Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Seven Circles of Hell-o-Ween

Fall’s here. For many, it means swooning over the tree’s changing colors, snuggling into cozy sweaters, sipping hot cider, pumpkin spice lattes and trying on that new jacket. For us degenerates, it means devising ways to completely creep out our friends with a little more trick than treat.

So, whether you’re a thrill seeker, a total masochist for self-induced heart problems, or just want to feel the spirits and ghosts of the season, we found seven ways to turn your blood cold.

Proceed with caution: this ain’t for kids. If you want a corn maze or a pumpkin carving tutorial, check out our sister publication Toledo Parent for a round-up of family friendly Halloween events.


Toil and Trouble in the Gerber House

See spooky works of throughout the third floor of the Gerber House in the Collingwood Arts Center. Each room will be filled with installations of video, sculpture, prints, drawing, weavings, paintings and photography. Enjoy a cash bar, free snacks and shop some of the works for sale.

Noon-9pm | Friday | October 15
Collingwood Arts Center Gerber House | 2413 Collingwood Blvd.
419-244-2787 | collingwoodartscenter.org

House of Damnation

Try not to have a panic attack as you make your way through the 8400 sq ft. multi themed haunted house in Maumee.

Weekends open: October 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, then Thursday, October 27 through Monday, October 31. $15.

Lucas County Recreation Center | 2901 Key St. | Maumee
revelationsha.com

Lake EERIE Fearfest at Ghostly Manor

Lurk around a haunted house themed like an old mansion as talented actors and elaborate scenes try to wake your nightmares. Ghostly Manor  is one of the top rated haunted in the United States and has been featured on the Travel Channel. Closeby, Cedar Point’s Halloweekends is in season, plus plenty of other scary attractions within an hour’s drive.

Noon-5pm | Sunday-Thursday | Noon-10pm | Friday-Saturday | $11
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center | 3319 Milan Rd. | Sandusky
419-626-4467 | ghostlymanor.com

Haunt-o-Pocalypse at Haunted Hydro Dark Attraction Park

The creatively disturbed crew at Haunted Hydro create a new and terrifying attraction every year to ensure that even regular visitors leave the park experience wanting to call their mom. This year, the main park theme is Haunt-o-Pocalypse, where guests can look forward to running for their lives from a deranged Creature Clan of infected monsters looking to take captives.

7-11:30pm Friday and Saturday: October 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29. Prices vary based on the amount of attractions you choose. Additional, special times online for Sundays, Halloween and Halloween week.

1333 Tiffin St. | Fremont
419-307-6985 | thehauntedhydro.com

Night Terrors

Head over the border to Ypsilanti for Michigan’s premier haunted thrill park, terrifying visitors with gore and more since 1984. See six scary attractions in 89 acres of terror: Haunted Barn, Haunted Hayrides, Alien Caged Clowns, The Asylum, The MindShaft, Splattertown Paintball and more.

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Prices vary based on the amount of attractions you choose. See online.
5565 Merritt Rd. | Ypsilanti | 734-390-9212 | hauntedhousemichigan.com

Haunted Planet Experience

With a blood-bucket full of awards, Haunted Planet offers three haunted houses and an escape room. The Experience’s most impressive— but most blood chilling— feature is their assaulting soundtracks and creative storylines. Try to make it through Bio Lab X, The Dark and Cabin of the Dead without passing out. Good luck.

Weekends: October 7-9 | 14-16 | 21-23 | 28-31
$20/general admission | $30/fast pass | $40/immediate pass
1030 Alexis Rd. | hauntedx.com

Trapped Toledo – Mutated!

If haunted houses aren’t scary enough— you devil, you— and you really want to up the ante, put yourself in a small room with friends, or strangers, and see if you can problem solve under some seriously pressure. Since opening in 2014, the interactive theater company develops clue-based escape rooms to chill and thrill participants.

Currently, those interested in getting trapped can experience “Mutated!”, a new story where horrified guests can hunt for rare drugs to fend off zombies in an abandoned lab. Just be careful— who knows what’s hiding in there. In “Locked Down 3”, attempt to prove that you’re a normal person that’s been wrongly convicted of a crime— you have no business being in this top-secret Center for the Criminally Insane.

To reserve an escape room, review times and prices,
visit trappedtoledo.com

Go the distance for the thrill Haunted Houses worth travelling to

Dead Acres Haunted Hoochie (Pataskala, OH near Columbus)
Spooky Ranch (Cleveland)
Ohio State Reformatory (Mansfield, OH)
The Corpse Barn Shock Haunt (Jackson, MI)
Darksyde Acres Haunted House and Attractions (Jonesville, MI)
The Fear Factory Haunted House (Mt. Clemens, MI)
Hush Haunted Attraction (Detroit, MI)
Jackson’s Underworld (Jackson, MI)
Realm of Haunted Minds (Romulus, MI)
The Scream Machine (Taylor, MI)

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