13 Best Haunted Houses In Cincinnati Ohio
(Updated for 2023) You will have a screaming good time this Halloween season by visiting one of the many haunted houses in Cincinnati Ohio. From the chilling tales of the janitor who haunts the Dent School House to being chased by a flaming semi at the Wilmington Haunted Hollow Ride, we rounded up the top spots bound to send chills down your spine.
This article shares a round-up of the best haunted attractions in and near Cincinnati, Ohio. We even include a few that are kid-friendly!
Dent Schoolhouse
Address: 5963 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45248
One of the best haunts in Cincinnati is the Dent Schoolhouse. A dark legend encompasses the Dent Schoolhouse, which opened in 1894. The janitor, Charlie McFree, was found to have kidnapped and murdered several of the students. This ultimately led to the school closing its doors in the 1950s.
The grizzly remains of the students were found in the school’s basement after an angry mob stormed the school, demanding to know what had happened to the missing students and to follow up on a rancid smell plaguing the school. Charlie, the janitor, was never found despite being the main suspect.
The school is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the murdered children, with Charlie still looking for a few more victims.
Dent Schoolhouse is Cincinnati’s scariest haunted house, claiming it is genuinely haunted. Paranormal activity is common and has caught the attention of ghost hunters worldwide. Guests can take one of their ghost tours or contact Dent Schoolhouse to set up a paranormal investigation.
Tip: Purchase your tickets online. They have a couple of different options, including skipping the whole line and going straight to the front of the door!
Parking: Parking is free and located at the Children’s Hospital and Christ Hospital, right up the street from the schoolhouse!
Take The Lights On Tour Of The Dent Schoolhouse
I will be the first to tell you that this haunted attraction will creep you out even with the lights on. The authentic artifacts and antiques spread throughout the schoolhouse add a macabre sensation. With the lights on, you can appreciate all the details that have gone in to make this place truly horrifying.
Tip: I recommend that kids who want to experience a haunted house first do the lights on tour at the Dent Schoolhouse. No monsters are popping out, yet they can still see the gory props and disturbing scenes guests walk through with the lights off.
USS Nightmare
Address: 101B Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071
Lurking along riverboat row in Newport, Kentucky, is one of the scariest places in the Cincinnati area, the USS Nightmare. This haunted attraction was built upon a steam-powered dredge boat and floats in the Ohio River, waiting for its victims.
Board the terrifying vessel as live monsters make their way through the ship, horrifying guests as they attempt to find the exit. This is one of the area’s longest haunted tours, so prepare for over a half-hour of bone-chilling experiences.
Lights On Matinee
Kids looking to hop aboard this floating boat of horror should plan on attending the Lights on Matinee. Once a year, the ship’s ghostly crew steps aside to let the lights shine inside the spirited dredge boat. Guests of all ages can navigate the ship, seeing this iconic haunted attraction behind the scenes. However, you better be out before the crew returns that evening!
King’s Island Halloween Haunt
Address: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, OH 45040
King’s Island’s thrill rides won’t be the only thing conjuring up screams this Halloween Season. The Halloween Haunt returns to scare guests with chilling outdoor scare zones, outrageous live shows, and evil creatures everywhere looking to make your worst nightmares come true.
Deemed 2022’s “Best Theme Park Halloween Event” in the country as voted on by USA TODAY readers.
The entire amusement park is transformed into a haunt zone with horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding in every corner of the. Try to find your way out of a bone-chilling scare maze and tackle one of the many scare zones such as Coney Maul, Kill Mart, Slaughter House, and more!
Let the thrills continue with exhilarating night rides on The Beast, Orion, Diamondback, Mystic Timbers, and Banshee. The combo of rides and haunts makes this one of the best haunted houses in Cincinnati OH.
Trick and Treats Fall Fest
Kings Island offers a family-friendly alternative to the Halloween Haunt with various fun fall-themed activities, games, and food options. Kids receive individually packaged tasty treats at designated trick-or-treating spots throughout the park.
Tip: If you plan on bringing your kids to the Trick and Treats Fall Fest Saturdays and select Sunday nights, be sure to plan on leaving the park by the time the Halloween Haunt begins. The Halloween Haunt is intended for mature audiences and is not recommended for children under 13.
Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall
Address: 7700 Seward Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45231
A longtime haunted attraction providing great scares is the Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall. The Haunted Hall has expanded to include not only the house but also four tents, backyard areas, and one giant vortex!
Be scared by horror movie classics such as Wolfman, Frankenstein, and Zombies. The Haunted Hall also prides itself on its original props and scenes, such as Bug Boy and the Reverend Emmett Rotts.
Tip: In 2022: Bring in two cans of soup (must be soup) on any Sunday to get $6 off your ticket. Other canned goods still get up to a $2 discount.
The Best Haunted Attractions Near Cincinnati
Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park
Address: 8762 Thomas Rd, Middletown, OH 45042
Time From Cincinnati: 50 minutes
Why visit one haunted house when you could enjoy six spine-tingling attractions in one place? The Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park is a one-stop shop for all things terrifying. The special effects throughout the park make this one of the scariest haunted houses in the area. It feels as if you are in one of the horror movies.
Take a haunting walk through the Middletown Haunted Trail, survive the chilling Temple of Terror, or attempt to escape Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate. Other fun attractions include the Killer Klowns Haunted Maze, Dysphoria, and Phobia.
