See also: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Here are the only haunted houses we have heard about, so far. The descriptions mostly come from the haunt operators (or their websites), but as we go through the attractions, we will try to revise them to reflect what they actually consist of. “The worst of humanity” doesn’t give much information — chainsaw killers? politicians? We will try to keep spoilers to a minimum.
- Name: Ames Haunted Forest
Location: 1513 S 4th St, Ames IA 50010
Directions: 1 block south of Jack Trice Stadium.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6 & 12-13 (7p-11p), 19-20 (7p-Mid), 21 (7p-10p), 26-27 (7p-Mid), 28-31 (7p-10p).
Calendar: Sat-6, Sun-7, Fri-12, Sat-13, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29, Tue-30, Wed-31
Theme: Haunted walk.
Short Desc: Haunted walk.
Admission: $12
Discounts: $1 off discount coupon on website.
Category: Haunted Walk
Website: www.ameshauntedforest.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ames-Haunted-Forest/168825177811 - Name: Asylum Haunted House, The
Location: 1301 E 2nd Ave, Indianola IA 50125
Directions: HWY 65/69 to HWY 92 approximately 1/2 mile. Located on the south side of the road across from Indianola High School
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27. 7:30pm-11pm.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Fri-19, Sat-20, Fri-26, Sat-27
Short Desc: Your fear lives here
Long Desc: The asylum offers themed haunted rooms filled with costumed characters. Proceeds benefit the Indianola Community Youth Foundation and its efforts to raise money to building more gym space for the community.
Admission: $10
Category: Haunted House
Website: www.icyf23.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/icyf23 - Name: Castle of Blood
Location: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines IA 50317
Directions: East of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 18-21, and 25-29. Open at 7pm.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Thu-18, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21,�Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29
Theme: Vampires in a castle.
Short Desc: Vampire castle. One of five haunted houses.
Long Desc: The Renaissance faire torture chamber tour becomes dark and scary, and leads visitors in to the fest of the castle to face vampires. High tech attraction featuring live actors, and computer controlled lighting and multi-channel sound.
Duration: 5 minutes
Admission: Available only as part of a $25 “do it all” or $19 “pick three” package.
Buy Tickets Online: www.ticketometer.com/Sleepy-Hollow-Haunted-Screampark
Discounts: $2 off coupons at area Git-n-Go stores. Group discounts.
Category: Haunted House, Food
Website: www.sleepyhollowscreampark.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sleepyhollowhauntedscreampark
Twitter: @shspdmscream - Name: Chaos
Location: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines IA 50317
Directions: East of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 18-21, and 25-29. Open at 7pm.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Thu-18, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21,�Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29
Theme: All things chaotic.
Short Desc: Movie theater horror. One of five haunted houses.
Long Desc: Heavy metal chaos. Freddy, Jason, Michael Meyers, Pinhead, Leatherface and more. As usual, slightly reconfigured from the previous year.
Duration: 5 minutes
Admission: Available only as part of a $25 “do it all” or $19 “pick three” package.
Buy Tickets Online: www.ticketometer.com/Sleepy-Hollow-Haunted-Screampark
Discounts: $2 off coupons at area Git-n-Go stores. Group discounts.
Category: Haunted House, Food
Website: www.sleepyhollowscreampark.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sleepyhollowhauntedscreampark
Twitter: @shspdmscream - Name: Duty Calls: Zombie Warfare
Location: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines IA 50317
Directions: East of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 18-21, and 25-29. Open at 7pm.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Thu-18, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21,�Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29
Theme: Shoot zombies with laser tag guns.
Short Desc: Laser tag zombie shoot. One of five haunted houses.
Long Desc: High tech outdoor laser tag guns are used in this target shooting experience, completely redone and in a new location for 2012. After the recent zombie outbreak, the military took care of all the zombies but left behind some mines that were programmed to detonate in case their mission failed. Large groups (up to 24) are given four minutes to find and disarm all the hidden mines. A simple job, unless the military missed some zombies… The attraction starts by walking through a mini version of Zombie Burger (with video playing a zombie news break). Computer tracks progress and announces when mines are hit, as well as the final team score at the end of the game.
Admission: Available only as part of a $25 “do it all” or $19 “pick three” package.
Buy Tickets Online: www.ticketometer.com/Sleepy-Hollow-Haunted-Screampark
Discounts: $2 off coupons at area Git-n-Go stores. Group discounts.
Category: Haunted House, Food
Website: www.sleepyhollowscreampark.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sleepyhollowhauntedscreampark
Twitter: @shspdmscream - Name: Haunted Barn
Location: 3215 SE 72nd St, Ankeny IA 50021
Directions: Take Corporate Woods Dr exit off of I-35, east.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, and 26-31. Opens at 8. Closes at 10pm on weeknights, and midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Sun-7, Fri-12, Sat-13, Sun-14, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29, Tue-30, Wed-31
Theme: Haunted barn.
