The leaves have started to change, which means Halloween is right around the corner. Haunted houses are open for business, ready to put fear into the hearts of customers.
From the mild to the maniacal, haunted houses are a Halloween tradition for many. Here is a rundown of six spooky hangouts in Utah.
Nightmare on 13th
Nightmare on 13th celebrates 25 years of operation and promises their best haunted house yet.
The longest-running haunted house in Utah has combined its scariest attractions with new, never-before-seen horrors into its 36,000-square-foot facility.
Nightmare on 13th was named one of the best haunted houses in America by USA Today.
Nightmare on 13th is located at 300 W. 1300 South in Salt Lake City. Single ticket prices start at $25, and tickets for a group of 20 or more are $15 apiece.
Castle of Chaos
Castle of Chaos is the only haunted house in Utah that is entirely underground, in the basement of a bowling alley.
Guests can experience four different levels of fear: Monster-be-Gone, General Admission, Hands on Horror and X-Scream Hands on Horror.
While each level goes through the same haunted house, every level has unique features; the two Hands on Horror levels allow actors to touch and grab you, with a warning on the X-Scream level that you could be drug away from your group.
A waiver must be signed to access the Hands on Horror levels.
Castle of Chaos has a new location at 7980 S. State Street in Midvale. Tickets prices range from $19 to $26 depending on the level of fear you choose.
Fear Factory
Fear Factory operates out of an abandoned cement factory with a history of paranormal activity and deaths dating back to 1894.
This haunted house is themed around people’s phobias and fears. Although there isn’t a lot of parking around the factory, visitors can park at the Gateway and take a free ride on the Zombie Bus to the entrance.
Guests pay $24 for general admission into the factory, or $50 for a VIP pass. The VIP pass includes a shorter wait time to enter and a ride on the Last Ride Zipline (from the tower over a graveyard) or the Fear Fall (a 65-foot controlled free fall).
Each of the rides can be purchased separately for $15 each.
Fear Factory is located at 666 W. 800 South in Salt Lake City.
Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus
Guests who enter the Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus will have their courage tested as they pass through multiple tractor trailers and the big top tent. The 32-ring circus of terror features some truly mortifying characters that could be straight out of horror films.
The Strangling Brothers also invite guests to participate in a Zombie Hunt.
In this scenario, something has gone very wrong at the circus and has turned into the Zombie Apocalypse. Patrons armed with a paintball gun can test their survival skills in the maze of zombies and horror.
Haunted Circus tickets are $25 for general admission and $40 for VIPs who want shorter lines. Zombie Hunt tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for VIPs. A combination pass can be purchased for $35 (general admission) or $50 (VIP).
Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus is in town at 98 E. 13800 South in Draper.
Haunted Forest and Haunted Hollow
Most of the attractions at Haunted Forest and Haunted Hollow are located outdoors, with short visits inside twisted houses along the way.
Both venues are owned and operated by the same company, but each location offers its own signature way of scaring guests.
Haunted Hollow sits inside 13 acres of trails, while visitors to the Haunted Forest will have to navigate five acres of fright.
It is a challenge for many guests to obey the “No Running” rule as monsters and demons chase them down a dark trail.
The Haunted Forest is located at 500 E. 1015 South in American Fork, while Haunted Hollow is located at 1900 W. 1550 South in West Haven. Tickets are $20 apiece and $5 for a line bounce upgrade.
Asylum 49
Asylum 49 is located in an abandoned hospital with a history of paranormal activity. The floor plans change every year and offer guests all kinds of new thrills.
The Asylum is a full-contact haunted house, which means visitors can be touched, separated from their group, detained in small dark areas, or strapped to a metal table and detained.
Guests are able to wonder around the hospital before being spilled out into the courtyard that is a giant maze of horrors.
People can think there on the right path and find themselves back at the beginning of the house, or if they get through the maze they can be grabbed and taken back into the chaos.
Asylum 49 is at 140 E. 200 South in Tooele. Tickets are $20 for general admission or $25 to skip the line.
