights: The Ohio Renaissance Festival's scary sibling serves up five horrific experiences, including a relatively tame Haunted Hayride, a high-intensity Forgotten Forest adventure, a Psychosis maze rated five out of five skulls for creepiness and a Dead Shot paintball shooting gallery where guests attempt to shoot zombies.
Admission: Online prices (prices at the door are $5 more): Haunted Hayride, $18; Forgotten Forest, $17; Psychosis, $11; Zombie Assault, $7; Dead Shot Paintball, $11. Combo packages also available.
Parking: $3
Age recommendations: Some attractions ages 8 and older, others ages 13 and older
Information: brimstonehaunt.com
Carnage Haunted House
Where: 3770 Refugee Road
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 5
Highlights: Make your way through two haunted areas: The Bayou is a swamp full of “cursed creatures,” and “The Entity” is an abandoned hospital occupied by a spooky being.
Admission: $25
Parking: free
Age requirements: Anyone younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Information: carnagehauntedhouse.com
Carnival of Horrors
Where: 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton
When: 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays; 7:30 p.m. to midnight Saturdays; 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30
Highlights: Four haunted attractions include a maze through an abandoned asylum, a scary clown-filled fun house, a dark Trail of Terror for which a flashlight is supplied, and a freak show for which guests wear 3-D glasses.
Admission: $25
Parking: free
Age requirements: Anyone younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Information: carnivalofhorrors.com
Escape from Blood Prison
Where: Ohio State Reformatory, 100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield
When: 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30
Highlights: Tour the old reformatory by night, with abundant scares.
Admission: $35; online tickets recommended
Parking: included in admission
Age requirements: For ages 10 and older. Be prepared to show proof of age (birth certificate or school ID) for anyone who looks like they might be younger than 10.
Information: www.bloodprison.com
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Fear Columbus
Where: 2605 Northland Plaza Drive
When: Open through Oct. 31. Dates and times vary; see website
Highlights: Make your way through two haunted houses, one where a cult is summoning demons and one where residents of a post-apocalyptic city are roaming at large.
Admission: Tickets start at $19.99, and vary by date. Online timed tickets required.
Parking: free
Age recommendations: Not recommended for children younger than 12
Information: fearcolumbus.com
HalloWeekends
Where: Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky
When: 6 p.m. to midnight Thursdays; 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30. Operating dates and times subject to change without notice; check website before visiting.
Highlights: Along with the regular Cedar Point rides and other activities, the park will have special Halloween activities and shows during the day and haunted houses and scary trails at night.
Admission: Starts at $49.99
Parking: $25
Age recommendations: none listed on website
Information: www.cedarpoint.com
Halloween Haunt
Where: Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason
When: 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30. Operating dates and times subject to change without notice; check website before visiting.
Highlights: Enjoy the usual thrill rides along with scare zones, mazes, haunted attractions and live shows.
Admission: Starts at $44.99
Parking: $25
Age recommendations: none listed on website
Information: www.visitkingsisland.com
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Haunted Farm
Where: 5450 Old Millersport Road, Pleasantville
When: 7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29
Highlights: “Farm fresh fear” at a haunted barn and corn maze.
Admission: $20
Age recommendations: none listed on website
Information: www.haunted-farm.com
Haunted Hoochie
Where: 13861 Broad St. SW, Pataskala
When: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through Oct. 29
Highlights: Expect graphic violence and horror.
Admission: $30
Age recommendations: “If you are wondering if your kids are too young, your kids are too young.”
Information: www.deadacres.com
Haunted Woods at Shawnee Hills
Where: Adaptive Sports Connection, 6000 Herriott Drive, Powell
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29. Sensory-friendly/minimally-scary sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturdays
Highlights: Experience a spooky, 1-mile trail through the woods.
Admission: $15. Proceeds benefit the work of Adaptive Sports Connection.
Parking: free
Age recommendations: none listed on website
Information: getoutadventures.us/haunting/
Jail of Terror
Where: 46 S. 3rd St., Newark
When: 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; Sunday hours, 8 to 11 p.m., start on Oct. 16. The attraction is open until Oct. 30.
Highlights: Meet the spirits haunting the Historic Licking County Jail.
Admission: $25
Age recommendations: none listed on website
Information: jail.fearticket.com
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Pataskala Haunted Forest
Where: 8838 Refugee Road SW, Pataskala
When: 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29
Highlights: Take a family-friendly walk through a haunted forest.
Admission: $15. Tickets must be purchased online. Proceeds benefit the Lions Club of Pataskala Charitable Foundation.
Parking: free
Age recommendations: none listed on website
Information: www.pataskalahauntedforest.com
ZOMBIEzi Bay
Where: 4850 Powell Road, Delaware County
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays
Highlights: Four haunted houses include the Catacombs, Eternal Darkness, Pleasant Screams Laboratory and the Sinister Sideshow. “Scare zones” include Photosynthesis and Welcome to Dead River. Rides, one of which is a bumper car experience amped up for scares, will also be operating.
Admission: $28.99 for Thursdays and Sundays, $32.99 for Fridays and Saturdays
Parking: $10
Age recommendations: “This event may be too intense for young children — parental discretion is advised.”
Note: Park reserves the right to close gates and refuse entry if the park reaches capacity.
Information: zombiezibay.columbuszoo.org
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus, Ohio haunted attractions: Top haunts in area, state
