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Indy’s Best Haunted Attractions

By: Daniel Williams | October 19, 2017, 12:25pm
October in Indy means weekend trips to some of the best haunted houses around. Whether you're ready for some safe/non-scary family fun or want to leave feeling terrified, we have a place for you!! Below are some of Indy's best haunted attractions. If you have a little one, the lights-on children's museum haunted house is the perfect destination for your Halloween fun!  If you're ready for some seriously scary adventures, head over to Necropolis.  No matter the attraction you choose, you won't be disappointed!

1. Indianapolis Children's Museum

The Indianapolis Children's Museum is a hands-on learning museum that provides children with various opportunities to learn and explore their world. It's also home to one of the best-known kid-friendly haunted attractions in the region.

This year, the Children's Museum's haunted theme is "Wicked Woods." Beginning October 7 and running every night except for Monday, this attraction creates a spooky forest atmosphere complete with caves, campfires and spooky stories.

Two versions of the event are available. The "Lights On" hours run throughout the daytime and are ideal for younger children who scare easily. The "Frightening" hours offer a slightly higher intensity of scare but are still very appropriate for children.

Tickets are affordable at just $8 at the door, and members of the museum receive a 10 percent discount.

In addition to the haunted house exhibit, the museum is running several other activities including:

- Friendly Feast with the Witches breakfast and lunch buffets featuring food, music, storytelling, face painting and a tour of the Wicked Woods; tickets cost $20 per person.

- The Children's Museum Guild's Black Hat Dash: A 1 mile/5k fun run or walk for charity. The event is an in-costume charity walk and includes live entertainment, a costume contest and entrance to the Wicked Woods. Registration for the event is $25, and it occurs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on October 28.

The Indianapolis Children's Museum has been hosting a haunted house event for 54 years, and this experience helps in crafting a fun and kid-friendly environment.


Indianapolis Children’s Museum
3000 N Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208

 

2. Conner Prairie

Conner Prairie is an outdoor living history museum offing events and attractions year-round. This family-friendly destination offers plenty of self-guided exploration and activities throughout the foll, including historical re-enactments, a nature walk and craft activities.

In October, Conner Prairie adds some spooky attractions on select dates for its Halloween Festival. The dates of the festival are:

- October 12-15

- October 19-22

- October 26-29

Tickets area available online or at the gate. Thursday and Sunday admission costs $17, and Fridays and Saturdays cost $21. Guests younger than 2 years old are free.

The Conner Prairie Halloween Festival activities include:

- A haunted hayride featuring the Headless Horseman and live performances from the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

- A 7-acre corn maze, as well as a smaller and less-challenging maze for younger guests.

- Halloween-themed crafts booths and other interactive and hands-on attractions for the family.

- Halloween costume contest and spooky "cutout" photo opportunities.

Conner Prairie's Halloween festivities are one of the area's most family-friendly attractions and provide a variety of things to see and do. If you're looking for a family-oriented Halloween event that still delivers some scares, this is one of the best bets in the city.

Headless Horseman Hayride 

Hold onto your seat as you travel along the trails of the Headless Horseman Hay Ride. Although there are some frightening sights to see, there are a few children's days that are held with activities for the entire family to enjoy. However, the hayride is suited more for ages eight and older. You will ride on a wagon through dark and haunted trails that cover one mile. The trails sit on a farm that is 250 years old. Ponds and dark woods set the stage for the hayride, providing a foreboding atmosphere along with some of the actors who offer a few scares.

There are at least seven other attractions at the farm to enjoy. The Lunar Motel is an attraction that delivers frightening sights and sounds as you walk from room to room. The diner and slaughterhouse also offer displays that are nightmarish and gruesome, such as slicing what appears to be a slab of beef but could be an unfortunate victim. Most attractions are interactive, meaning you can sometimes take part in the action of the scenes. Four themed shops are on the farm as well that include Scare Ware and The Coffee Cauldron where you can get delightfully spooky decorated donuts.


