Have plans for Halloween? Love to be scared, scare someone else or delight in watching others wet themselves in fright?
If so, this is the post for you. Compiled here are the 13 best American haunted houses, and each has its own specialties in gore and fear. These 13 are sure to terrify even the most seasoned haunted house goer. So, if you’ve got a plight for fright, check out one or more of these locations to ensure a positively hair-raising October.
This list is composed of a number of attractions ranging from professional haunted houses to hayrides to a steamboat. Yes, a steamboat. But each one is unique and offers something for anyone who is looking for a good scare. Counting backwards, let's start with number 13.
13. Haunted Overload - Exeter, New Hampshire

The number 13 haunted house is a haunted house that rivals any professional haunted house out there. The elaboration in detail is said to be uncanny and really gives this place a worthy reputation, not to mention the fact that half the proceeds are donated to help the animals of the New Hampshire SPCA. Expect a lot of chainsaws, lots of actors in costumes and fog that makes it virtually impossible to see what's gonna get you next. (Halloween)
12. USS Nightmare - Newport, Kentucky

Following the story of an ill-fated crew of sailors, this haunted house is set upon a real river steamboat. Every quarter in the ship has its own haunted scene whether you are in the captain's quarters, the mess hall or what appears to be a room full of torture devices. Be prepared for a lot of scary looking baby dolls strewn about the boat as well. Even more frightening than the decorations is the knowledge that once you enter this boat, you've only have two ways out...the entrance plank or the icy ocean. (Halloween)
11. Asylum & Hotel Fear - Las Vegas, Nevada
Next up is a haunted house with an equally odd location: semi-truck trailers. Being that space is scarce and expensive in Las Vegas, the owners of this haunted house resorted to taking old semi-trucks and turning them into haunted houses. An interesting and ingenious use of resources I'd say! There are two different attractions: the Asylum and Hotel Fear. Both of which get the terrifying job done. The main component working well here is the compact space, which makes house goers uneasy and anxious with the knowledge that someone or something may be very, very close. (Halloween)
10. Seven Floors of Hell - Cleveland, Ohio
Coming in at number 10 is the Seven Floors of Hell. The name alone will send shivers up your spine, yeah? The structure is massive and actually includes, as the name suggests, seven different haunted houses. It is said to be the longest linear walkthrough of any haunted house. With a 1 million dollar budget, you can bet this haunted house is going to be fancy. The seven haunted houses have, among others, a haunted cemetery, Cellblock 13 (full of dead inmates), the bloody Butchers Block, and, of course, a haunted circus. So you're pretty much going to get every scary thing ever in this one place. Enjoy! (Halloween)
by dave (not verified)
haunted houses
how could you leave off New Orleans' House of Shock?! Easily the most disturbing haunted house in the country!
by Anonymous (not verified)
You got to be kidding about
You got to be kidding about the Nightmares website intro (hauntedhousenyc.com). What was so scary about it? You are a complete ween if you found that disturbing. Makes me question the validity of your list since I suspect Barney probably makes you wet your pants...
by Anonymous (not verified)
I think the house of shock
I think the house of shock in LA should be on this list. Has any one been to it.
I went to the Fright Dome in Vegas and it totally flipped me out.
by Anonymous (not verified)
I've been to two of these.
I've been to two of these. Shocktoberfest in Reading is fairly decent, but I've been to better.
"Terror Behind the Walls" in Philly is an effing joke. I had to take a tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary in broad daylight and it was kind of spooky like that. For their Halloween show, they put all kinds of fake, neon dragons and crap in there and it's more fit for a rave than a haunted house. So dissapointing. Whoever's in charge of it should be fired, because it SHOULD be 100 times better.
by joe (not verified)
face your fear?
so you "had to click the "skip intro" icon immediately after it started because the intro was so disturbing...no lie"
If that's the case you're a pussy. It was like eight seconds of still images that showed absolutely zero worth being frightened over. Go review knitting groups or something if this is your idea of scary.
by Anonymous (not verified)
No house of shock? List
No house of shock? List blows
by Anonymous (not verified)
.... Not like Orlando's
....
Not like Orlando's Universal Sponsored Halloween Horror Nights, which contains more actors (scharacters), Haunted Houses, Midways, Rides, Attractions, Props, Sets, Shows, etc. than ANY of these half-assed productions would possibly make such a list as this.
Stupid list, do more research.
by Anonymous (not verified)
I liked the list. I agreed
I liked the list. I agreed with the ones I've been to. If you don't agree with the list, why don't you go create your own.
by Anonymous (not verified)
This is fg gay
This is fg gay
by Alexis
Solution
First off, thanks for visiting our site.
However, if you disagree with the list, why don't you pick your own top 13 (not just the best one but 13) and put it up in the comments. Let's see if everyone agrees with your list. We've had over 50,000 reads on the article and only a few complaints so we're going to assume that this is a great list unless you can prove otherwise.
Alexis
American Inventor Spot Team
by Seth Plattner
my list
For those of you that disagree with my list all I can say is that I'm sorry and remember that this is, in fact, opinion. Like Alexis said, if you think you've got a better list by all means try and get it on the website.
And I must say I was amazed at the amount of hostility at what scares me. There are some people out there getting really angry about some trivial stuff. Such is life though, right?
Seth
by Anonymous Casper (not verified)
They are just "tough guys"
or should I say "teeny boppers". Nothing scares them! They can handle it. Those "gay" references are also childish. To respond that YOU weren't scared just shows how immature you are--and suggests that you WOULD be scared IF the houses were a little scarier. That makes you vulnerable, afterall.
