Area Haunted Houses Offer Thrills and Chills

Halloween is just around the corner, and who doesn’t love a good scare? If you’re looking for some ghoulish and ghastly fun this October, Patch has you covered with a round-up of the best haunted attractions in the St. Louis area.

Creepyworld

Creepyworld, located in Fenton on 141 just south of Gravois, was voted St. Louis’ best haunted house in 2010, and also claimed the honor of being the most attended haunted house in the state last year. This year, the creepiest haunted house in town plans to scare visitors more than ever. It has even added a seventh horror to the mix—the fear-inducing SAW 3-D Haunted House, based on the classic horror film.

Old favorites, such as the Tombstone Haunted Hayride, received upgrades that include the newest special effects, animation and live-actor stunts. And if Hornbuckle’s Pig Farm and Corn Maze terrified you last year, you’ll be happy to know it’s all new this year, and according to its creators, more outrageously horrifying than ever.

Admission is $23 for adults and $17 for kids 50 inches and shorter. Creepyworld will be open every night in October. On Halloween, hours are from 6 p.m. until midnight.

Fright Fest at Six Flags

If you’re looking for thrills and chills this Halloween, you’ll find both in spades at Six Flags’ Fright Fest, located at  in Eureka. During the day, enjoy creepy characters roaming the park, along with haunted houses and attractions. After dark, you’ll find yourself in a super-sized haunted adventure land.

Brave one of several haunted houses or gruesome mazes, check out scary street entertainers and if you really need a thrill, try riding your favorite roller coaster in the dark.

Admission is $46.99 for adults and $36.99 for kids less than 48 inches tall. If you buy online, you can save up to $10 per ticket. If you want to enter the Slaughter House, Insanity Alley or take the Backlot Terror Tour, you’ll need a special voucher. You can purchase a Slasher Pass for $18 and get into all three, but note that this does not include park admission. 

While adults shouldn’t wear costumes to Fright Fest, children 12 and under can wear costumes during their visit, as long as they do not include a mask or makeup that can be mistaken as a mask.

“The costume needs to be kid-friendly, non-violent and cannot impede the child’s walking or sight,” said park spokesperson Elizabeth Gotway. “We have a lot of little kids come in their costumes. It is very fun for them.”

Get more information at Six Flags’ website.

Magic House’s Not-So-Haunted House

If you’re looking for a not-so-scary place to celebrate Halloween with your kids, the ’s Not-So-Haunted House, located at 516 S. Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, may be exactly what you need. Kids can wear their costumes, and will have an opportunity to mingle with some of their favorite storybook characters, including Cinderella and Prince Charming, Willy Wonka, Snow White and more.

Each kid will receive a spooktacular trick-or treat bag and an autograph book for the characters to sign while they trick-or-treat through the Magic House.

Brave big kids can try the twisting mazes of the Haunted Trail in total darkness, armed only with a flashlight.  

Admission to the Not-So-Haunted house is $8.75 for anyone over the age of 1, and groups of 15 or more (with one adult for every five kids) pay just $5.75 per person over the age of 1.

You can visit the Not-So-Haunted House Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 5:30 p.m., Friday from noon to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Friday, Oct. 21 and on Friday, Oct. 28, the Not-So-Haunted House will extend its hours and will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information is available at the Magic House’s website.

Corn Maze Massacre

We hear that demonic spirits have been haunting the cornfields near Eureka and causing havoc amongst the townsfolk. Located at 8004 Twin Rivers Road, Red’s Corn Maze Massacre has more than 22 acres of terror. Once you enter the maze, you’ll be confronted by Red and his demented friends, who have evil plans for anyone brave enough to enter the sinister maze.

If you make it out alive, you can extend the terror by taking Farmer Bob’s Haunted Hayride.

Admission is $13 per person, cash only. You can get a combo ticket for both Red’s Corn Maze and Farmer Bob’s Haunted Hayride for $20. In October, you can visit on Thursdays and Sundays from 7 to 11 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight. Get more information at the Corn Maze Massacre website.

The Darkness

The Darkness, located next to Soulard Market at 1525 S. Eight Street in St. Louis, has been rated by more than 20 media outlets as one of America's best and scariest haunted houses, including USA Today, Forbes and Woman’s Day, according to a press release. This year, the high-tech animation and Hollywood-quality special effects have been expanded. You’ll even find a new haunted elevator feature, along with more than 50 live actors interacting with visitors.

As an added bonus, admission includes access to both the Terror Visions in 3-D haunted house, where visitors should beware of the crazed clowns on the loose and the Monster Museum, where they’ll be confronted with genuine horror movie props.

Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for kids under 50 inches tall. This horrifying haunt will be open every night in October. On Halloween, the hours are from 6 p.m. until midnight. The Darkness also will be open on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, from 8 p.m. until midnight.

The Lemp Brewery Haunted House

The Lemp Brewery Haunted House, located at the corner of Cherokee and 18th streets in the Benton Park neighborhood of south St. Louis, was founded in 1862. The St. Louis landmark was once home to the first brewer to bring the production of lager-style beer to the United States.

Even before it became an official Halloween haunt, the old abandoned brewery was a pretty chilling place with its underground tunnels carved to limestone caves. If you dare to brave the tunnels, you’ll be transported 40 feet below ground to the old brewery’s storage caves (where, Lemp officials tell us, no one can hear you scream.)  You’ll find new scary scenes and special effects in the brewery this year, and it’s twice as long as last year.

Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for kids 50 inches and shorter. The Lemp Brewery Haunted House will be open every night in October, except on Oct. 3 and 4 and Oct. 10 and 11. Halloween hours will be from 6 p.m. to midnight, and you also can visit the brewery on Friday and Saturday, Nov 4 and 5 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Special Halloween Deals

You can get a combination ticket that will give you admission to Darkness, Creepyworld and The Lemp Haunted Brewery for $50 for adults and $35 for kids 50 inches and shorter. Additionally, you can save time in line by buying your tickets online. You can also upgrade your ticket with speed pass that allows you to skip admission lines and enter each haunt when you arrive.

You can pick up discount coupons online or at all Spirit Halloween Superstores, , Blockbuster Video, Spencer Gifts, The Tan Company and Slackers CDs and Games. Visitors also may bring a Pepsi can to the attraction to receive a discount. Discounts are valid only for adult tickets.