Conner Prairie
13400 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46038

 

3. Fright Manor

Get ready to spend a haunting evening roaming the halls of Fright Manor. This is an attraction that is not recommended for children as there are some sights that could be disturbing. One of the stops through the manor is by the butcher shop. See what the butcher is hacking up as it could be one of his victims. He also performs a few surgeries that you won't want to miss. Clowns might seem like they would be funny, but at Fright Manor, they tend to stare at you a little weird and show you just why you should be afraid of clowns.

While you're walking or running around the manor, you might hear a chainsaw or two or a few slamming doors. Listen for the sounds of people being tortured or people being chased from one room to another. There are a few special guests who make an appearance at the attraction, such as a strange little girl who seems innocent enough until she rushes up to you with shining eyes. You'll pass by a jail cell to see how people are held captive until they are disposed of in a haunting fashion. End the night by visiting a psychedelic room with bright paint and flashing lights that might make you want to turn and run.


Fright Manor
2909 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225

 

4. Hanna Haunted Acres

Located in Indianapolis, Hanna Haunted Acres is a large multi-attraction haunt consisting of:

- Hayride: A combination of scare actors and animatronic creatures are visible along the path of this tractor-drawn hayride.

- Carnevil: A clown-and-carnival themed attraction.

- Outbreak: A zombie virus-themed haunting.

- Hooded: A demon-themed haunting centered around sensory deprivation.

- Field of Fiends: A five-acre corn maze featuring monsters and evil scarecrows.

Of the available attractions, Hooded is one of the most unique among haunted house experiences. Visitors who enter the attraction must wear a cloth hood, and they are guided by a rope that leads down into an interactive scare scenario. A limited number of tickets are sold for the Hooded experience, and you must sign a waiver before participating.

Hanna Haunted Acres is open nightly in October, opening at 7 p.m. and closing at 10 p.m.; on Friday and Saturday, attractions are open until midnight.

Tickets can be purchased in advance, although note that combo tickets do not include entry to Haunted. If you do not have the opportunity to see everything in one night, the ticket for unused haunts will be good another night.

Both standard and "fast pass" tickets are available, with combo passes starting at $25 when purchased online. If you buy the $38 combo fast pass, you can add a Hooded ticket for $5 if there is availability for the night; Hooded fills up quickly and is first-come, first-serve.

Hanna Haunted Acres is open to visitors of all ages, but it's recommended that visitors be at least 13 years of age to experienced the Hooded attraction as scare actors can and will touch or grab visitors in that haunt.


Hanna Haunted Acres
7323 E Hanna Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46239

 

5. Haunted Angelus House

The Haunted Angelus House is an attraction for the entire family. Kids can use glow sticks to venture around the house until it gets dark. Then, the adults and teenagers can see if they can make it through the haunted halls of the home. Proceeds from the haunted house go to help support a group that specializes in cerebral palsy. While you're walking through the house, you'll see various images that are frightening and stunning at the same time. There are rooms that look like they were left as they were decorated dozens of years ago. Try to get past the dark and foreboding clowns and the zombies who only want to try a piece of your brain.

Some rooms feature some of the most popular serial killers from the movies, such as Freddy, Leatherface, and Michael. There are psychedelic clowns and clowns that look like they missed the circus and decided to kill instead. A woman calmly waits in the stairs for you to walk past, offering a few frightening looks your way that will leave a haunting image in the mind. A popular room in the house is the surgical ward. Doctors operate, but the patients don't always make it out alive.

A snack bar is located on the property as well as a covered waiting area. Wheelchair access is available.


Haunted Angelus House
8829 East Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219

 

6. House of Trepidation

The House of Trepidation is an indoor haunted attraction that features three different areas to explore. While exploring the house, you'll see stunning scenes that will stir levels of fear in the mind. Details with each scene are mesmerizing and will draw you in almost immediately, making you think that you're taking part in the activities that you see. Covered and indoor waiting options are available.

Gaze down a long hallway to see a hazy glow while listening to the screams of someone who might not make it out of the house alive. There are clowns with creepy laughs and nightmare scenes of people going crazy while they are strapped in chairs. Most of the rooms are dark, but there are light sources so that you can see to get around. There are several rooms to explore in the home, each with its own theme. Mirrors on the walls give you the chilling feeling that you're not alone. Chains rattle while you're trying to get out of the house to the safety of the outdoors. However, there are a few scares outside as well. The attraction isn't recommended for younger children. Help is offered if you don't feel that you can get through the haunted house.


