CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s “Back to Ghoul” season! Regular check-ins with Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, Jigsaw and their ilk aside, here at Cleveland.com we’re all about getting local scream queens and kings connected to Northeast Ohio’s premier haunted house attractions and happenings as soon as possible.

This region sure does love its scares and we’re here to give you “more boo for your buck,” as we like to say. Our 2023 Haunted Attractions Guide cuts to the chase—see what we did there?—with cringe-so-hard clichés to spare and no hockey mask required.

The 2023 Halloween haunted house season kicks off at several attractions this weekend in Greater Cleveland, including Bloodview in Broadview Heights which starts Friday, Sept. 8!

Without further ado, here’s your guide to the region’s top commercial haunted houses and attractions in two parts — the Scream of the Crop, if you will:

Akron Haunted School House and Laboratory

Address: 1300 Triplett Boulevard, Akron 44126

Phone: 330-285-7000

Website: hauntedschoolhouse.com

Hours: Opens Saturday, September 23, at 7 p.m. Open Thursdays, Sundays and on Halloween Day from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. – midnight. Full schedule maintained on the website.

Tickets: Discount coupons are available on their website, as are Season Passes (which includes access to Canton partners Factory of Terror. Credit cards are accepted. VIP passes available online. There are also College ID nights. See website for complete details.

Directions: Available from all points at hauntedschoolhouse.com.

Fast Facts: This stop is stepping into its Fabulous 50s in style, with a Monster Midway featuring a “Beer Before Fear” Feargarten, concessions and a “Parent Zone” ($5 per person for non-haunters under 21). Bloodcurdling fear still meets you face-to-face, floor-by-tremendous-floor, just as it has since 1974. None of it is for the faint-of-heart, weak-stomached or young kids who will find it all to be too intense.

Bloodview Haunted House

Address: 1010 Towpath Trail, Broadview Heights 44147

Phone: 440-526-9148

Website: bloodview.net

Hours: Open starting tonight! (Friday, September 8) Runs through October 29. Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m. – midnight; Sundays 8 – 10 p.m. (beginning September 24). No Halloween night hours.

Tickets: Tickets start at $20. Fast Pass is available.

Directions: Available from all points at bloodview.net/directions.

Fast Facts: This long-running collaboration between Broadview Heights Lions Club International and the Legion of Terror horror troupe is a perennial favorite. Cuyahoga County’s only “charity haunt” pairs great costuming with improv acting so well that even TheScareFactor.com was impressed: “If you visit on a night when the cast is hitting on all cylinders… you’re bound to be entertained and scarified in equal and large measures.” Hence the four-decade history and mad love from the adrenaline junkie set.

Carnival of Horrors

Address: 305 Wertz Avenue NW, Canton 44708

Phone: N/A. Inquiries through website.

Website: carnivalofhorrors.com

Hours: Opens Friday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. and runs on weekends (Fridays until 11:30 p.m., Saturdays until midnight, and Sundays until 9:30 p.m.) through Sunday, October 29.

Tickets: Full admission to all four attractions starts at $24 (discount coupons are available). A dynamic jump-the-line “Speed Pass” is available for an extra fee. Discount coupons are available at participating retailer outlets (listed on the website). Group rates also available.

Directions: Available from all points at carnivalofhorrors.com/directions.

Fast Facts: Fans may recall this haunt used to live at Blossom Music Center. These days, chilling screams cut the night air at the Stark County Fairgrounds in Canton, with tradition divided into four sectors — a “3-D Freakshow in Terrorvision,” “Funhouse,” “Trail of Terror” and “Insane Asylum.” UK actor Doug Bradley (best known as Cenobite “Pinhead” from the “Hellraiser” film franchise) calls Carnival “one of the best” haunts he has ever been to. No argument there. He would tear our souls apart if we did.

Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends

Address: 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky 44870

Phone: 419-627-2350

Website: cedarpoint.com/halloweekends

Hours: HalloWeekends runs Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 14 through Oct. 29. Hours are 6 p.m. – midnight Thursdays; 11 a.m. – midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sundays (open until 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8). Rides will operate.

Tickets: Available at cedarpoint.com/halloweekends (choose your experience, follow prompts).

Directions: Available from all points at cedarpoint.com/hours-directions.

Fast Facts: Our own Susan Glaser has plenty to share about the seven-week-long fall festival, which starts Thursday, September 14. Now in its 26th year, HalloWeekends is the park’s most popular event. With five indoor and five outdoor experiences to draw from (including family-friendly, Peanuts-inspired non-haunts). Expect crowds descending on Sandusky for these crisp autumn days. Not gonna lie: we’d go just for the wicked-cool Chardon dark-ambient music duo Midnight Syndicate, but the Mr. Midnight haunted house near CP’s winged coaster GateKeeper sounds bonkers in a good way.

Factory of Terror

Address: 4125 N. Mahoning Drive, Canton 44705

Phone: 330-455-3327

Website: fotohio.com

Hours: Opens Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m. Theme nights and comprehensive schedule of hours/days (with accompanying ticketing) listed on website.

