From abandoned meat packing plants to zombie-infested hospitals, Texas has some of the best haunted attractions in the country—here’s where to get your scare on
October in Texas means cool nights, football season, and haunted houses. Lots of haunted houses.
No one’s ever done an official count, but Dallas-Fort Worth alone claims to have more haunted attractions than any other metro area in the country. Add in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and every town in between, and you’ve got dozens of places ready to make you scream.
Whether you want a casual scare or something that requires a change of underwear, Texas has you covered. Here’s your guide to the best haunted houses across the state.
The Award Winners
Cutting Edge Haunted House – Fort Worth
The USA Today #1 Pick
Located in a 100-year-old abandoned meat packing plant in Fort Worth’s historic “Hell’s Half Acre” district, Cutting Edge isn’t messing around. This place has won USA Today’s #1 Best Haunted House award and is consistently ranked among the scariest in the nation.
The attraction takes 55 minutes to walk through (yes, 55 minutes of scares), with twisting corridors across multiple stories filled with live actors and special effects. The original meat packing equipment is still there—but now it’s a human processing area.
What to know:
- Tickets: $29.99-$59.99 (depending on date/time)
- Parking: $20 cash only
- Height requirement: Children must be at least 42 inches tall
- No purses allowed
- Open through: November 1
- Location: 1701 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth
Buy tickets online in advance—they’re extremely limited and sell out fast.
The Dark Hour – Plano
Rated Best in Texas
FrightFind recently crowned The Dark Hour as the best-rated haunted house in Texas, and it’s easy to see why. This massive attraction features three bone-chilling experiences:
Coven Manor – A mansion home to a witches’ coven
Graveyard of the Doomed – Where the dead have returned to life
Torment Factory – A maze full of terrors designed to make you scream
What to know:
- Open through: Early November (check website for specific dates)
- Location: Plano (DFW area)
House of Torment – Austin
World-Famous Scares
Austin’s legendary haunted house is back with all-new themes for 2025. This year, you’ll descend into the collapsed drainage tunnels of Site 505, where the Vampire Queen (known as the Countess) has broken free after decades of torment.
Three main attractions:
- The Countess’s Lair – Face the wrath of the freed Vampire Queen
- Blackthorne Manor – Cursed halls haunted by La Lechuza, a vengeful witch with the body of an owl
- The Lycan King’s Ruins – Navigate dense marsh and fog to find the lost ruins
New for 2025:
- Two mini escape games (5-minute timed challenges)
- Secret speakeasy bar (21+ only)
- Hades Zombie Simulation (live-action Gellyball zombie shooting)
What to know:
- Open through: Early November (weekends only)
- Location: Austin
- Website: houseoftorment.com
Houston’s Haunted Heavyweights
Houston Terror Dome – Channelview
More Than Just Scares
The Terror Dome bills itself as “the scariest haunt in Houston” and backs it up with an entire entertainment complex. Beyond the main haunted house (which they’ve redesigned with new themes and effects for 2025), you’ll find:
- Axe throwing
- Paintball shooting gallery
- Three escape rooms
- Pumpkin patch (selling pumpkins, hay bales, corn stalks)
- Selfie Saloon with scary props
- Carnival games
- Haunted bar (21+ for beer and wine)
- Gift shop with Halloween collectibles
- Live DJ and entertainment
What to know:
- Dates: September 19 – November 2, 2025
- Location: 16030 East Freeway, Channelview, TX 77530
- Parking: $5 per vehicle
- Discounts: $5 off for military, first responders, seniors 60+
- Group rates: Available for groups of 20+ (contact 2 days in advance)
Buy tickets online to skip the ticket booth line and head straight to the haunt.
288 Scare Factory – South of Houston
Voted Scariest in Texas
Just minutes south of Houston, the 288 Scare Factory features three haunted attractions, covered lines (so rain doesn’t stop the scares), free parking, and entertainment that includes a midway, freakshow, vendors, food, and music.
The theme centers on a mobile viral genetic research facility gone wrong—because what could possibly go wrong with that?
What to know:
- Three attractions in one location
- Open rain or shine
- Location: South of Houston (Creepy Hollow)
Dallas-Fort Worth Area Attractions
Six Flags Over Texas Fright Fest – Arlington
Theme Park Terror
If you want haunted houses AND roller coasters, Fright Fest delivers both. The event features six haunted houses, five interactive scare zones, live frightening entertainment, and limited-edition Halloween food and drinks.