House of Trepidation
929 South Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46225

 

7. Indiana Fear Farm

Face your fears of the outdoors when you go on a haunted hayride at the Indiana Fear Farm. There are a few attractions on the farm aside from the hayride. Age recommendations are older children through adults. The hayride features scenes of the Headless Horseman and how he lost his head. While you're riding on the wagon, you can hear screams of terror in the distance. At times, the screams are accompanied by chainsaws and chains rattling. The sounds can be heard right near the wagon at some points of the ride.

The ride takes about 20 minutes. In this few short minutes, you'll experience fear like you've never seen along with a fun adventure. There are sounds of explosions and scenes that will question your senses even before the wagon leaves to go on the trail. Over 50 actors ensure that your trip is unforgettable. The Headless Horseman gallops through the woods while you're on the wagon, sometimes riding right along beside you in all his haunted glory. A haunted barn is also on the farm. This is an interactive attraction with everything from monsters to creepy clowns. People with heart conditions and young children are not encouraged to go through the barn.


Indiana Fear Farm
6736 S 500 W, Jamestown, IN 46147

 

8. Indy Scream Park

Indy Screampark is Indiana's biggest haunted destination. It features a total of six attractions, two of which are new for 2017. The available attractions are:

- Zombieland Apocalypse

- Rickmore Asylum

- Rage 3D

- Pandemic

- Back Woods

- Monster Midway

Three of the attractions are indoor haunted house environments; the other two and the midway are located outdoors. Each attraction has its own backstory and areas to explore. Some options, like Zombieland, come with the option to "mark" yourself for a more frightening interactive experience if you want to crank up the intensity of your scare.

Between attractions, you can take a breather at the Monster Midway. This open outdoor space offers alcoholic beverages, county fair-style foods, midway games, a gift shop and plenty of other ways to pass the time.

The Screampark is designed primarily for adult visitors and teenagers, but there are no age restrictions. Be aware however that there are no refunds for people who choose to leave an attraction early; therefore, you may not want to bring a younger child or someone who may find the attractions too intense. Visitors must be 18 or older in order to "mark" themselves for interactive experiences.

The Indy Screampark is open rain or shine throughout September, October and through November 4. On weekdays, attractions open at 7 p.m. and close at 10:30 p.m.; on Fridays and Saturdays, the attractions are open until 1 a.m.

Ticket prices vary depending on the day. Weekday tickets cost $22.95 when purchased online; weekend tickets start at $29.95. Prices increase for last-minute tickets, and a $5 surcharge is added when you buy tickets at the box office, so buying online is a good way to save some money. Be sure to schedule your evening in advance as tickets can get sold out.


Indy Scream Park
5211 S. New Columbus Rd, Anderson, IN 46013

 

9. Necropolis

Necropolis: City of Perpetual Darkness is a haunted house attraction in Indianapolis. It consists of four separate haunted houses linked together by a common story. It's also the only haunted attraction in the area that is completely underground.

The fictional backstory of the attraction is that in 1983, a manufacturing plant was shut down; beneath its foundations, workers found an entire city located miles beneath the surface. Each attraction is part of the city that has been opened for exploration:

- The House

- THe Cemetery

- The Factory

- The Funhouse in 3D

The House, Cemetery and Factory are all fairly standard haunted attractions to explore. Guests who choose to purchase the "combo ticket" to visit all of the attractions will be ushered to each attraction in order to ensure that you soak up the story that goes with the experience. All attractions are staffed with life scare actors.

Slightly different from the other locations, The Funhouse attraction combines midway games with a haunted carnival atmosphere complete with murderous clowns. There is also an interactive "escape room" scenario, Maintenance Man's Revenge, which was just added for 2017.

If you only want to visit The House, the main attraction at Necropolis, tickets will cost $18 for adults and $10 for children. Combo tickets, which offer access to all of the available attractions, cost $30 per adult and $22 per child.

The attraction is open Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight, and weekdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Attractions are explored at your own pace, and it takes between 40 minutes to an hour to see everything.

