Last Updated: 10/18/2026
SAD NEWS: Linn’s Supermarket Haunted House operator, Merlyn Linn, passed away on September 17, 2026. His family will run the haunted house as Merlyn had intended for this season, but some of us expect that without Merlyn’s energy, this could be the final time you can visit it.
Linn’s Haunted House – $25
14 Nights: Oct 2-3, 9-10, 16-18, 22-25 and 29-31, 2026. Opens at 7pm.
Linn’s Supermarket. 3805 6th Ave Des Moines, IA 50313
https://www.linnshauntedhouse.com
IMPORTANT: Dates can and will change due to weather and other issues. Always check with the haunt’s official site before heading out.
Here are the haunts that have contacted me and/or submitted information so far. If you would like to be on this list, be sure to send me your information so I can get it “direct from the source.” Also note that I have a fake entry in this top list, testing to see if the A.I.s do any fact checking at all or just collect random links.
Ticket Cost Notes
Yes, I understand some haunts cost much more than I have them listed as currently. As soon as I have time, I will update the price to include the actual total including any online fees, taxes, and parking costs. This can make a HUGE difference (for example, the $29.99 ticket to Phantom Fall Fest will cost you over $59 since you also have to pay fees/taxes and $21 to park). No need to e-mail me. I got plenty of notes about this in previous years, and I will get the “real” prices updated as soon as I can…
Multi-Haunt Tour
NEW FOR 2026: This one gets its a new category. Charters on Vine (bus charter service) has special Halloween trolley tour.
- Haunted Trolley Tour – $80
10 Nights: Oct 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 and 29-30, 2026. 6:30pm-11:30pm
Board their haunted trolley in Ankeny at Whiskey River, then ride to The Slaughterhouse, Monsterama Pubcade, and Haunted Forest with V.I.P. admission to each attraction as part of the trolley ride package.
https://chartersonvine.com/events/
Haunted Attractions
More details still need to be added, but here is the start of the list…
- The Docks (formerly Barnum Circus/Carnival of Freaks) – $25
97 Indiana Ave., Des Moines IA 50314
8 Nights: Oct 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31, 2026. 7:30pm-11pm.
No details yet, as this is the first year for this theme.
https://thedocksdsm.com - Future Nightmares (show)
Merle Hay Mall Suite 1251., 3800 Merle Hay Rd. Des Moines IA 50310
6 Nights: Oct 10, 17, 23-24, and 30-31, 2026. 8pm-10pm.
Sparky Sinn is back with his sci-fi horror shows in Merle Hay Mall. Sparky recently received his YouTube award for achieving over 100,000 subscribers on his music channel. This makes him the only entry on this list with such an award 😉
https://futurenightmares.com - Haunted Hall of Tortured Twisted Terrors – $10
Timberline West RV Campground, 31635 SE Ashworth Rd, Waukee IA 50263
10 Nights: Oct 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31, 2026. 6pm-9pm
https://timberlineiowa.com - Haunted Manor
1136 150th Ave, Indianola IA 50125
6 Nights: Oct 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31, 2026. 6pm-11pm.
Family friendly haunted house that is part of the “Haunt on the Hill” event in Indianola.
https://www.hauntonthehilliowa.com - Haunted Woods “The Mare Witch V” – $20 (cash only) Opening night is only $10.00 and funds will go to the Love, Like, Lucy Foundation.
1478 Gateway Dr., Carlisle IA 50047
21 Nights: Oct 2-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-25,28-31 and Nov 1, 2026. 7pm-9pm (Thu/Sun), 7pm-11pm (Fri/Sun).
“Bring an extra pair of shorts.” Outdoor walk through a haunted forest. When we last visited, they had some very unique “distraction scares” that were quite effective. It was quite different from other haunted forest walks we’ve had in the area in the past.
See also: “Haunted Trolly Tour“, which includes a stop at this haunt with VIP access.
https://www.hauntedwoodsdsm.com - Linn’s Haunted House – $25
Linn’s Supermarket, 3805 6th Ave Des Moines IA 50313
14 Nights: Oct 2-3, 9-10, 16-18, 22-25 and 29-31, 2026. Opens at 7pm.
The oldest haunted house in Iowa (established in 1984). UPDATE: Founder Merlyn Linn passed away on September 17, 2026. His family is proceeding with his wishes to operate the haunt this year. Although we have had many close calls in recent years, making us wonder if we would have another haunt season, without Merlyn’s leadership and efforts, this may be the final time to crawl into that basement. We have been very fortunate that the previous issues of fires and leasing conflicts were not the final time, back then.
https://www.linnshauntedhouse.com - Slaughterhouse – $25-$30
500 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
18 Nights: Sept 25-26, Oct 2-3, 9-11, 16-18, 22-25, 29-31 and Nov 1, 2026. Timed tickets. Check their website for other special event nights (5 listed so far). See also: “Haunted Trolly Tour“, which includes a stop at this haunt with VIP access.
https://slaughterhousedm.com
Tickets: https://app.hauntpay.com/events/theslaughterhouse - Zombie Hollow – $12-$18
2310 Saint Charles Rd., Winterset IA 50273
11 Nights: Oct 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 and 30-31, 2026. Timed tickets.
An immersive walk-through attraction through highly detailed sets featuring special effects (projections, lighting, fog, sounds).
https://thezombiehollow.com - Dr. Fakensteins Super Scary Spook House
67 (six seven!) Vauge IA
An haunted house so unbelievable, you wouldn’t even dare go there. Now in its 67th season (six seven!), this haunted bathroom continues to terrorize unsuspecting visitors.
https://www.hauntedhousesiniowa.com
Multi-Haunt Attractions
These locations charge a higher admission cost, but give you access to multiple haunted houses included with that ticket.
