What are the best haunted houses in Upstate New York? Halloween attractions near Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany (and everywhere in between) include spooky hayrides, trails of terror, scream parks and zombie zip-lining.
Sure, there are plenty of real-life haunted places across the region, including actual documented instances of paranormal activity and ghost sightings, but here’s a list of 21 horror experiences and events for scary October fun.
Note: Some Halloween events, such as indoor scares, may have Covid-19 restrictions; check official websites before visiting. Also, beware: Some places are not recommended for younger audiences and may require cash only.
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Frightworld: America’s Screampark
Five terrifying Tonawanda attractions include Eeriepalooza, Nightstalkers Reloaded, Erie State Asylum, Grindhouse and... Insanity. Named the third best haunted house in the U.S. by BuzzFeed.
Location: 1001 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY.
More info: frightworld.com
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Headless Horseman
Featured on the “Today” show and named the No. 1 horror attraction in America by hauntworld.com and USA Today, this Catskills Region collection of 10 attractions changing every Halloween season includes a theatrical one-mile hayride, corn maze, the Glutton’s Diner, the Swamp Shack, escape rooms and more.
Location: 778 Broadway, Route 9W, Ulster Park, NY
More info: headlesshorseman.com
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Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park
Frightmare Farms’ Haunted Scream Park, located half an hour outside of Syracuse, features a haunted house, twisted labyrinth (“blood moon rising”), a condemned mine trail and a haunted hayride. Named scariest attraction in Central New York by syracuse.com readers.
Location: 4816 State Route 49, Palermo, N.Y.
More info: frightmarefarms.net
Part of the haunted hayride at Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park.
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Rolling Hills Asylum
Do you dare roam the halls alone? Get committed to a 3-hour psych hold, go on a ghost hunt or take a flashlight tour around the “authentically haunted” institute seen on “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Paranormal Challenge.”
Location: 11001 Bethany Center Rd, East Bethany, NY
More info: rollinghillsasylum.com
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Field of Horrors
Things that go bump in the night creep around every corner on attractions like Dr. Morbid’s Haunted House, Return of the Mummy’s Curse, and the Condemned Manor. Voted the scariest attraction in the Capital Region; not recommended for children under 10.
Location: 100 Farrell Rd, Troy, NY
More info: fieldofhorrors.com
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Dark Matter Scream Works
Rochester’s indoor haunted attraction promises to chill your spine with five attractions: Blood Manor, Circus of the Damned, Phobias, Contagion and House of Krampus.
Location: 296 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Greece, NY
More info: darkmatterscreamworks.com
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Nightmare Manor
Another nightmare in Rochester: Try not to freak out as you face toxic zombies in the Undead Zone, the Sinister Sewers beneath the manor, and Hillbilly Hell, an old abandoned ranch filled with (gulp) serial killers.
Location: Southtown Plaza, 3333 West Henrietta Rd., Rochester NY
More info: nightmaremanorhauntedhouse.com
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Zombie Zip-Lining
Zombie Zips? This tour is not for faint of heart. Your nightmare begins with a corpse-guided tour along a serial killer infested forest to then be hauled into the trees among complete, utter horror. Once in the trees you will be launched in complete darkness … alone, afraid and vulnerable … along a screaming steel cable hundreds of feet along Mountain Ridge Adventure’s awesome Zip Line Park.
Location: 300 Weatherwax Road, Schenectady, NY
More info: mountainridgeadventure.com/zombie-zipline-adventure/
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Fright Nights
Formerly known as “Fright Nights at the Fair,” the expanded location in an 82,000 square foot factory near Carrier Circle features five haunted attractions. The “greatest haunt on earth” was named one of the 20 best haunted attractions in the Northeast by USA Today.
Location: 1 LePage Place, Syracuse, N.Y.
More info: thefrightnights.com
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The Last Ride
A Haunted Hayride takes brave souls through the cursed woods of Parish; a Haunted House features “2,000 square feet of hell”; and a Hearse Ride with open casket seats make the last ride you’ll ever take. Wait times may be longer this year due to Covid-19 restrictions; all attendees must wear masks, stay in their own groups and practice social distancing.