Tickets: Online general admission advance tickets: $30-35. Fast-pass admission: $42-47. Peak/group rates, “fun packs,” dedicated events, College ID nights (along with Chaperone Policy) on website.

Directions: Available from all points at fotohio.com/contact/#directions.

Fast Facts: Nestled into a 150,000-square-foot factory, “The Longest Walk-Through Horror House” has been recognized thrice by the famed Guinness Book of World Records for being over a mile long. Comprised of five distinctive haunts — ”1300 Lost Souls,” “Industrial Nightmare,” “Lafayette 13,” “Massacre on Mahoning,” and “The Abyss” — the Factory has several stops on the compound for libations and even merch. With over 130 actors and staff and 500+ of the industry’s scariest monsters and high-tech animatronics (did we mention on-site axe-throwing?) believe us when we say, “You’ll float, too.”

Hauntville

Address: 1579 W. River Road, Elyria 44035

Phone: 440-655-0016

Website: hauntvilleohio.com.

Hours: Starts Thursday, September 28, at 7 p.m. Runs through November 5. Thursdays and Sundays, 7 – 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m. – Midnight. No hours on Halloween.

Tickets: Start at $25 for multi-haunt ticket. For every pre-sale ticket sold, Hauntville will be donating to The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.

Directions: Google Maps widget embedded in hauntvilleohio.com main page.

Fast Facts: “Step into the darkness,” urges Hauntville’s new website. With immersive attractions that are at once pennywise and pound ghoulish (a prison nightmare, sanitarium, grange-influenced slaughterhouse and clowns… gaaaahhh) you’re bound to scare plenty. A mythological Freakshow Theater serves as the backdrop for the latter, circa 1829 Elyria. As for the mysterious draw “The Unknown,” few things are more panic-inducing than the thought of a labyrinth full of ghoulies. Except for clowns. Google found 9.1 million entries for “Why are clowns scary?” Three more words: Art the Clown.

(Photo: Courtesy of Hauntville)

Hudson Haunted House

Address: 2250 Barlow Road, Hudson 44236

Phone: 330-697-1279

Website: hudsonhauntedhouse.org

Hours: Opens Saturday, September 23. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Sundays 7:30 – 10 p.m. “Lights on, masks off” matinees and “Monster Magic” semi-haunts for younger kids on Sundays.

Tickets: General admission $15. Fast Pass entry $17. $8 for those 48″ under. Group rates available. Military discount available.

Directions: Google Maps widget embedded in hudsonhauntedhouse.org main page.

Fast Facts: Hudson is serious about its 50-plus-year haunt and generations of Northeast Ohio’s Halloween fans love their appeal and confidently old-school charm/customs. Anchored in the tradition of the Hudson Jaycees, Hudson proves that not everything needs to be blood-curdling or terrifying. Like Hollywood’s horror films of yesteryear, there is suspense and mystery to be had here. That they cater to families and little kids makes us love them more. Like Chucky says, we’ll be their “friend to the end.”

Lake Eerie Fearfest featuring Ghostly Manor

Address: 3319 Milan Road (aka US Rt. 250), Sandusky 44870

Phone: 419-626-4467

Website: lakeeeriefearfest.com

Hours: Opening Friday, September 30, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 8 – 11 p.m. through the end of October

Tickets: Starting at $25.

Directions: Google Maps widget embedded in lakeeeriefearfest.com/tickets

Fast Facts: A short hop from gargantuan Cedar Point, “Eerie” has something for everyone — and in every age group. This Ohio haunt began as Ghostly Manor and has expanded over the years, boasting a “specifically designed,” action-packed experience across seven uniquely fun rooms. It all trends more family-friendly, and if you’re doing Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends, a stop here is a no-brainer. Note that Ghostly Manor as a main attraction is open outside of fright season.

7 Floors: Evil Unleashed Scream Park (formerly 7 Floors of Hell)

Address: 19201 E. Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights 44130

Phone: N/A. Inquiries through website.

Website: joebooevilevents.com/locations/cuyahoga-county-fair-grounds

Hours: Opens Thursday, September 15, at 6 p.m. Operations run Thursdays 6 – 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 6 p.m. – 12 p.m.

Tickets: Individual haunts start at $8, with levels of access and prices rising commensurately. Discounts are offered for multiple haunt passes. All AXEcess Pass (we do love a good Dad joke) offers VIP Lounge access, exclusive merchandise and more.

Directions: Google Maps widget embedded in joebooevilevents.com/locations/cuyahoga-county-fair-grounds

Fast Facts: The multi-award-winning annual haunt raved over by Fangoria and the Travel Channel has morphed into a Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds destination haunt. Along with seven unique haunts, there is a Haunted Village, Multiple Escape Rooms, Coffin Ride, “VIP experiences” and more to take in. Joeboo Evil Events (a nod to Major League’s Jobu, perhaps?) runs the operation, offering up artsy takes on Circus Rejects (more clowns…?), House of the Dead, Field of Screams, Asylum, Haunted Mansion, Wormhole and Anubis’ Revenge. All are assured to “test your courage.”

