Looking for thrills? Here are 5 SLO County haunted houses to visit this Halloween season
Looking for thrills this Halloween season?
San Luis Obispo County has a variety of haunted houses and spooky corn mazes guaranteed to give you a good fright
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or terrifying scares, these spooky spaces will raise your heart rate.
Check out these chilling local attractions in 2024:
The Haunt
What: Now in its 10th year, The Haunt is so scary that organizers keeps sweatpants on hand for visitors who lose control of their bladders.
The haunted house finds new ways to terrify guests each year. This Halloween, the theme is “Dr. Frankenstein’s Monsters.”
According to The Haunt’s website, those who dare to tour the haunted house will meet “a grotesque masterpiece, haunted the depths of his forsaken laboratory, forgotten by the world but eternally bound to their creator’s dark legacy.”
Visitors with “a high scare tolerance” can attempt the Night Terrors experience, which invites guests to explore the darkened hallways with only a personal lantern for light.
Those seeking a less frightening experience can check out the Lights On show.
When: Doors open at 6:15 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October and the first weekend in November, with select shows on Sunday and a Halloween show on Oct. 31. The Lights On walk-through is 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 and 26.
Where: 5805 El Camino Real, Atascadero
How much: $18
Info: 805-457-5845 or thehauntinatascadero.com
Nightmare from Main Street
What: Nightmare from Main Street was named one of the Scariest Haunted Houses in California in 2024 by California.com.
This house of horrors has been in operation for 15 years and features more than 6,000 square feet of “thrills, chills and the Vortex of Doom,” its website said.
The local haunt was created to raise funds for the community. Ticket proceeds go to a variety of local clubs and organizations, including high school scholarships, youth sports teams, Paws for Cause and Templeton Fire & Emergency Services.
Nightmare from Main Street offers a free lights-on tour, as well as a Total Darkness tour.
When: 7 to 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October, plus shows on Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1. Lights-on tour is 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. Total Darkness tour is 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 2.
Where: 828 14th St., Paso Robles
How much: $10 to $20, $30 VIP tickets
Info: 805-423-0674 or nightmarefrommainstreet.com
Brookshire Farms Night Maze
What: This open-air attraction is certain to induce scares.
Separate from the farm’s pumpkin patch activities, the Night Maze invites visitors to get lost in the corn stalks after dark.
You can navigate the maze “with or without a flashlight,” Brookshire Farms’ Facebook page said. Children and teenagers must be accompanied by adults, and pets should be left at home.
When: 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26
Where: 4747 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo
How much: $20
Info: 805-549-8733 or brookshirefarms.com/pumpkin-patch
Elks Lodge Haunted House
What: Elks Lodge 322 in San Luis Obispo is hosting its 15th annual haunted house and carnival. This year’s spooky theme is “Welcome to the Circus,” which will be “the scariest night in the history of Lodge 322,” according to the event flyer. Visitors can wander through the haunted attraction, as well as play carnival games and jump on a bounce house.
The two-day event is free and open to the public, although donations are appreciated. Food will be available on site for purchase.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26
Where: 222 Elks Lane, San Luis Obispo
How much: Free
Info: 805-543-0322 or bpoeslo322.com/calendar/halloween-haunted-house-carnival-2/
Halloween Marathon Monster Mash
What: The city of Arroyo Grande is hosting a two-day Halloween bash that promises fun for the whole family. This year’s festivities include a haunted “carnival chaos” maze, bounce house, carnival games, food vendors, a costume contest, a pumpkin decorating contest and free trick-or-treating.
When: 3 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27
Where: Elm Street Park, Ash and Elm streets, Arroyo Grande
How much: $5 to $8 for the haunted maze, $15 to $25 for bounce house tickets
Info: 805-473-5474 or arroyogrande.org/169/Annual-Festivals-Events