Necropolis is recommended for adults and teens; the minimum suggested age of visitors is 5 years old, and there are no refunds for anyone who decides not to finish the haunt.


Necropolis
7130 Western Select Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46219

 

10. Nightmare on Edgewood

Nightmare on Edgewood bills itself as the most intense haunted house in Indianapolis. Individual attractions vary from year to year, so repeat visitors will find something new each visit. The lineup for 2017 consists of four separate attractions:

- Karnival: A circus-themed attraction featuring evil clowns.

- Insanity: Brand new for 2017, this is a multi-sensory haunt experienced in total darkness.

- Midnight Double Feature: A cinema-themed haunt featuring famous horror movie villains.

- Escape the Nightmare: An interactive "escape room" style haunt involving puzzle solving scenarios.

Be aware that Nightmare on Edgewood is a "hands on" haunt, and scare actors can and will touch or grab you during some of the attractions. For this reason, it is not recommended for younger children or people who scare easily. There are no refunds, and you cannot enter the haunt once you have exited.

General admission costs $25, and Escape the Nightmare tickets must be purchased separately as they are subject to availability. VIP tickets are available for $40 and allow you to skip ahead in line.

The attracton will take approximately 40 minutes to an hour to complete. The attractions are open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight, as well as select Thursdays and the day of Halloween.

If you purchase tickets online, you can buy a combination of Edgewood and House of Trepidation tickets for $40, saving you $10 and granting access to two separate haunted houses and six total attractions.


Nightmare on Edgewood
604 Camden Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227

 

11. Piney Acres

Piney Acres Farm is a 73 acre tree farm that offers community events year-round. Its Halloween attraction, The Haunted Loft, incorporates a haunted house attraction with a corn maze and hayride.

The story behind the Haunted Loft attraction ties into the Salem Witch Trials and a fictional Dr. E. Rex whose secret laboratory was host to a number of terrifying experiments.

In conjunction with the Haunted Loft, there is an extensive corn maze populated with some of the escaped "experiments" from the laboratory. The Haunted Hayride follows the same storyline, offering a guided tour filled with stories and scare actors along the trail.

Ticket prices vary depending on the attraction:

- Haunted Hayride: $10 at the door or $9 online

- Corn Maze: $16 at the door or $15 online

- Haunted Loft: $16 at the door or $15 online

- Haunted Loft & Corn Maze: $17 at the door or $25 online

- Three Attraction Combo Package: $34 at the door or $32 online

The attractions are open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 11 p.m.

The Haunted Loft is rated as "Very Scary" and is recommended for teens and adults. However, Piney Acres does offer more family friendly autumn activities. These include pumpkin picking, a kids zone playground and barnyard animal petting zoo. A concession area with fall-themed snacks like caramel apples, s'mores and hot cocoa is also available on site.

Daytime haunt-free corn maze and hayride options are available as well, with reduced pricing for children. There is also an at-dusk Haunted Hayride that offers a more toned down version of their standard Haunted Hayride experience.


Piney Acres
1115 E 1000 N, Fortville, IN 46060

 

12. Stillwell Manor Haunted House

Get ready for spooks and scares while celebrating the Halloween season with the family at the Stillwell Manor Haunted House. Most of the fun and excitement takes place at night as you walk down the halls of the manor, but there is a kid-friendly haunted house with the lights on so that children can enjoy the attraction as well. There is wheelchair accessibility for those who need assistance getting around the manor. Snacks and refreshments are available.

When you enter the haunted house, you're greeted by creepy noises of people screaming, doors slamming and floors creaking. As you navigate from one dark room to another, there are zombies that reach out of the floor to try to convert you over to their dark side and monsters with chains who look like they just got back from their most recent kill. See if you can face the souls of those who have been trapped inside the manor for over 100 years without tapping out and exiting the building. While you're trying not to scream out in fright, be on the lookout for General Stillwell, a spirit who is said to haunt the manor. An event during the day keeps the lights on for the kids while offering friendly scares. The attraction is recommended for ages eight to adult.


Stillwell Manor Haunted House
1704 E 60th St, Anderson, IN 46013

 
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