The park is open Friday and Saturday nights during Halloween Season.
Tip: You can grab refreshments at the Voodoo Lounge and Creepy Cafe.
Wilmington Haunted Hollow Ride
Address: 1261 W Dalton Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177
Distance from Cincinnati: 50 minutes
One of my favorite Halloween traditions is hopping aboard the Wilmington Haunted Hollow Ride. Guests load up on school buses with the top removed and begin their terrifying journey through the hollows. Ghouls of all sorts find their way on the bus, while others prefer to scare from hidden spots throughout the journey.
After your haunted bus ride through the mayhem, those still standing can attempt to venture into the slaughter hotel, Eville Asylum, or escape the Terror in the Dark, a haunted maze in a field that is complete darkness.
The highlight of the Haunted Hollow Ride is when the bus is chased by fire-breathing semis, however there are many other fun surprises lurking in the dark.
Lewisburg Haunted Cave
Address: 4392 Swishers Mill Rd, Lewisburg, OH 45338
Distance From Cincinnati: 1 hr and 20 minutes
Nothing is quite as scary as a real cave! Deemed one of the best haunted houses in the United States, the Lewisburg Haunted Cave is the longest haunt in the world! Not only will guests travel eighty feet below ground in a limestone cave, but they will be entering the home of a variety of monsters and over 30,000 live bats!
Tip: The Lewisburg Haunted Cave is CASH only, however, there is an ATM near the ticket book. Tickets are only for sale on-site at the cave ticket booth. You will get a ticket if you are in line by midnight.
Brimstone Haunt
Address: 525 Brimstone Road, Wilmington, OH 45177
Distance From Cincinnati: 40 minutes
Have you ever been on a haunted hayride? The Brimstone Haunt offers that, along with four other haunted attractions. The Haunted Hay Ride is one of the most popular scares, with it being milder. For a more intense experience, guests make their way through the Forgotten Forest, Psychosis, and Zombie Assault.
The Dead Shot allows guests to take up arms against the zombie hoard. Hurl paintballs at zombies as they dodge this way, avoiding their colorful doom. Test your accuracy and reflexes against an army of zombies in this shooting gallery.
All Hallow’s Eve Terror Town
Address: 1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd. Williamsburg, OH 45176
Distance From Cincinnati: 40 minutes
Step back into a 19th-century nightmare with a visit to Terror Town. The town crawls with evil spirits, but the trail keeps the night alive with screams. While you wait for your turn to adventure down this corrupt path, you can spend your evening discovering the horrors in Terror Town.
Shop for Halloween accessories, dine at one of the three restaurants, listen to live music, or for a scarier experience, listen to karaoke! You can even go Axe Throwing or pop into one of the saloons.
Recommendation: Leave the kids at home as this is an adult attraction.
Tip: Buy your tickets online and wear clothing you can get muddy in.
The Maize Field of Fright
Address: 8657 Axe Handle Rd Milford Center, OH 43045
Distance From Cincinnati: 2 hours
The Maize Field of Fright at Little Darby Creek is becoming a tradition for fun on the farm for families and friends in Central Ohio and beyond. A pumpkin patch by day and a haunted corn maze at night! Add even more fun to your evening by upgrading your package to the works to include a Hayride, 5 Shots at the Corn Cannon, Pie Pumpkin OR 1 Shot at the Pumpkin Blaster & 20 Shots at Paintball Pandemonium.
Halloween Attractions For Kids
Are you looking to enjoy a more gentle side of haunted house season? These favorite queen city attractions are offering family-friendly scares with trick-or-treating options!
HallZooWeen
Enjoy the lighter side of Halloween with a family-friendly visit to the Cincinnati Zoo. The Zoo transforms into a fun Halloween playground for guests and animals. There are special Halloween-themed Animal Enrichment, Trick or Treat Stations, Illusion Shows, the Hogwarts Express Train Ride, and the Scare-ousel!
HallZooween happens on select weekends in October and is free with your zoo admission or pass. Kids can come in costume.
HallZOOween is FREE with Zoo Admission!
Tip: Help the Zoo go green; please bring your own treat bag!
Haunted Village at Sharon Woods
Every Halloween, the Heritage Village at Sharon Woods transforms into a slight-fright family-friendly Haunted Village. A visit to the Haunted Village is ideal for those seeking low thrills but enjoy a spooky ambiance.
Explore the village, meeting ghosts, witches, and a fortune teller along the way. Walk through the haunted woods. Enjoy balloon art, games, a creepy critter zoo, face painting, storytelling, and more!
Kids will have a blast going to and from the different buildings throughout the village; however, you never know, they may even encounter the headless horseman!
Jack-O-Lantern Junction
EnterTrainment Junction offers Halloween fun for the whole family with Jack-O-Lantern Junction! Kids can Trick-or-Treat thru a no-scary indoor, kid-friendly maze and see friendly ghosts, skeletons, and more. You can see the world’s largest indoor train display and enjoy the indoor play area.
Don’t miss out on seeing the new Halloween mini-scenes and a Halloween-themed train display!
In conclusion, we hope you get into the Halloween spirit by visiting all these great creepy haunted houses in Cincinnati. However, check out these related articles for even more great things to do this fall.
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The Best Haunted Houses In Cincinnati, Ohio