- Adventureland Phantom Fall Fest – $69.99 + $21 parking (discounts online)
305 34th Ave NW, Altoona IA 50009
15 Nights: Sep 26-27, October 3-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 and 30-31, 2026. Check website for opening time.
Five haunted houses and four scare zones. Admission includes the amusement park (not everything may be operating, I am told) plus access to the haunted houses. If you do not have one of their higher end passes that includes parking and admission, you will pay $21 for parking plus the ticket cost. There is a $29.99 discount offer online right now, but with parking, online fees and taxes, that ends up being $59. Check the website for current discounts and offerings.
https://adventurelandpark.com/discover-the-park/events/phantom-fall-fest/
Tickets: https://adventurelandpark.com/buy-tickets/ - Sleepy Hollow Sports Park
4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines IA
10 Nights: Oct 9-10, 16-17, 23-25 and 29-31, 2026. Timed tickets.
Check website to confirm. Sleepy Hollow Sports Park (now owned by Polk County) lists different weekend dates that their property is being used for the haunted houses, and while they match the weekends Adventureland is using for their multi-haunt event, verify first.
https://sleepyhollowsportspark.com/events/month/
Home Haunts
- Haunted Bone Family Funeral Home and Cemetery
1 Night Only: Oct 31, 2026. 6pm-8pm.
A special trick-or-treat donation event supporting Rescue Rehab Home.
https://www.facebook.com/BoneHaunts/ - Land of the Giants (yard display)
4908 NW 7th St. Ankeny, IA
https://www.facebook.com/landofthegiantsankenyia/ - Nightmare on 90th St (home haunt)
Oct 31, 2026: 1616 90th St. West Des Moines, IA
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582841704051 - Pirate-Potter House (walk-through yard display)
3720 Brook Ridge Court. Des Moines IA
FINAL YEAR: Oct 8-11, 15-18, 22-25 and 29-Nov 1(?), 2026. Hours are Thu 5-8, Fri 5-9, Sat 4-9 and Sun 3-8.
Haunted Car Washes
- Tunnel of Terror (Tommy’s Express WDM) – $21.40 (advance), $25 at the car wash.
645 S. 60th St., West Des Moines IA 50266
4 Nights: Oct 23-24 and 30-31, 2026. 7pm-9:30pm
https://tommys-express.com/locations/ia377/#events
https://www.facebook.com/TommysExpressWestDesMoines
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tunnel-of-terror-tickets-1994688899193 - Tunnel of Terror (Oasis Car Wash Atltoona) – $35 ($25 for members) with proceeds going to a local charity.
824 8th St SW, Altoona IA 50009
2 Nights: Oct 30-21, 2026. 8pm-11pm.
https://oasiswashiowa.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/Oasis-Car-Wash-Altoona/61581477073579/
Outside of Des Moines
Submit your haunt anywhere in the state of Iowa (but preferably only if you believe it is good enough to justify someone driving all the way from Des Moines to visit it).
- Boone Haunted House
Boone County Fairgrounds. 1601 Industrial Park Rd, Boone IA 50036
Fri-Sat in October, 7pm-11pm.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567332867859 - Bouton Haunted Church
7 Nights: Oct 10, 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31, 2026.
109 South St., Bouton IA 50039
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565172877405 - Fonda’s Final Viewing
Fri & Sat in October, 7pm-Mid.
509 King St. Fonda, IA
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594774716959 - The Nightmare – Haunted Hike
Clear Lake, IA
https://www.facebook.com/legacyranchCL/
Family Attractions
- Pumpkins After Dark – $20-$30 + PARKING FEE
Oct 9-11, 15-18, 22-23 and 29-31, 2026. Timed tickets.
Water Works Park. 2251 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines IA
https://pumpkinsafterdark.com/des-moines
No longer operating…
- Ames Haunted Forest (Ames) – Defunct
- Barnum Carnival of Freaks / Barnum Circus of Freaks (Des Moines) – new haunt, The Docks, replacing them.
- Tormented Souls Haunt (Madrid) – Defunct. The Tormented Souls you may see this year is not this one.
- Trail of Terror (Baxter) – Defunct.
Other Themed Places
- Birdies Mini Golf – not haunt themed, but does has a hole that is a tribute to the old Riverview Park Haunted House dark ride 🙂
- The Haunt (21+ speakeasy downtown, haunted house themed)
- Monsterama Pubcade
- Monster Mini Golf (Grimes)