Adobe Stock | Photo by Ramil Gibadullin
Brave these haunted houses and scream parks for chilling Halloween fun, but beware zombies, vampires, and spooky corn fields.
Think you’ve got what it takes to handle creepy haunted houses, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, or an endless corn maze? Many of the Hudson Valley’s thrilling Halloween attractions utilize farms and historic locales to amp up the scares. Leave the kiddies at home and test your tolerance for all things terrifying at one of these spooky experiences.
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The Dark House
Philipstown Depot Theatre, Garrison
Through October 31
Do you have what it takes to survive the terror of Garrison’s The Dark House? At this immersive experience, you’ll be plunged into complete darkness, and the unknown that lurks behind it. Forget loud chainsaws and bombastic, deranged killers. This experience plays on the deep, human fear of what we can’t see. With sight (temporarily) removed, you’ll have to depend on your remaining senses to make your way through the haunted home. A story unravels through your audio headset as you touch, smell, and even taste the environment around you. Only the bravest horror fans will make it to the end. Assemble your team of four, and get your tickets online now—if you dare.
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Detestable Arts
Lewis Park, Warwick NY
October 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
This isn’t your ordinary haunted house. If you’re fascinated by the occult but aren’t up for extreme scares, this is the spooky experience for you. Greenwood Lake Theater retells the Salem Witch Trials in an immersive setting: Lewis Park and the historic Old School Baptist Meeting House. Guests get right in the middle of the terror and paranoia that plagued colonial America. You’re a part of the story, not a spectator. Move through the space, discovering the depths of hysteria to which villages succumbed. Of course, everyone has to take a break for an old-fashioned pint at the Salem Village tavern. You never know who you’ll bump into inside….
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Field of Horrors
100 Farrell Rd, Troy
Weekends throughout October
There’s something so scary about being in the open. This haunted attraction turns pastoral dreams into horrific nightmares. Field of Horrors features five distinct experiences, each one scarier than the last. Explore a mummy’s tomb, make your way through a vampire’s lair, and try to escape Dr. Morbid’s mansion (and his creepy wax creations). “Insanity” pits friends against unknown foes in the Troy destination’s most intense and high-tech attraction to date. The mind-boggling tricks will cause confusion, fear, and maybe even….insanity.
The Haunted Barn
Copake Country Club, Copake
October 28 & 29
If you still have some bravery left, head to Copake Country Club for even more scares. Meet your guide at The Greens Restaurant, then embark on a terrifying journey through a dense forest. Danger lurks at every turn in this moon-lit ride. In the heart of the woods sits “the haunted barn,” where your fright-filled quest reaches its end. Gather your friends for this group experience, with ticket options for up to five people.
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Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions
Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions, Ulster Park
Through October 31
Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions twists its famous hayride on its head this year, putting visitors closer to the horror than ever before. Without the safety of the hayride, guests will walk the haunted woods where the Horseman lurks. Eight other attractions including spooky motels, monster-filled greenhouses, haunted corn mazes, and more bring the scares. Plus, performers amp up the scares with horrifying original characters. Reservations are strongly encouraged. In addition, on October 9 and 23, the park tones down its scare level for Children’s Day. Hayrides, haunted gardens, a dinosaur trail, and the Magic Moon Maze give kids a taste of the spookiness without the frights. Live music and treats make this the perfect outing for young kids.
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Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion
Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion, Wappingers Falls
Weekends in October, 7:30 p.m.
Do you dare adventure your way through The Wicked Woods? Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion debuted its terrifying outdoor experience last year. This year’s theme is “Deadtime Stories” for the walking trail, and “The Procedure” for the indoor attraction. In the latter, an evil doctor seeks to carry out his diabolical plans on unsuspecting victims. Get ready for one mile of spooky surprises in a socially distant setting. Reservations must be made online and in advance.
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Nightmares at Liberty Ridge Farm
Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke
October 2, 9, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30, 7 & 10 p.m.
A field of screams, terrifying manor, and farmer’s haunted house give new meaning to fright night in Rensselaer County. To break down a few of the environments: guests at one point venture underground, searching for a way out of an industrial steam-punk dungeon. In the field of screams, undead zombies wake in the middle of a corn field—and hunt down anyone in their path. Constantly playing with the bucolic Hudson Valley setting, Nightmares will give visitors literal nightmares. In addition to the frightful attractions, Liberty Ridge Farm hosts a psychic sideshow, with barnyard barbecue and cabin rentals available for locals who want to extend the chilling experience.
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Pure Terror Scream Park
Monroe
Weekends in October
Pure Terror is open for the season, promising screams galore. Make your way to Monroe for 10 themed haunted houses with a Halloween-style monster-themed midway. An homage to Nightmare on Elm Street has guests running from serial killer Freddy in an old boiler factory. If you dare, venture out into the forest barn, where witches, trolls, snakes, and other monsters seek to devour human trespassers. Terror in the Dark turns out the lights completely, removing any sense of security from the evil within. Abandoned churches, vampire crypts, haunted graveyards, and other spooky settings await. This Orange County destination currently holds the Guinness World Record for longest haunted attraction. In 2021, “Woods of the Dead” is the newest spooky addition.