6 haunted attractions you MUST add to your October bucket list

Spooky season is officially in full scream. Halloween is around the corner, which means horror movie marathons, trips to Spirit Halloween, ghost stories by the campfire and, of course, haunted houses. From creepy trails and historic schoolhouses to fright-filled amusement parks, here are Greater Cin

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Spooky season is officially in full scream.

Halloween is around the corner, which means horror movie marathons, trips to Spirit Halloween, ghost stories by the campfire and, of course, haunted houses.

From creepy trails and historic schoolhouses to fright-filled amusement parks, here are Greater Cincinnati's biggest haunted attractions you should definitely put on your freaky fall bucket list.

Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park: Sept. 11-Oct. 31

This park features six attractions: Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate, Killer Klowns Haunted Maze, Middletown Haunted Trail, Phobia Haunted House, Temple of Terror Haunted House and Lights Out Haunted House. The park will also feature the following themed weekends:

Oct. 2-4: Classic Horror weekend.
Oct. 9-11: EDM weekend.
Oct. 16-18: Klown Invansion weekend.
Oct. 23-25: Witches and Warlocks weekend.
Oct. 28-Nov.1: Festival of Freaks week.

Details: Open 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown.

$95 fast pass, $75 general admission, $30 single attraction. Landofillusion.com.

Cincinnati Fear Fest: Sept. 19-Nov. 1

The 2nd annual All Hallow’s Eve Terror Town, located on Greenbush Cobb Road in Williamsburg, Ohio, opened on Friday evening, Sept. 4, 2020, and runs through November 14. Terror Town features haunted themes and trails, shops, restaurants, live music and many other attractions. At another trial, a person is found guilty and dragged through the mud.

From the creators of Terror Town, the Cincinnati Fear Fest features several attractions including the Freaking Fun haunted house, Detox haunted house and the Burn Yard haunted house. Live music and entertainment is also included. The haunted attraction is also debuting a new AI-themed escape room for 2026.

Cincinnati Fear Fest is not recommended for children 12 and under.

Details: 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m.-midnight on select Saturdays and 7-10 p.m. on select Thursdays and Sundays. Terror Town, 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg. Prices start at $28.99. Cincinnatifearfest.com.

The Dent Schoolhouse is open for its 28th season. The haunted house features animatronics, actors in costumes, scents, sounds and scares.

Dent Schoolhouse: Sept. 11-Nov. 13

Dent Schoolhouse is celebrating 30 years of scream this year! The Halloween tradition features a murderous janitor who has taken over the schoolhouse, along with his wicked friends. Admission includes access to first-floor classrooms, Charlie’s basement, the catacombs, Zobo’s Backlot CarnEvil, Dr. Dent’s laboratory, werewolves and a spider-infested greenhouse and more.

Mini-escape room experiences and axe-throwing for purchase inside Monster Midway.

Details: Hours and prices may vary, 5963 Harrison Ave., Green Township. Dentschoolhouse.com.

Brimstone Haunt: Sept. 11-Nov. 13, Dec. 12 and 18

Brimstone Haunt, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, features the Haunted Hayride, The Bog and the new Boogeyman attraction. The scream park also offers games, photo opportunities, food and drinks.

Brimstone Haunt will also host a lights-out event Nov. 6-7, Friday the 13th-themed night Nov. 13 and a scary Christmas-themed night Dec. 12 and 18.

Details: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 7 p.m. on select Sundays. 525 Brimstone Road, Harveysburg. Prices may vary. brimstonehaunt.com.

The USS Nightmare, haunted barge, docked at Riverboat Row in Newport, with Josh Pafaf as the captain.

USS Nightmare: Sept. 18-Nov. 13

Two decks of nightmarish fun awaits on this steam-powered dredge boat on the Ohio River. Those wanting to level up the scary can opt for the RIP Experience, which is an intense, immersive and more interactive experience.

There's a Lights On matinee from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 25. The Captain's Extreme Tour runs from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 6-7.

Details: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7-11 p.m. on select Thursdays and Sundays. 100 Riverboat Row, Newport. Prices start at $27. The USS Nightmare also offers date night packages for $161-206 and seasons passes for $103. ussnightmare.com.

A jester walks the grounds during Kings Island Halloween Haunt at Kings Island in Mason on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.

Halloween Haunt at Kings Island: Sept. 25-Oct. 31

Kings Island amusement park is transformed into an immersive haunt with rides, scare mazes, fright zones, hundreds of horrifying characters lurking in the fog and Halloween-themed live entertainment.

New this year is "Jason: Blood Reign," a maze inspired by horror movie villain Jason Voorhees. The attraction allows visitors to "step into the dark woods surrounding the legendary summer camp" and "retrace the blood-soaked events that made Jason Voorhees the most feared slasher ever," according to Kings Island's website. Another new attraction is "Metal Massacre," a haunted maze where guests become part of the show and try to survive.

Halloween Haunt is not recommended for those under the age of 13.

Details: 6 p.m.-midnight on Fridays, 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sundays, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Prices may vary. Visitkingsisland.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 6 haunted attractions you MUST add to your October bucket list