SpookyRanch at the Rockin-R Ranch

Address: 19066 E. River Road, (SR 252), Columbia Station 44028.

Phone: 440-236-5454

Website: spookyranch.com

Hours: Opens Friday, September 22. Fridays and Saturdays 7 – 11:30 p.m.; Thursday and Sunday hours begin on Thursday, October 7 – 9:30 p.m. Through Sunday, October 29. Bonus: Halloween (Tuesday, October 31) hours are from 7 – 9:30 p.m.

Tickets: “The Extreme Package” gains one access to all five of the scary attractions for $25; $15 for children 11 and under. Multiple package options, speed passes and group rates are available.

Directions: Available from all points at spookyranch.com/location.

Fast Facts: Hauntworld.com and other online portals have high praise for Spooky Ranch at the Rockin-R-Ranch, calling it one of the best haunts of the area. Tried and true reigns supreme with “Extreme Nightmares Haunted House,” “The Famous Haunted Hayride,” “The Haunted Barn,” “Bloodslinger’s Saloon” and an attraction called “Monster-Vision 3-D.” It is a “highly theatrical production” that will conjure more sleepless nights than Freddy and Michael combined. We remember the haunted house and hayride in particular and all we can say is, “Parental Discretion is Advised.”

(Photo Courtesy of SpookyRanch at Rockin-R Ranch)

Best of the Rest

Blood Prison: Mansfield Reformatory used to just be a “Shawshank Redemption” pilgrimage. These days, Inkarceration Music Festival and (Escape from) Blood Prison are their marquee happenings—and both are way over-the-top amazing. Timed tickets and speed passes help move huge crowds through. Tickets $40 and up. 100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield 44905. bloodprison.com

Chippewa Lake Slaughterhouse: Step inside the “Karver Meats” storyline, where Medina County meat employees have gone missing, creatures abound, and you don’t even want to know what’s in the sausages. With 70,000 square feet, your inner Sweeney Todd will love it. Limited online-only tickets start at $30, reserved online. 5665 Chippewa Road, Chippewa Lake 44215. slaughterhouseohio.com

Forest Of Screams: It’s a three-for-one nightmare come true: a one-mile haunted hayride through 58 creepy acres; the Mortuary Haunted House/funeral home, and a quarter-mile “Night Stalker” trail rife with fright and fear tying them together. Tickets $32-$45, with group discounts available. 1662 Medina Road, Medina 44256. forestofscreams.com

Fortress of Fear: Dubbed a “Screampark,” this venue features multiple attractions—including a Zombie Abomination that recalls the film “World War Z.” Don’t miss the Fear Fair Scare Zone, Glo-Karts or the aptly named tilt-a-hurl. Tickets start at $20. 12175 State Street, Alliance 44601. fortressoffear.com

Ghoul Brothers’ House of Horrors: You wouldn’t expect something like this nestled in the Portage Lakes Acme Plaza, but there it is. We think that’s the point and the appeal of this house-of-haunt; costuming and effects are particularly solid. Tickets $25. Runs through early November. 3235 Manchester Road, Unit X, Akron 44319 ghoulbrothers.com

Haunted Hydro: It’s a Monster Mash bash that offers fast passes and a “touch option,” allowing the creatures and creepy ghoulies to break the theatrical “fourth wall” and get a little personal. Tickets start at $25. Open Fridays, Saturdays and select Sundays, as well as Halloween. 1333 Tiffin St., Fremont 43420. thehauntedhydro.com

Maniacs in the Woods: This haunted trail attraction in Trumbull County runs Fridays and Saturdays, rain or shine, throughout the month of October. We recommend dressing for the elements. Tickets $10. 2619 Hoagland Blackstub Road, Warren 44481. facebook.com/maniacsinthewoods

Mohican Haunted Schoolhouse: Never mind the curriculum, this 100-year-old schoolhouse features a frightful 30-minute walkthrough that plays on your darkest fears. Tickets start at $24. 155 W. 3rd St., Perrysville 44864. mohicanhauntedschoolhouse.com

Pioneer Waterland’s Fall Fear Fest and Nightmare @ Pioneer: The waterpark ventures into darker waters with autumn fare, mini-golf, zombie- and scare zones and more. Tickets $25. 10661 Kile Road, Chardon 44024. pioneerwaterland.com/cp/events

Purgatory-House of Unrested Souls: A half-hour haunted trail in Findlay where frights abound. Reviews say “Keeps you on your toes!” Fridays and Saturdays through October. Tickets $15, cash only. 12630 County Road 216, Findlay 45840. facebook.com/Purgatory-933440640006773

Regal Vineyard Haunted Winery/Corn Maze: Historic Ashtabula County winery morphs, whisking guests through a haunted winery experience and corn maze. (No wine is for sale onsite). Tickets $25. Note: no on-site wine sales. 2678 County Line Road, Geneva 44057. regalvineyards.com

Tadmor Shrine Haunted House: Budget- and kid-friendly option replete with live music, food trucks and other seasonal options, including a hayride. Tickets $5/hayride. 3000 Krebs Dr., Akron 44319. hallowfun.net