Exclusive movie-themed mazes:
- The Strangers: Chapters 1 & 2 (only theme park in the country with this maze)
- The Conjuring Universe
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
- SAW: Legacy of Terror
What to know:
- Location: Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington
- Runs through: Early November
- Theme park admission required
The Parker House – Denton
Haunted Walk & Zombie Hunt
The Parker House offers two distinct experiences:
The Haunted Walkthrough – Follow Mary Parker through her living quarters, torture chambers, and graveyard where her victims found their final resting place.
Outbreak – An interactive ride where you board specially equipped attack vehicles to fight zombies and save the world from the Outbreak virus. It’s like a live-action video game with real actors.
What to know:
- Location: Denton
- Two different experiences available
Other DFW Haunts Worth Visiting:
- Screams Halloween Theme Park – Multiple attractions
- Hangman’s House of Horrors
- Moxley Manor Haunted House
- Fort Worth Haunted House
- Twisted Hollow Haunt
Beyond the Big Cities
Amarillo Scaregrounds – Amarillo
Five Attractions in One
The largest haunted house in the Amarillo area offers five separate attractions:
- Insanitarium – Zombie-infested hospital
- Terror – Everything that goes bump in the night
- The Basement – 15,000 square feet of nightmares
- Blackout Maze
- Axe Slinger Society
- Xcape Room Village
What to know:
- Five attractions for one admission
- Location: Amarillo
What to Expect at Texas Haunted Houses
General Guidelines:
- Most haunted houses run weekends in October through early November
- Tickets typically range from $25-$60 depending on date and attraction
- Many offer VIP or fast-pass options to skip lines
- Peak nights (Friday/Saturday near Halloween) sell out fast
- Weeknights are usually less crowded
- Most attractions are not recommended for children under 12
- Expect 20-60 minutes inside depending on the attraction
- No touching the actors, and they won’t touch you (usually)
What to Bring:
- Cash for parking (many charge $5-$20)
- Comfortable shoes (you’ll be walking and possibly running)
- A brave friend (seriously, don’t go alone)
- Your ID if you want to visit 21+ areas
What NOT to Bring:
- Purses (many don’t allow them)
- Phones out (keep them in your pocket)
- Young children who scare easily
- People with heart conditions or who are pregnant
Pro Tips for Maximum Scares
Want the scariest experience?
- Go on a foggy, rainy night
- Choose Friday or Saturday closest to Halloween
- Go later at night (after 10 PM)
- Go in a small group (2-4 people)
- Don’t be the person in the middle of your group
Want a less intense experience?
- Many haunts offer “lights on” tours or “scaredy cat” nights
- Go early in October
- Go on a Thursday or Sunday
- Go right when they open
- Tell the staff at the entrance you’d prefer a milder experience
Supporting Local Communities
Many smaller haunted houses are run by fire departments, school districts, and community organizations as fundraisers. While they might not have the Hollywood-level effects of the major attractions, they offer:
- Family-friendly scares
- Lower admission prices
- Community atmosphere
- All proceeds going to good causes
Check your local community center, fire station, or school district for neighborhood haunted houses in your area.
The Bottom Line
Texas doesn’t do anything halfway, and that includes haunted houses. From award-winning attractions in century-old buildings to interactive zombie hunts and theme park mazes, you’ve got dozens of options to get your scare fix this October.
Whether you’re a hardcore horror fan who needs USA Today’s #1-rated experience or someone who just wants a fun October activity with the family, there’s a haunted house in Texas with your name on it.
Just remember: They can’t touch you. The chainsaws are fake. And you can always close your eyes and run through.
(But where’s the fun in that?)
Quick Reference Guide:
Best Overall: Cutting Edge Haunted House (Fort Worth)
Best in State: The Dark Hour (Plano)
Most Family Activities: Houston Terror Dome (Channelview)
Best Theme Park Option: Six Flags Fright Fest (Arlington)
Longest Experience: Cutting Edge (55 minutes)
Most Interactive: The Parker House Outbreak ride (Denton)
General Season: Most haunts open mid-September and run through early November
We do our best to get every detail right, but sometimes things slip through. Event times change, prices update, details shift faster than we can keep up. Quick reminder: Always check official websites for current hours, prices, and dates before you head out! Thanks for helping us get it right – when you keep us honest, everybody wins!
