America’s scariest Halloween attractions for 2014
The freaks come out on the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor haunted ship. Provided by Dark Harbor
If you want to get really scared this Halloween—no, really scared—we’ve got your treat. It might take a bit of travel, but these terrifying destinations will transform this Halloween into the creepiest one yet.
Sail on a haunted ship. Forge your way through American Horror Story come to life. Or walk through a haunted house located in an actual former asylum. Here are our three favorite Halloween attractions for 2014—and some bonus ways to take your terror to the next level.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
Where: Long Beach, Calif.
What: If a haunted house is not terrifying enough, place it on the water and make it a haunted ship. Dark Harbor, set on the 12-deck Queen Mary, features seven mazes, a scary dance hall, food, entertainment and all the blood and gore you can (or can’t) imagine.
Take it to the next level: After the event, book an overnight stay on the haunted ship. Find the best deal on Hotels.com.
Blackout
Where: New York and Los Angeles
What: Arguably most extreme haunted house in existence. You have to sign a waiver before you can enter. The website is purposefully vague and mysterious, but the rumors span everything from tight spaces to simulated water-boarding to, uh, unspeakable acts. The website warns about “physical contact” and simulated sexual acts, as well as “complete darkness, crawling, stairs” and more. This is a real-life horror story brought to reality.
Take it to the next level: Walk through Blackout alone. We dare you.
Pennhurst Asylum
Where: Spring City, Pa.
What: This hospital-themed Halloween attraction is built inside an actual former mental asylum, blurring the boundaries between nightmare and reality. The asylum itself had a reputation for abuse, which the attraction recreates, and the decor includes actual former equipment and artifacts that were part of the original school, which dates back to 1908.
Take it to the next level: Go through the Ghost Hunt, a self-guided tour of a supposed haunted building that has been featured on Ghost Hunters. It’s just you, alone, with a flashlight. No special effects or props or actors. Just darkness and your own imagination, fueled by the stories and the mystery. And maybe a few ghosts.
