A scene from the Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses at 778 Broadway, Route 9W, Ulster Park, N.Y.Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses
What are the best haunted houses in Upstate New York? 2022 Halloween attractions from Buffalo and Rochester to Syracuse and Albany (and everywhere in between) include spooky hayrides, bone-chilling trails of terror, scream parks thrills and truly terrifying zombie zip-lining.
There are plenty of real-life haunted places across the region, including actual documented instances of paranormal activity and ghost sightings, but if you want a fun scare this October, check out our list of 22 horror experiences and events.
Note: Check official websites for hours, pricing; some may require reservations in advance. Also, beware: Some places are not recommended for younger audiences and may require cash only.
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, escape rooms and more.
Location: 778 Broadway, Route 9W, Ulster Park, NY
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 through the forest.
Location: 4816 State Route 49, Palermo, N.Y. 13069
Part of the haunted hayride at Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park.
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.
Five terrifying attractions include the Carnival Boneyard, 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, N.Y.
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
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. A “Scare Cam” also captures photos of people getting scared and posts them on Facebook.
Location: 296 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Greece, NY
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
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/
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.
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
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.
Location: 291 Johnson Rd, Parish, N.Y.
More info: Facebook or thelastridepalermo.com
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
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
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
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 (Darien Lake) and sixflags.com/greatescape (Great Escape)
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 Double M haunted hayride through dark woods filled with “spirits and creatures of unimaginable beings.” Other fun includes Brutality, Blood Moon Farm and the Last Inn, where they check in and sometimes don’t check out.
Location: 678 NY-67, Ballston Spa, NY
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
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
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.
Greek Peak Mountain Resort’s mountain coaster will turn into a haunted thrill ride, plus a zombie zip line will soar over the undead.
Location: Greek Peak Mountain Resort, 2000 State Route 392, Cortland NY
Hollows Hayride is a “journey through a desolate town,” a Psycho Path walking trail features horror icons, and the Crypt Keepers Courtyard offers food, artisans and a tarot reader. All guests must be 18+ or accompanied by an adult over 21.
Location: 3851 Wood Creek Rd, Rome, NY
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
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