Top 13 Haunted Hotspots in America
With Halloween right around the corner, the haunt industry's official list of the Top 13 Professional Haunted Attractions in the country was released Friday.
These attractions are being recognized for their attention to detail, high-quality special effects, and overall scare factor.
Ranging from haunted hotels and prisons to spooky hayrides, the list represents the best haunted attractions the nation has to offer, as selected by the industry. In an industry that has reached the multi-billion dollar mark, these haunts are leading the way in scream-inducing innovations.
“The haunts industry fits into a special niche of the entertainment world, where the main goal is to provide an intensely frightening experience, yet leave customers exhilarated enough to return next year, or even next week,” said Editor-in-Chief of Hauntworld Magazine, Larry Kirchner. “In order to accomplish this, a tremendous amount of production is involved in each successful haunt. Owners have behind-the-scenes teams of master Hollywood special effects technicians, make-up artists, set designers, and trained actors — this list represents the best-of-the-best in the country.”
2008 Top 13 Professional Haunted Attractions
1. 13th Gate – Baton Rouge, Louisiana – www.midnightproduction.com
2. The Darkness – St. Louis, Missouri – www.scarefest.com
3. Netherworld – Atlanta, Georgia – www.fearworld.com
4. Haunted Overload – Lee, New Hampshire – www.hauntedoverload.com
5. Scarehouse – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – www.scarehouse.com
6. House of Torment – Austin, Texas – www.houseoftorment.com
7. Bates Motel – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – www.thebatesmotel.com
8. Headless Horseman – Ulster Park, New York – www.headlesshorseman.com
9. Dead Acres – Columbus, Ohio – www.deadacres.com
10. Spookywoods – High Point, North Carolina – www.spookywoods.com
11. House of Shock – New Orleans, Louisiana – www.houseofshock.com
12. Erebus – Detroit, Michigan – www.hauntedpontiac.com
13. Cutting Edge – Dallas, Texas – www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com
Other notable haunts recognized by Hauntworld Magazine include:
Top 10 Amusement Park Halloween Events
1. Universal Studios Horror Nights – Orlando, FL – www.halloweenhorrornights.com
2. Knott's Scary Farm – Los Angeles, CA – www.halloweenhaunt.com
3. 'Phantom Fright Nights' – Kennywood Amusement Park – Pittsburgh, PA – www.kennywood.com
4. Universal Studios Horror Nights – Hollywood, CA – www.halloweenhorrornights.com
5. Tampa Busch Gardens – Tampa, FL – www.howl-o-scream.com
6. Busch Gardens – Williamsburg, VA – www.howl-o-scream.com
7. Kings Island Haunt – Cincinnati, OH – www.visitkingsisland.com
8. Cedar Point Haunt – Sandusky, OH – www.cedarpoint.com
9. Six Flags Fright Fest – Freehold, NJ – www.frightfest.com
10. Old Tucson Studios Nightfall – Tucson, AZ – www.oldtucson.com
Top Haunted Amusement Attractions 2008
1. House of Horror – Universal Studios Hollywood – www.universalstudioshollywood.com
2. Disney World Haunted Mansion – Orlando, FL – www.disney.com
3. Ghostwood Estates – Kennywood Amusement Park, Pittsburgh, PA – www.kennywood.com
4. Towers of Terror – MGM Studios, Orlando, FL – www.disney.com
5. Revenge of the Mummy Ride – Universal Studios Hollywood, CA – www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Best Haunted Hayride 2008
1. Headless Horseman – Ulster Park, NY – www.headlesshorseman.com
2. Bates Motel – Philadelphia, PA – www.thebatesmotel.com
Best Home Haunted House 2008
1. Graveside Manor – Coventry, CT – www.gravesidemanor.com
2. Rot Haunted House – Thousand Oaks, CA – www.rothauntedhouse.com
3. DC Cemetery – Mountain View, CA – www.dc-cemetery.com