Location: 291 Johnson Rd, Parish, N.Y.
More info: Facebook or thelastridepalermo.com
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The Trail of Terror
Volney’s trail of terror features a cursed forest and a 5,000-square foot haunted house filled with old school horror fun.
Location: 475 Clifford Rd, Fulton, N.Y.
More info: Facebook or the-trail-of-terror.business.site
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Cayo Industrial Horror Realm
An intense haunted house experience geared for adults featuring a labyrinth of twisted walls with horrific encounters plus real-world conspiracies, conflicts, pandemics and hidden agendas. Children under 12 not recommended.
Location: 530 Harbor Way, Rome, N.Y.
More info: cayoindustrial.com
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Demon Acres Haunted House & Hayride
Less than 40 minutes outside of Syracuse, Hannibal’s extreme hayride in the “Depths of the Dark Forest” and a “Demon’s Den” promise scary fun. Other attractions include “Jail Break,” dropping brave souls in the middle of a prison riot, and an “Insane Asylum” escape room.
Location: 341 County Route 36, Hannibal, N.Y. 13074
More info: demonacres.com or Facebook
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13th Hour Rising Haunted Hayride
An immersive haunted hayride event delivers high-octane fears, phobias and carnage that will make you scream, plus a twisted mind maze dubbed “The Passage.” Not recommended for children under 8.
Location: Chengerian’s, 84 Merrit Road, Fulton, N.Y. 13069
More info: 13thhourrising.com
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Fright Fest at Six Flags Darien Lake & Great Escape
The Six Flags theme parks get creepy on the weekends in October with zombies, scare zones, haunted mazes, haunted houses and more.
Location: 9993 Allegheny Road, Corfu, NY (Darien Lake); 1172 State Route 9, Queensbury, NY (Great Escape)
More info: sixflags.com/darienlake/events/fright-fest (Darien Lake) and sixflags.com/greatescape/events/fright-fest (Great Escape)
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Double M Haunted Hayrides & Haunted Houses
For over 25 years, ghost cowboy Scary Harry and the rest of the gang have been haunting Saratoga County with a haunted hayride through dark woods filled with “spirits and creatures of unimaginable beings.” Other fun includes Brutality, Jingle Hell, and the Last Inn, where they check in and sometimes don’t check out.
Location: 678 NY-67, Ballston Spa, NY
More info: doublemhauntedhayrides.com
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The Haunted Forest
Oswego County’s Halloween attraction returns with a “Dark Harvest” walking trail, a wagon (or hearse) ride through the haunted forest, or the terrifying slaughterhouse.
Location: 95 Nichols Rd., Williamstown, N.Y.
More info: thehauntedforestcny.com or Facebook
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Trail of Terror, Hunt
Take a wild ride on a haunted bus, get dropped off in a cornfield and follow the path through multiple shacks, trailers and woods for a unique haunted experience.
Location: 10042 S. River Road, Hunt, NY
More info: facebook.com/TrailofTerrorr
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Night Terrors Haunted Farm
As you pass through the farm you’ll feel the presence of the many restless souls waiting in the darkness at attractions like Maize Mayhem, the Hive, and Spellbound.
Location: 4193 Rte 7 Schoharie, NY
More info: nightterrorshauntedfarm.com
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Wood Creek Hollow
Hollows Hayride will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat as you experience sinister sights around each corner. Try the 5 acre corn maze or visit the Crypt Keepers Courtyard.
Location: 3851 Wood Creek Rd, Rome, NY
More info: Facebook
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Tagsylvania
The fear of the Southern Tier features four haunted attractions, including the Orphan House, the Jerkus Circus and Motel 666.
Location: 3037 New York 352, Big Flats, NY
More info: tagsylvania.com
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MORE HALLOWEEN FUN:
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- Here are the best early deals on scary indoor and outdoor Halloween decorations
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