Seven haunted houses bring chills and thrills this Halloween season
Want to be scared silly this Halloween season? Here are seven of the most spine-tingling, hair-raising haunted houses in the region. Read on if you dare.
Callson Manor
Dubbing itself as “the most extreme haunted house theme park” in the Sacramento region, the Callson Manor in Roseville boasts 10 attractions like Slasher Cafe or the Panic room that aim to give you the sense of stepping into your favorite horror film. Watch fire dancing performances twice nightly from Sacramento group Obsidian Butterfly on the Living Dead Stage, meander through the ghost town Modoc with spooks from haunted Wild West characters, experience the 3-D Cirque du Fantasy show, and of course brave the creepy corridors of Callson Manor itself. $26-$60. Open Fri.-Sun. through Oct. 26, and Oct. 28-Nov. 1. 7-10 p.m. Placer County Fairgrounds. 800 All America City Blvd. Roseville. callsonmanor.com
Cemetarium Haunted House
The Cemetarium Haunted House in Citrus Heights features more than “20,000 square feet of terror” and five haunted rooms, such as the “Hallway of Fear,” reminiscent of an old hotel corridor with ghostly figures jumping out, and “Zombie Heights,” an old Western ghost town filled with zombies on the hunt. Each night also features a new attraction this year called Psycho Circus, with caged clowns and other nightmare-inducing creatures under a big top. If that sounds too spooky, the Cemetarium offers low-scare, family-friendly tours without loud audio or actors jumping out at you. $6-$30. Open Oct. 16-19 and Oct. 22-Nov. 2. Times vary by date. Sunrise Fun Center. 7983 Arcadia Dr. Citrus Heights. 223-9080. terrorinthenighthalloweenproductions.com
Corbett's Grindhouse of Horror
Billed as the Sacramento area’s largest indoor haunt at over 25,000 square feet, Corbett’s in Roseville was designed by construction company owner Jim Corbett, who has appeared on DIY Network shows like House Crashers and Turf Wars. Tempt your fate at Zombieland, an apocalyptic laser tag zone where you can shoot zombies, or at the 3-D “Carn-evil” experience with dropping floors, a spinning vortex and evil clowns popping out like jacks-in-the-box. But don’t miss the house of horror itself, with ghosts and goblins lurking in the halls and read to pounce around every corner. Easily spooked youngsters are given a lanyard with a blue glow stick to wear around their necks, so spirits know to tone down their scares. $20 ($15 for ages 12 and under). Open every Fri. and Sat. through Oct. 25, and Oct. 30 & 31. 7-11 p.m. 360 N Sunrise Ave. Roseville. 850-0436. corbettshouseofhorror.net
Fright Planet
Fright nights await at this colossal haunted theme park at Cal Expo, where you can experience nine unnerving attractions, like a fog-filled haunted house called The Little House of Carnage, a disorienting maze with strobe lights; a pitch-black, motion simulator experience called Buried Alive: The Ride; or the ScreamMax Theater, which will be screening 16 short horror movies created by local college and independent filmmakers. Fright Planet boasts 150 cast members and the park’s set was painted by retired Disneyland artist John Denton, who has painted attractions like Haunted Mansion and It’s a Small World. This year, there’s an unlimited ticket option for guests to experience each attraction as many times as they can handle all night long. $19.95-$49.95. Open Oct. 16-Nov. 1 (except for Mon. and Tues.). Times vary by date. Cal Expo. 1600 Exposition Blvd. 678-0266. frightplanet.com
Heartstoppers
Occupying the former Mine Shaft Family Fun Center in Rancho Cordova, Heartstoppers will have you looking out for zombies in the Blood on the Bayou swamp and trying to wind your way out of a blackout maze inside the Tomb of Shadows in the basement. Other haunts include the Deadlands, where ghosts hunt you down, Dr. Lash’s Traveling Sideshow with a display of natural oddities and members of the undead, and the Steam Ghást Asylum, modeled to be an old estate turned madhouse. Plus, there will be carnival rides like a Ferris wheel and all proceeds from the haunted house will go to the Cordova Community Council to support its events. $20-$25 ($15 for ages 12 and under). Open Fri.-Sun. through Oct. 26, and Oct. 29-Nov. 1. 7:30-11:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, 25, 30 and 31; 7:30-10:30 p.m. all other days. 2300 Mine Shaft Ln. Rancho Cordova. 572-2733. scaredyou.com
Scream Park California
For your weekly dose of fear, head to the Scream Park Pavilion in Sacramento, a theme park featuring three haunted houses called Mind of a Killer, the blackout attraction Asylum, and the twisted 3D experience called Bad Acid Trip that aims to give you goosebumps and the feeling of “spiders crawling into folds of your brain.” Scream Park also hosts live weekend concerts from acts like metal band Fallrise (Oct. 17 and 25) and rock group Some Fear None (Oct. 18, 24 and 26). Although there is no strict age requirement, Scream Park is not recommended for children due to attractions containing gore and graphic images. $20-$40 depending on date. Open Fri.-Sun. through Nov. 2, and Oct. 28, 29 and 30. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. on Fri. & Sat. and 7-10 p.m. on other days. Scream Park Pavilion. 4909 Auburn Blvd. screamparkcalifornia.com
Temple of Terror
This haunted house at the El Dorado Hills Town Center benefits Hands 4 Hope’s youth development and outreach programs. Skeletons, mummies and zombies abound and you snake your way over swinging bridges and through the treacherous caverns with thunder and lightning effects while trying to avoid spooks from the cast of colorful characters. The Temple of Terror is recommended for ages 13 and older, but a Fairy Guide is available upon request to lead the faint of heart through a tamer version of the haunted house. $6-$12 depending on date. Open Fri.-Sun. through Oct. 31. 6-10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. and 5-8 p.m. on Sun. El Dorado Hills Town Center. 4367 Town Center Blvd. El Dorado Hills. 900-2763. eldoradohauntedhouse.com
Related Links
—Eight great events that scare up some Halloween fun
—Fall into the new season at these 10 Sacramento-area pumpkin patches
