8 Haunted Attractions in Ohio for Halloween Thrills

Each year, Ohioans celebrate Halloween in many ways, from family trips to a pumpkin patch to scary movie marathons at home. But for some thrill-seekers, there’s only one way to celebrate — venturing through “haunted” attractions that crop up for the season. The Buckeye State has no shortage of horrifying outings for those brave enough to seek them. With many already in full swing as chillier air takes hold, here are eight greast haunted attractions across Ohio.

Dent Schoolhouse | Cincinnati
Through Oct. 31 on select dates
Hosted inside a real, century-old schoolhouse, the Dent Schoolhouse leans heavily into local superstitions. Urban legend has it, the bodies of missing children were found in the school’s basement during the 1950s, and the janitor, Charlie McFree, was the prime suspect. McFree was said to have fled the state, but if you stop by the Dent Schoolhouse, you might see him before you head inside. With two floors of state-of-the-art animatronics and plenty of post-haunt activities like escape rooms and ax throwing, the Dent Schoolhouse is a bone-chilling immersive haunt experience. dentschoolhouse.com

Seven Floors of Hell | Middleburg Heights
Fri. & Sat. nights through Oct. 31
Staged at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Seven Floors of Hell features seven distinct haunted houses with just one ticket. At this massive haunted attraction, each floor has its own nightmarish story, ranging in themes from space exploration gone wrong to escaping the wrath of the Egyptian god of death, Anubis. Featuring elaborate sets and soundscapes that send chills down your spine, Seven Floors of Hell is designed to make visitors face their fears. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office, availability permitting. sevenfloorsofhell.com

Brimstone Haunt | Wilmington
Fri., Sat. & Sun. nights through Oct. 31
Featuring real 19th-century graves and unmarked burial grounds, Brimstone Haunt goes beyond actors to provide the scares. Formerly the Springboro Haunted Hayride, Brimstone Haunt offers a multi-attraction haunted experience with plenty of thrills and chills lurking in every corner. In celebration of their 10th season, Brimstone Haunt has unveiled a new nightmare for visitors to enjoy this fall, “The Boogeyman.” The new attraction invites visitors to explore the dimly lit hallways of a Victorian-era home as they try to escape the Boogeyman’s lair. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office, with options for single attraction tickets available. brimstonehaunt.com

Blood Prison | Mansfield
First opened in 1886, the Ohio State Reformatory is purportedly one of the most haunted buildings in the state. After more than a century of operation, the reformatory is said to have claimed over 200 lives, including two guards. With a wealth of dark and disturbing history, there’s no better spot to stage a haunted attraction. Packed corner to corner with mangled guards, inmates waiting for a chance at revenge and appearances from the warden’s widow, Mansfield’s Blood Prison is a haunt to behold. Tickets can be purchased online with optional touch passes available for an extra charge. bloodprison.com

The Lewisburg Haunted Cave | Lewisburg
Fri. & Sat. nights through Oct. 31 
Located about 30 miles west of Dayton, The Lewisburg Haunted Cave brings visitors 80 feet underground to a limestone cave packed full of ghosts, ghouls and live bats. At 3,563 feet long, the haunted cave was ranked the world’s longest haunted house in the 2010 Guinness Book of World Records. With extensive mazes, terrifying special effects and more than 100 scare actors, the horror seems never ending. For those looking for a milder experience, the Lewisburg Historical Society offers historic mine tours during the same time as the Haunted Cave attraction. Tickets for both events can be purchased online or at the box office. hauntedcaveatlewisburg.com

Lake Eerie Fearfest | Sandusky
Fri. & Sat. nights through Oct. 31
Ohio’s only year-round haunted attraction gets even scarier with Lake Eerie Fearfest. Located inside Ghostly Manor Thrill Center in Sandusky, Lake Eerie Fearfest combines the thrill center’s all-season haunted house with two additional attractions for an all-out haunted adventure. Full of animatronics, actors and disorienting effects, this top-rated haunt packs plenty of frights to keep visitors on their toes. Ghostly Manor Thrill Center offers several other family-friendly activities like laser tag, escape rooms and blacklight mini golf for those looking for a more tame experience. lakeeriefearfest.com

Terror in the Trees | Lucasville
Fri. & Sat. nights through Oct. 31
Located behind Jacobs Cemetery in Lucasville, Terror in the Trees is a small but mighty haunted attraction. Taking place in the dark woods, the haunt pushes visitors to face their nyctohylophobia, or fear of dark wooded areas. Once you’ve crossed through the cemetery, there’s no turning back. Behind the foreboding entrance made of tree logs shaped into a monster’s face, dozens of actors, animatronics and special effects like vortex tunnels await to create a one-of-a-kind experience. Tickets can be purchased at the door from 8 to 11:30 p.m. terrorinthetrees.com

Distracted Haunted House | Bowling Green
Fri., Sat. & Sun. nights in October
Each year, Distracted Haunted House takes over the Woodland Mall in Bowling Green with a multi-attraction haunt set to provide an experience unlike any other with unique characters and themes. This year, Distracted invites haunt goers to explore their newest theme, Ritual Horror. After the haunt, hangout in the Recovery Zone, a tented area outside the haunted house offering free hot cocoa and a photo booth. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. feardistracted.com

For more haunted Ohio inspiration, sign up for our Ohio Magazine newsletters.

Ohio Magazine is available in a beautifully designed print issue that is published 7 times a year, along with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter editions of LongWeekends magazine. Subscribe to Ohio Magazine and stay connected to beauty, adventure and fun across our state.