Since it’s Halloween, it’s the time of year to go to costume parties and visit Haunted Houses/ Halloween Attractions. Here are some of the SCARIEST halloween attractions in the US in 2013, including a few within driving distance of RI. We know #1 may well be worth a trip to NYC. We’ve been meaning to go anyways.

1) Blackout Haunted House: New York, LA, Chicago

“The extreme theater event of the year.” – NY Times

Now, this one sounds like it’s worth the trip to NYC. Check out the rules below.

Rules:

• YOU MUST WALK THROUGH ALONE.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You will be prompted to do certain actions. Please do exactly as you’re told. This is for your safety.
• There is absolutely no speaking allowed inside. You can, however, scream as loud as you’d like.
• Do not ever touch the walls.
• You must wear a protective mask and carry a flashlight at all times.
• Please be aware, you will encounter: FOG – STROBE LIGHTS – COMPLETE DARKNESS – CRAWLING – STAIRS – LOUD NOISES – WATER- PHYSICAL CONTACT – SEXUAL and VIOLENT SITUATIONS

The trailer video for the Blackout haunted house was actually too disturbing for us to include it in this list.

2. Terror Behind the Walls

A Massive Haunted House in a REAL PRISON: Eastern State Penitentiary. Check out the trailer below…if you dare.

Terror Behind the Walls 2013 from Terror Behind the Walls on Vimeo.

3. Scarehouse (10 Minutes from downtown Pittsburgh)

An axe wielding man in a bunny costume… scary clowns… creepy dolls. Need we say more? Well, it’s located in a 100-year old former elks lodge that was already thought to be haunted… so there’s that. There’s also no no-touching rule for actors, to be prepared to be grabbed or grazed by an undead clown.

4. Spookywoods (Greensboro, NC)

From the Website: “Spookywoods Haunted Attraction started by a dare of teenagers in 1985 to go into an abandon farm house when the founder Tony Wohlgemuth was 15 years old.  After getting a good scare from a family of bats they decided to make a haunted house that fall.  The haunted attraction now takes over the majority of the 60 acre farm after almost 3 decades of growth.  Kersey Valley has a year round team of artist and builders with a passion for creating fresh new experiences each fall.”

Sounds good to us. An entrepreneur with a sick sense of humor.

5. The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Based on a “true” story, the Dent Schoolhouse takes you inside an actual school from the late 1800s. Perhaps the janitor killed a bunch of kids, or maybe its just advertising. Either way, it makes for a good haunted house attraction.