Pittsburgh's Best Scare Houses
October is known for the beginning of cool weather and Halloween. A good scare is always an experience you have to have this time of year. These are the best ongoing Haunted House/Scare Houses in Pittsburgh.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY:
Fright Farm
2043 Springhill Furnace Road
Smithfield, PA 15478
(724) 564-7644
October Wed to Sunday - Dusk to 10:00 p.m.; Fri to Sat – Dusk to Midnight
Admission: TBD
Website: www.richfarms.com
Fright Farm has a unique niche on the haunted house market with a carnival fair ambiance about it. This is definitely a family friendly event – the farm has plenty for the kiddies to do during the day – and then it turns into one big party. Families can hang out in a field listening to music, enjoying food, beverages, vendors and light shows. After sundown, the daring visitors can hop on a haunted hayride complete with outdoor fright scenes and scary monsters. There's also a scary corn maze element this year! At the conclusion of the hayride, immediate entry to the haunted mansion ensues. Fright farm has been around for 21 years -- and for good reason.
Demon House
417 Coyle Curtain Road
Monongahela, PA 15063
Hours: Starting at 7:00 p.m. sharp
Weekends in September, various dates in October: (Schedule)
General Admission: $17
RIP Pass: $25
Website: www.demonhouse.com
I have never visited the Demon House, but based on the story surrounding this mansion, it is on my must see list this year. It's the only one on the circuit that's allegedly a real haunted mansion! Legend has it that a widow named Carla arrived in the late 1800's and commissioned the mansion. During construction they found 70 unmarked graves, but continued building anyway. It is also rumored Carla was a healer and people traveled miles to visit her to remove their demons. One day a man brought his daughter to the mansion for help – but it was deserted and what authorities found in the basement was horrifying. The mystery to what happened to Carla and family was never solved. The home lay empty from 1894 until 2004. The story alone piques my interest to research it more.
Today there are plenty of activities on the property to keep you busy while you wait your turn to enter the house of horrors – campfires, music, hot apple cider and the only haunted attraction with an outdoor movie theater playing horror movies! There's also a special "lights-out" event on November 4 & 5th.
Castle Blood
2860 Main Street
Beallsville, PA 15313
(724) 632-3242
Open Fri – Sun in October starting October 7th – October 31st
Price: Regular pass $15
Reviews, Directions & More Info
Website: www.castleblood.com
Castle Blood follows the fictional MacCabre Family, a cast of characters set to entertain you. This haunt has been around for 19 years and has been featured on the TV show Midnight Monster Hop. Members of the family, ranging from werewolves, vampires, zombie maids and more, scare the daylights while you walk through this frightening attraction. As seems the trend with most haunted houses, this one also includes a 3D finale during which you wear glasses and navigate to the end. While this is definitely not a kid-friendly scarehouse – they do offer children a "Daylight Tour" from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Oct 24th and 31st. For $5 you get a spook free castle tour, games, trick or treat from friendly monsters and a good bag!
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART:
The Scarehouse
118 Locust Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15223
(412) 781-5885
Weekends in September, various dates in October: Tickets
Hours: Wed to Thurs & Sun – 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Fri to Sat – 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
General Admission: $18
RIP Admission: $30
Website: www.scarehouse.com
The Scarehouse -- located in Etna -- definitely lives up to its name. Scarehouse is ranked amongst the top of the pack for haunted houses nationally. The Travel Channel calls it "One of America's Scariest Halloween Attractions." I visited this haunt last year and they are not kidding! Admission includes entry to three attractions and you can buy a ticket only for immediate entry. If you choose to wait on the long line outside – don't be put off by the cheesy actors who attempt to scare and annoy you. And by the way, the wait is well worth it. Inside there are multiple rooms of fright. The most memorable moments were definitely the endless maze of punching bags that never ended, and the cool Delirium 3-D rooms. It takes about 30 anxiety-ridden minutes to work your way through so you won't feel cheated by the admission price.
Moundsville State Penitentiary
818 Jefferson Avenue
Moundsville, WV 26041-2235
(304) 845-6200
Hours: depends on kind of tour
Price: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Kids ages 6 -16 $6
Website: www.wvpentours.com
Located not far from Pittsburgh in West Virginia, the Moundsville Prison is reported to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. This former penitentiary has been closed for over 10 years and continues to operate year round hosting ghost tours, overnight events and an annual haunt during the fall. This jail was home to over 200 executions, multiple riots and prison killings. Those who have visited claim that it is the most haunted place they have ever been to and the overnight experience is said to be terrifying. Combine those things with a state of the art haunted house experience and you will find a chilling event. Walk through this abandoned prison and feel the evil souls of those who have roamed the corridors before. The hour drive is well worth the visit to this unique attraction.
Insider tip: Each tour has a strict age requirement – at least 13 for one tour. Most are 18 and over only! This is not a family –friendly expedition!
MORE: Hundred Acres Manor Offers Chills For Charity!
Daniel Cooper has resided in Pittsburgh for over 10 years. He enjoys a wide variety of music and arts. On most weekends he can be found enjoying the public parks of the county.
