Terror on the Front Range
If simply watching horror movies for the entire month of October just won’t cut it for you, you may be in the mood for a more interactive scary experience. Good news: There are plenty of haunted houses along the Front Range to keep you busy this Halloween. And you’re not likely to get bored, since they all offer something different, from escape rooms to corn mazes and paintball massacres, along with downright creepy special effects and actors.
Ready to scream? Check out this list of 2019 haunted houses along the Front Range for inspiration. When: Various days through Nov. 8 Where: 3021 N Hancock Ave., Colorado Springs
Cost: $15-$36
More info: hellscreamhaunt.com
This Colorado Springs haunted house tells the story of Jack Slaughter, a criminal mastermind who evaded authorities with a group of murderous clowns. It’s also haunted by Dr. Von Helton, a mysterious figure who can’t (or won’t) leave the grounds. There’s also an escape
room called “The Pen” and a special Lights Out event where you’ll be plunged into near-total darkness. When: Weekends through Nov. 2 Where: Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle, Denver
Cost: Free with park admission, with optional add-ons
More info: elitchgardens.com
The folks at Elitch Gardens promise that this year’s Fright Fest will be the scariest yet. You can enjoy Fright Fest two ways — Family by Day and Fright by Night. In the afternoons, dress up your kiddos in their costumes for activities like creepy coloring, “scary-oke” and a scream-it-out contest, plus finding free candy along the Trick or Treat Trail in KiddieLand.
At night, however, things get a bit spookier (the evenings are recommended for children ages 12 and up). Check out the park’s two haunted houses, Big Top Freaks and No Vacancy, as well as Séance, an immersive haunted experience that combines a live performance with physical effects and audience participation. New this year are performances by The Enigma (from “The X-Files” and Ripleys Believe It or Not), who will swallow swords and do chainsaw stunts at the Big Wheel Stage. ster Various days through Nov. 2 10798 Yukon St., Westmin$29.99-$49.99 thefrightmarecompound.com You’ll get to experience three haunted attractions in one location when you visit The Frightmare Compound. Wander the grounds themselves, which are reportedly haunted by the spirit of Brad Holder, who founded the compound in 1983. Next, check out Lights Out, during which you’ll walk through the halls of the compound’s haunted house in the dark. And be sure not to miss the House of Darkness, a warped funhouse full of clowns. Eek! son Various days through Nov. 9 3400 E. 52nd Ave., Denver $19.99-$32.99 13thfloorhauntedhouse.com Expect to be completely terrified at 13th Floor, which is back for its 18th season. This massive haunted house is the home of Clown, a terrifying clown monster who’s been trapped inside the Thirteenth Realm for 13 years. There’s also an attraction called Tales of the Unknown featuring a scary half-man, half-rat creature, as well as a new Sensory Overload experience, during which you’ll have to walk through a maze in total darkness. On top of all that, you’ll find mini escape games, a bar called The Shriekeasy at 13th Floor and axethrowing. When: Thursdays through Sundays until Nov. 2
Where: Anderson Farms, 6728 County Road 3 ¼, Erie
Cost: $27, with optional add-ons More info: terrorinthecorn.com
At Terror in the Corn, you’ll first be transported to a sinister Corn Maze. Then, if you can find your way out, you’ll end up in a ghost town that was once home to two evil twins who stalked and maimed their victims in the cornfields. The experience is really best for children ages 10 and up, though even the toughest adults have reportedly been petrified by Terror in the Corn. If you get there early, you can also enjoy the Fall Festival at Anderson Farms. There’s also a zombie paintball hunt for an extra fee. Various days through Nov. 2 7007 E. 88th Ave., HenderWhen: Thursdays through Sundays until Nov. 2
10451 McKay Road, Thornton $19.99-$29.99 cityofthedeadhaunt.com Wander through the haunted halls of Mile High Flea Market, aka City of the Dead, where you’ll encounter the lost souls of the dead amidst decay and filth. You’ll also have a chance to visit The Asylum, where deranged and delusional patients run amok. $44.99, plus optional add-ons hauntedfieldofscreams.com
This massive 40-acre scream park features four interactive experiences designed to freak you out. There’s Condemned, during which you’ll walk through torture chambers while being stalked by killers on the loose. Another spooky experience is the Zombie Paintball Massacre, which, as the name suggests, is like a paintball game on steroids. Dead Man’s Maze is a creepy maze haunted by the living dead, and CarnEvil in the Corn is a terrifying carnival scene among the cornstalks. There are also two five-minute escape rooms and plenty of photo stops. For three nights around Halloween, you’ll also be able to experience Pitch Dark, an intense haunted hayride. Various days through Nov. 9
3910 Palmer Park Blvd., Colorado Springs
$15-$36
hauntedmines.org After taking a year off, Haunted Mines is back in action in Colorado Springs. You’ll feel like you’re plummetting 300 feet underground, where an array of terrors await you. There’s also an interactive horror theater, a five-minute mini escape room and a side-byside coffin simulator called “Buried Alive.” Yikes.