Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on October 23, 2023.
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As soon as it becomes fall in Pittsburgh, a certain ambiance comes about (and no, we're not talking about pumpkin spiced everything). This ambiance grows throughout the month of October before culminating in a holiday that is a favorite of many- Halloween.
You do not have to go far to get into the Halloween spirit in Pittsburgh, and today we wanted to share a few of the best attractions to check out during the annual festivities!
Hundred Acres Manor
As far as haunted attractions are concerned, Pittsburgh is home to several. One of the most popular is the non-profit Hundred Acres Manor, located right in the heart of South Park, whose proceeds help assist local charities.
But don't let the charity aspect fool you, this haunted house features six individual attractions that flow into one another such that as soon as the scares of one haunt finish, you're immediately ushered into the next with no reprieve. They really know how to get you.
Each year the attraction rotates two or so haunts out, so there is always something new to experience. But just keep in mind that some of the scare zones are outside so you will be exposed to the elements as well as the frights!
Hundred Acres Manor is located at 1 100 Acres Dr in Bethel Park.
ScareHouse
For those who want an even more intense haunted house, you should look no further than ScareHouse. This haunted house follows a very similar model to Hundred Acres Manor such that as soon as one themed haunt ends another begins. But unlike the outside style of Hundred Acres Manor, this one is entirely indoors for a much more intimate fright!
The attraction boasts an intensity that often wins them recognition for the best frights in the country!
Or if you're like us and want something completely different, go for a behind the scenes ScareHouse tour to find out how they do all the frights- but with the lights on!
ScareHouse is located at 461 Pittsburgh Mills Cir at the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills.
Kennywood Phantom Fright Nights
Looking for a longer night out full of scares, rides, and potato patch fries? Consider a trip down to Kennywood's Phantom Fright Nights!
During Halloween the entirety of Kennywood is transformed into a haunted space with dedicated haunted houses, scare zones, and more. Visitors can ride many of the park's famous rides (although some can be closed due to seasonal conditions) in between the haunts, and then go back at it for more frights over the course of an evening.
The only downside to Kennywood's haunted houses (that the others above do not encounter) is that each themed haunt has its own line. So instead of waiting 30-60 minutes to get into all of the experiences, you'll likely find yourself repeating the lines for every haunt you visit (as such, a VIP ticket may not be such a bad idea).
Castle Blood
Want a bit more of an interactive haunt during your Halloween outing that has some escape room vibes? Castle Blood in Monessen is for you! This one is found in a 100-year-old funeral home and sends you on a quest through the halls where you'll meet many residents of the castle including vampires, mad scientists, fortune tellers, and so much more.
In the process, you will solve riddles and games setup by the ghouls to help you complete your quest without falling victim to the horrors you encounter between each stop!
If you want a haunt free experience, Castle Blood typically offers matinee trick-or-treat events for children on the last two Sundays of October (during the day). Here the werewolves and ghouls are put to bed and the lights turned up for a (relatively) scare-free walkthrough complete with easier games for young ones!
Castle Blood is located at 100 Schoonmaker Ave in Monessen, PA.
Huston's Haunted Hollow
Huston's Haunted Hollow is a multi-zone haunted house in the Laurel Highlands (Rockwood, PA) that follows a similar setup to ScareHouse and Hundred Acres Manor above such that one haunt immediately progresses into the next.
During my visit, the haunts followed a loose storyline as you are trying to escape the murder-filled Bruner Boarding house and then subsequently are chased by all manner of evil through the asylum, toxic wasteland, and cornfield before escaping to freedom. These are tied together with two haunted hayride segments that progress the loose storyline of the haunt while you are there.
While this particular haunted house may be slightly lower budget than others on this list, and the movie is most certainly on the campy side of horror, what I loved about this one was that some of the individual haunts are quite spacious. As you're exploring the toxic wasteland, for example, there are large stretches where you are simply wandering in the darkness- amplifying the fear in what is normally an otherwise continually onslaught of scares. (This was balanced out with the rather brief trip through the asylum, something I wished could've been made larger.)
Huston's Haunted Hollow is located at 126 Woodland Rd #7420 in Rockwood, PA.
Haunted Pittsburgh Ghost Tours
Do your horror interests revolve more around the spiritual? If so, hop on a Haunted Pittsburgh walking tour around downtown!
This walking tour operates from May to October and features ghostly stories from the other side in some of Pittsburgh's most famous landmarks.
But as we are talking about ghost stories here, we have to admit that the delivery is one of the most important parts. The guides of this walking tour know how to get right under your skin with a lasting impression you'll take home with you!
Zombies of the Corn
Have you ever wanted to save the world from a zombie apocalypse? If so, you're in luck at Zombies of the Corn at Three Rivers Paintball in Freedom, PA.
In this one you board a special-made zombie killing vehicle and go fight a zombie outbreak in the forest with glow-in-the-dark paintballs. Guests here will also make a night out to enjoy the three other haunts found on-site in this (mostly) family-friendly experience.
Zombies of the Corn is located at 282 Rochester Road in Freedom, PA.
Silence of the Lambs Experiences
You may know that the classic thriller, The Silence of the Lambs, was filmed in and around Pittsburgh, and at Halloween the city is a great time to enjoy the movie!
In the Laurel Highlands, Buffalo Bill's House is often open for tours and special events around Halloween weekend (in 2023 tour dates are the 27th, 28th, and 29th).
If you want to stick locally, Soldiers and Sailors recreate the prison cell of Hannibal in the spot where the scene was shot and will be streaming the movie as well on October 27th!
Buffalo Bill's House is located at 8 Circle Street in Perryopolis, PA
ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo
Okay, fine, we have to feature one tame Halloween option to round out this list, and while there are a number of Halloween options out there for the little ones, none is more popular than ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
This one takes place the two weekends before Halloween (October 21st, 22nd, 28th, and 29th in 2023) to provide a day time trick-or-treat option for children as well as non-scary ‘haunts' to get into the spirit all the same.
So whether you simply want to introduce a young one to the holiday or use them as an excuse to not be scared out of your mind, ZooBoo is a great option to consider!
So, where will you be going for your next haunted experience in Pittsburgh? Comment below to let us know about it!