I agree that the hostility/aggressiveness over an article offered for their enjoyment is the scariest part.
BOO!!!!! [Who did I scared?]
by Anonymous Casper (not verified)
Correction
Should, of course, be "Who did I scare?" (not "scared")
But now I guess I am scared.
I suppose someone will also call my comments "gay".
by Anonymous (not verified)
but what about
no markoffs haunted forest? where would that have placed
by Chris (not verified)
New Port?
Um... Newport, KY is all one word. I live about 30 minutes north of it.
by Evil (not verified)
You forgot number 1
House of Shock New Orleans should have been on this list. It's seems quite a few others agree.
by Alexis
Hey Newport
We knew it was one word. We just wanted to see if anyone from Kentucky was visiting this site. Now we know.
Thanks for the catch. ;)
by Mike (not verified)
Are you joking?
I am a huge fan of haunted houses so when i saw this list i was really pumped.... but than i saw your number 1 pick. Nightmare haunted house is without a doubt the worst piece of shit i have ever been to!!! Its not even a haunted house, you go from room to room and watch some lame ass skit play out and not only that it costs 20 bucks!. Next time maybe you should actually go to the places you talk about. This countdown is pure garbage
by Anonymous (not verified)
that list was looking
that list was looking interesting until I saw face your fear as number 1.... not scary at all..... and extremely short..scariest part was when you have to crawl in the dark, nothing pops out though. it was fun but like I said not scary at all... I wish they would bring back madison scare garden.. now that was great... took about an hour to get throught it all compared to the 20 min at face your fear.. very unimpressive
by Anonymous (not verified)
Ouch! Matt!
So negative and uncouth! I'm not sure if your "advice" is better than some of the negative comments.
by Anonymous (not verified)
Technocrati MATTers
I would think that you'd have a better chance at improving your Technocrati rating IF you (i.e., Matt) do not instruct "nonpraising" visitors to LEAVE. Besides, this site would become boring if you only had the "I loved your article" comments. Granted, some of the negative comments could be written in a more suitable/less offensive way, but that would be up to those commenting.
by Michelle
Hey Everyone...Let's take a chill pill
Our site welcomes constructive comments although I agree with Matt that some were a bit inappropriate. I am going to leave the ones but will delete future ones with profanities. If you got something to say...great. Just leave the cursing out please.
Thanks everyone for your input.
Michelle
AmericanInventorSpot.com Team
by Anonymous (not verified)
Good thing
I was wearing my Depends.
by Anonymous (not verified)
wow... its definite that
wow... its definite that alot of work was put into this site. as for the people with the negative comments??? i guess i didnt know that haunted house lists were that serious. or maybe youre just a bunch of losers that dont have much better to do. so my comment for those who are talking sh*t.... go f*ck yourselves and get a life, f*ucking losers.
by Anonymous (not verified)
FACE YOUR FEAR - NYC DON'T" GO!!
...unless you'd pay $25 for something dirty stinkin' like doo-doo. I bought tickets for the "timed" 11:00 entrance in Brooklyn, and as it instructs we showed up a little before 10:45. The handling of ticket holders was virtually non-existent, and it seemed as though there was no way to handle the flow of people coming in. We stood around until after 12:00 until we were finally let in.....to wait in another line. Eventually our "group" was let into the maze, and after seeing the first room with the girl alone in her room (oh no, make it stop!!) we were suddenly merged with the group in front of us. No joke. Now, please, imagine trying to go through a dark maze with about 30 people into rooms about 10x10 or so. Needless to say, we saw nothing since we were stuck behind all those people. And on top of that, I'm sure we were somehow steered the wrong way and right out to the exit because we certainly didn't see 13 rooms. Either that or the whole thing sucked a** way more than I thought. Anyway, I digress. The point is that I can't believe how ineptly managed the whole thing was. The whole experience was absolutely pitiful, and they already had our $ so they couldn't have cared less!
by Mack (not verified)
Great Stuff
There's not much like this in Manchester (UK). We went to something like this in Florida (can't remember the name, I was only a wee lad) and it was a load of fun. I was suprised at how professional it was all put together, having been used to tacky fairground rides etc.
by PastorZ (not verified)
Hell House
Anyone intrested in haunted houses. If you would like to help put together and run a christian haunted house email me pastorZ at NorthBound@yuber.com
Thanks and God Bless!
by Anonymous (not verified)
Hell House
We here at North Bound are seeking sponsors to make the soul saving Hell House this year. If you are intrested in helping with this tax deductible gift or know someone who may be please contact pastorZ at NorthBound@yuber.com
by Anonymous (not verified)
USS Nightmare and the Idiots with the neative comments.
I don't agree that the Uss Nightmare should be on this list. I live near it and have been going to it since High School. It is a good one but definately not one that I would think would be on a top 13 list. However, it is only my opinion and I am no expert. I did go to one in Phoenix, AZ that you had sign a release form to enter and it was by far the best. My friends mom passed out! People could physically touch you and that I think is what made it great. Cant remember the name and they don't do it anymore. So I would say EREBUS in Michigan sounds like it would be the best. If ppl can come in physical contact with you it should be good. Its rare that they do that due to all you !@##$^% that sue. Prob. the same ppl making all the derogitory comments who would piss themselves it they did get scared,
by Anonymous (not verified)
fright dome
The fright dome is not scary at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!