Halloween is one of my favorite times of year, and one of the things that I love most about it are the haunted houses. This is the reason that I came up with a list of 2015’s Top Haunted Attractions. Each of these attractions are unique, however, all of them are guaranteed to elicit screams and are a great way to spend your evening.
Hundred Acres Manor
Located in Bethel Park, Hundred Acres Manor consists of six themed attractions including zombies, creatures, monsters, and well, all of the things that your worst nightmares are made of. This is one of those professionally-designed haunted houses but with one major difference. The proceeds collected from Hundred Acres Manor benefits Animal Friends (Pittsburgh’s premier no-kill animal shelter) and the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, so the actors are mainly made up of volunteer groups — however, you wouldn’t know it.
Anticipate fairly significant wait times, especially later in the evening and closer to Halloween. However, you can purchase VIP tickets which can fast track you to the entrance for an extra $8.00 per ticket.
Hours & Dates
Hundred Acres Manor is open through November 1, 2015. Gates open at 7 p.m. on any day of operation. Sunday through Thursday the line closes at 10 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays it closes at 11:30 p.m.
Ticket Prices
| General Admission | $20 |
| VIP (Skip the Line) | $28 |
| Super VIP (Skip the line + free T-shirt) | $45 |
Purchase tickets online.
Enigma Project
The Enigma Project is actually part of Hundred Acres Manor, but requires a separate ticket. This is an awesome way to change things up, especially if you have already visited Hundred Acres Manor quite a few times already.
The Enigma Project is Pittsburgh’s first escape rooms where you and up to 8 others have to work together to solve puzzles to escape from the room in less than 45 minutes. You can choose from two themes: Alchemy and Meltdown.
Hours & Dates
The escape rooms are open Friday through Sunday from now until November 1. The first venture begins at 5:15 and the last begins at 11:15.
Ticket Price
Tickets are sold for specific time slots so it is probably best to purchase tickets online ahead of time.
| General Admission | $35 |
| Early Admission (5:15 and 6:15 time slots) | $25 |
Purchase tickets online.
The ScareHouse
The ScareHouse haunted house is also located right near the city in Etna. This haunted house is unique in that it is housed in a 100 year old building which initially was built for the First National Bank of Etna and later used for the Elks Etna Lodge No. 932. Instead of gutting the building to use it for the ScareHouse, they actually preserved some of the architecture and historic elements and have even incorporated them into the ScareHouse experience. You can find out more about it’s fascinating history on the ScareHouse website.
For this haunted house, a team of Pittsburgh artists and builders work all year to create and update the scares. It includes three different themed scares and make you scream for your life!
Hours & Dates
The ScareHouse is open Thursday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Note on parking: Free parking is available at Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium as there is no parking available at ScareHouse itself.
Ticket Prices
| General Admission | $24.99 |
| RIP (Skip to the front of the line) | $39.99 |
| Haunted House Group (15 or more) | $19.99 |
The Basement
In the basement of the ScareHouse is a whole other intense experience called The Basement. This is only for those who are over 18. You will be touched, restrained, and blindfolded. It includes high voltage effects, exposure to electricity, sexual content, very low lighting, tight spaces, strong scents, water, violent situations, and high impact scares.
This scare is intense and only 2 people are allowed in at a time (lots of 1-on-1 scares!). Cell phones, weapons, cameras, and flashlights are not permitted. You will be wanded by a metal detector and you must leave your keys and cell phone with a ScareHouse employee. You must also sign a waiver.
| Single The Basement Ticket | $34.99 |
| 2 Person The Basement Ticket | $49.99 |
Fright Farm
Scaring unsuspecting fear-seekers for over 2o years, Fright Farm in Smithfield, PA, is located on the grounds of Rich Farms. This is one of the first major haunted houses I ever visited and I loved it. What is so unique about this haunted attraction is that after getting to the front of the line, the first thing you do is get on a haunted hayride where you begin your screams. It also features a monstrous 3-story mansion which is overrun by the psychotic “patients” as well as two other themed areas.
Hours & Dates
Fright Farm is open Wednesday through Sunday through November 1. Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday it is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s operating schedule is from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Ticket Prices
| General Admission | $25 |
| Xpress Pass (Skip the line) | $40 |
| VIP Group Tent | $35/weekdays
$40/weekends |
| VIP Clubhouse | $40/weekdays
$45/weekends |
Purchase your tickets online.
So now that you know what your options are. Now the only question left is how loud will you scream?
Have a haunted house in the Pittsburgh area that you love but isn’t on this list? Please let me know in the comments section!
Terror Town is amazing and should make the list.