Now that the calendar has flipped over to October, Halloween season is officially here, and haunted houses have flung open their doors.
If you’re brave enough to dare enter, you’ll find intricately designed rooms, tunnels and mazes, along with immersive, interactive experiences all across West Michigan. Want to fight zombies? Run from a serial killer? Be buried alive in a coffin? We have it all.
One note: Abandoned Acres won’t be around this year, as they take a season off to expand to a bigger location, now indoors.
So, if you’ve been wondering, where can I find a haunted house near Grand Rapids? We got you.
The Haunt
1256 28th St. SW, Wyoming
the-haunt.com
Dates: Oct. 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31
Admission: $35
Fast Pass: $55
Kids Haunt: Oct. 25, Noon to 4:30 p.m.
Blackout: Nov. 6-7
Twenty-six years in, The Haunt is a seasonal institution of West Michigan. The award-winning attraction presents over an hour of madness, with themed areas like Tinkles Torment, Whispering Woods, Alien X, Malice in Wonderland and Frenzy Circus 3D spread across 50,000 square feet and 164 rooms—all included in the price of admission.
Open most Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October. Plus, check out the special Black Out dates in November, where you traverse the space with nary but a glow stick to light the way.
The Haunted Forest
Cannonsburg Ski Area,
6800 Cannonsburg Rd., Belmont
Cannonsburg.com/the-haunted-forest
Dates: Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Admission: Online $25 / At Door $30
Express Lane: Online $35 / At Door $40
Embark on this treacherous half-mile trek down a lit dirt path, winding through the trees, with terror lurking around every corner. Packed with props and actors, the outdoor event only runs on Friday and Saturday evenings, with reservation timed tickets purchased in advance to help manage the large crowds, so plan ahead and watch your step if you dare. There’s also a shorter, Spooky Forest on site for children or the easily frightened.
New Salem Corn Maze
4516 24th St., Dorr
newsalemcornmaze.com
Dates: Every Friday and Saturday in October
Admission: Witches Woods $30 (per trail per person)
Haunted Corn Maze $30
Two Activities $50/person
Three Activities $65/person
Daytime Corn Maze $10
The choice is yours as to “witch” way you want to go when you enter the Witches Woods at New Salem: Twisted or Wicked? These trails through the dark woods take you through a series of haunted houses and mindbending tunnels filled with surprises. Plus, there’s a haunted corn maze, and all sorts of family friendly daytime activities (also available on Sundays). Not to mention tasty cider and donuts!
Nightmare Realm
23492 Red Arrow Hwy, Mattawan
minightmare.com
Dates: Oct. 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, Nov. 20, 21
Admission: General Admission $25
Front of line $40
VIP $55
Season Pass $104.52 – 135.57
Known for its immersive experience and elaborate storylines, Nightmare Realm presents a variety of experiences for its audience every season. Retribution 1993 takes visitors to the town of Cypress Hollow, where unleashed unholy creatures from the Nightmare Realm have taken over. This show runs on Fridays and Saturdays in October, plus on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Then there’s also Whispering Shadows, a sensory friendly version of the show, on Thursday, Oct. 22. And on Oct. 30 and 31 is The Hollowed, a zombie survival game played within the world of Retribution. If you’re still craving scares after all that, head over Nov. 21 for Protect Jingle Hell, a blend of Halloween scares and holiday cheer.
Haunt Park
7656 Ravine Rd., Kalamazoo
hauntpark.com
Dates: Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
Admission
Two Attractions: $20
Three Attractions: $25
Four Attractions: $30
Fastpass: $10
For more than 20 years, Haunt Park has taken over Kalamazoo Speedway, and mastered the craft of fright. They offer five attractions, including three haunted with different “intensity levels,” each telling its own tale of terror. Fully-fleshed out storylines add to the experience of Psycho Ward, Nightmares, and Witches Mansion, while Camp Crystal Lake Paintball puts the power to fight back against the living dead in your hands. And new this year is The Last Ride: an immersive coffin simulator that puts you inside an actual coffin, closes the lid, and takes you on a terrifying journey through what could be your final moments.
Haunted Acres
Haunted Attraction
7970 W. Park Rd., Stony Lake, New Era
haunted-acres.square.site, facebook.com/hauntedacresstonylakemi
Dates: Saturdays in October & Nov. 1
Admission: $30
Located on a real farm, Haunted Acres begins with the Field of Screams, sprawling over 10 acres with shocks and surprises around every turn. But it doesn’t stop there, with Vertigo, an indoor 3D black light experience complete with lasers and sounds. Plus, The Devil’s Playground, built on the ruins of an old barn, and filled with animatronics and other jump scares, as well as a 350-foot pallet maze that may or may not be haunted (it’s definitely haunted).
Trail of Terror
7582 Crocker Rd., Holton
trailofterrorholton.com
Dates: Oct. 23, 24, 30, 31
Admission: $20
VIP Admission: $25
Open for over two decades, the Trail of Terror in Holton has outlived many other experiences with a dedicated cast and crew taking the terrifying to towering new heights. Open to all ages, but with parental discretion strongly advised, and located in Muskegon County, it’s worth the trip for anyone looking to head up north and feel the real chill of what lurks in the trees after dark.
Grand Rapids Ghost Tour
usghostadventures.com
This Halloween, join Grand Rapids Ghosts for a journey through the city’s dark underbelly on the most haunted Grand Rapids ghost tour. Uncover a disturbing history filled with homicidal maniacs, victims of misfortune, and macabre mysteries that plague the seemingly innocent “Furniture City.” Slots are open every evening in October—it’s a year-round experience, in fact.
