‘Guaranteed to make you scream’: 5 of the scariest haunted houses in Fort Worth, Dallas

Dalia Faheid
·5 min read

The season for fright is upon us and North Texas has its share of scary haunted houses.

The business of haunted houses is a lucrative one, raking in between $300 to $500 million in ticket sales a year, according to americahaunts.com. Hauntworld, a haunted house industry publication, estimates there are over 4,000 paid Halloween attractions in the U.S., pulling in thousands of visitors each year.

Here are five of the scariest haunted houses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and what to expect at each of them.

There are no minimum age requirements to enter Haunted Shadows, but most elementary aged children will find the trail too scary.
There are no minimum age requirements to enter Haunted Shadows, but most elementary aged children will find the trail too scary.

Haunted Shadows Lake Trail

Website: hauntedshadowslaketrail.com

Cost: $30 admission

Hours: Open from 7:30 to midnight on Fri. and Sat. in October, 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Sun. in October and on Halloween

Age: There are no minimum age requirements. Most elementary aged children will find the trail too scary, but Haunted Shadows has the ability to adapt the experience to a PG version at the request of a parent.

Location: TOCA Soccer/Blue Sky, 7801 Main, The Colony

Duration: The trail is a little over a mile and should take 40-45 min.

“Finally, pegging the scary meter is the Haunted Shadows Lake Trail in The Colony. This is definitely for older kids. It’s sort of a Blair Witch Project style trail walk through the woods and weeds along the shore of Lake Lewisville in The Colony,” one reviewer says. “Your group has to pick your way through the dark, winding, marked trail …and (CUE SCARY MUSIC) to uncover the various creatures that you’ll meet along the way…the Lady of the Lake, a werewolf or two, and the undead in the Lakeside Cemetery. BAH HAHAHA!!! Isn’t Halloween fun?”

Hangman’s House of Horrors, the main haunted attraction at the Fort Worth haunted house, tells the legend of Hezekiah Jones, aka “The Hangman.”
Hangman’s House of Horrors, the main haunted attraction at the Fort Worth haunted house, tells the legend of Hezekiah Jones, aka “The Hangman.”

Hangman’s House of Horror

Website: hangmans.com

Cost: Entry into all three attractions via the general admission line is $34, and entry into all three attractions via the fast pass line is $44. Another ticket provides a reserved time to get into a reserved line for all attractions for $59.

Hours: Oct. 6 and 7: 8 p.m.. to midnight. Oct 8: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 13 and 14: 8 p.m. to midnight. Oct. 15: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Scaredy Cat). Oct. 15: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Regular Show). Oct. 20 and 21: 8 p.m. to midnight. Oct. 22: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Scaredy Cat). Oct. 22: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Regular Show). Oct. 26: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28: 8 p.m. to midnight. Oct. 29 and 30: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 31: 8 p.m. to midnight. Nov. 4: encore performance: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Location: 4400 Blue Mound Rd., Fort Worth

Hangman’s House of Horrors, the main haunted attraction at the Fort Worth haunted house, tells the legend of Hezekiah Jones, aka “The Hangman.”

“Guaranteed to make you scream, this haunted walk through will have you wondering if these legends are folklore or legit!” the website says.

“Surrounded by haunted woods and sinister waters, Creekside Manor watches for new guests,” its website says.
“Surrounded by haunted woods and sinister waters, Creekside Manor watches for new guests,” its website says.

Creekside Manor

Website: creeksidefright.com

Cost: Tickets are $21.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids.

Hours: Open every Friday and Saturday in October from 7:30 p.m. until midnight. Open Sunday Oct. 29, Monday Oct. 30 and Halloween from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Location: 2411 Plainview Road, Midlothian

“Surrounded by haunted woods and sinister waters, Creekside Manor watches for new guests,” the website says. “Will you dare walk through its gates, pass its cemetery and enter its narrow, winding halls? Are you ready to face fear itself? Then by all means, come in! Once inside you may never, ever leave.”

A Guinness World Record holder, Cutting Edge is a multi-story, multi-themed haunted attraction located in a century old abandoned meat packing plant in Fort Worth.
A Guinness World Record holder, Cutting Edge is a multi-story, multi-themed haunted attraction located in a century old abandoned meat packing plant in Fort Worth.

Cutting Edge Haunted House

Website: cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com

Cost: $39.95 for timed ticket and $60 for speedpass

Hours: Open Oct. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, 30-31 and Nov 4, starting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. depending on day.

Age: Children must be at least 40” tall. No children under 12 admitted without a guardian.

1701 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth

Duration: It takes visitors an average of 55 minutes to explore Cutting Edge Haunted House.

A Guinness World Record holder, Cutting Edge is a multi-story, multi-themed haunted attraction located in a century old abandoned meat packing plant in Fort Worth. It features terrifying live actors, special effects and monsters.

“This year the 13 witches of the Dark Hour Coven have gathered to cast the most terrifying spell ... your worst nightmares come to life,” its website says.
“This year the 13 witches of the Dark Hour Coven have gathered to cast the most terrifying spell ... your worst nightmares come to life,” its website says.

Dark Hour Haunted House

Website: darkhourhauntedhouse.com

Cost: General admission is $35 and fast pass is $55. On Halloween and peak days of Oct. 21, 27 and 28, general admission is $60 and fast pass is $80.

Hours: Oct 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31. Open 7-10 on Sundays and Thursday, 7-11 on Halloween and 7 to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Age: Dark Hour is recommended for ages 10 and older. They do not allow anyone under the age of 5. Each guest must be able to walk on their own, not carried.

Location: 701 Taylor Dr., Plano

Duration: Most groups spend 30-35 minutes.

The Dark Hour Haunted House is undergoing an expansion in 2023 that includes more terrifying scenes, creatures, horrors and nightmares. “This year the 13 witches of the Dark Hour Coven have gathered to cast the most terrifying spell ... your worst nightmares come to life,” the website says.