Short Desc: Live rats and snakes?
Long Desc: Known for the use of live snakes. Concession stand with $1 snacks! Various scenes, including some gory ones, and a crawl. For 2012, the outdoor section expands even further. Tons of actors — including a one-legged man who adds some extra realiism to a butcher scene.
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Admission: $15
Discounts: $3 off coupon available on their website.
Category: Haunted House, Snacks
Website: www.ankenyhauntedbarn.com - Name: Haunted Forest at Pine Hollow Stables
Location: 5055 NE 96th St, Altoona IA
Directions: At Pine Hollow Stables.
Dates/Times: Oct 11-Nov 4. Weekdays, 7pm-11pm. Fri & Sat, 7pm-1am.
Calendar: Fri-12, Sat-13, Sun-14, Thu-18, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21, Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29, Tue-30, Wed-31
Admission: $12
Discounts: $10 with canned food donation for Food Bank of Iowa.
Category: Haunted Walk
Website: pinehollowaltoona.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Hollow-Stables/182504818568?fref=ts - Name: Haunted Garage (home haunt)
Location: 612 NE 13 ST, Grimes IA
Dates/Times: Oct 26 & 27, 7pm-10pm, and Oct 30 for Beggar’s Night, 6pm-8pm.
Calendar: Fri-26, Sat-27, Tue-30
Theme: Haunted garage.
Long Desc: Please note that this is a home haunt/Halloween display in a residential neighborhood. They expect to be able to handle about 75-100 visitors each night, so plan accordingly. This is the second year for this home haunt, and they have tripled the size for 2012. It is totally free but they believe it will be scary.
Admission: Free
Category: Home Haunt - Name: Linn’s Haunted House
Location: 3805 6th Ave, Des Moines IA 50313
Directions: At Linn’s Supermarket.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-31. Mon-Thu & Sun, 7pm-10pm. Fri-Sat, 7pm-Midnight.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Sun-7, Fri-12, Sat-13, Sun-14, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21, Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29, Tue-30, Wed-31
Short Desc: Des Moines’ oldest haunted house (28 years!).
Long Desc: The long, dark crawl at the start is scary enough to make many chicken out! This is a classic haunted house, focusing on darkness and startles rather than heavy metal music and gore. Tons of actors, and some surprises that could make your group end up exiting minutes after the group AFTER you…if you fall for the trap, that is.
Duration: 10-20 minutes
Admission: $12
Discounts: Coupons available at local businesses.
Category: Haunted House
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Linns-Haunted-House/151672821003 - Name: Nightmare Estates
Location: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines IA 50317
Directions: East of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 18-21, and 25-29. Open at 7pm.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Thu-18, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21,�Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29
Theme: Rednecks in a trailer.
Short Desc: Fairy tales gone bad. One of five haunted houses.
Long Desc: The double-wide trailer gets remodeled and reconfigured as Stacy Wolfe (of Werewolfe Productions) returns to Sleepy Hollow and gives Nightmares some updates. Darkness, a crawl, and bizarre trailer trash encounters. Upgraded audio this year, too.
Duration: 5 minutes
Admission: Available only as part of a $25 “do it all” or $19 “pick three” package.
Buy Tickets Online: www.ticketometer.com/Sleepy-Hollow-Haunted-Screampark
Discounts: $2 off coupons at area Git-n-Go stores. Group discounts.
Category: Haunted House, Food
Website: www.sleepyhollowscreampark.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sleepyhollowhauntedscreampark
Twitter: @shspdmscream - Name: SLAUGHTERHOUSE, The
Location: 1300 Metro East Dr Suite 126, Pleasant Hill IA 50327
Directions: At Batter’s Box.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, and 31. 8pm-Midnight.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Fri-19, Sat-20, Fri-26, Sat-27, Wed-31
Theme: Pig slaughterhouse.
Short Desc: Des Moines’ most feared haunted house.
Long Desc: Climate controlled, indoor facility. Modern parking lot, restrooms and concessions. Trig is gonna make a squealer outta you! Unique experience starts with your group being wheeled off on a cart to slaughter. Metal walls, crawls, loud sounds and darkness.
Duration: 15-20 minute ride/walk/crawl.
Admission: $12
Buy Tickets Online: tikly.co/-/689
Discounts: $2 off coupon on the website, and at Zombie Burger. Online ticket ($15) allows VIP front-of-line admission.
Category: Haunted House, Snacks
Website: www.theslaughterhousedm.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSlaughterhouseDM - Name: Trail of Terror Haunted Forest
Location: South of 2720 Gateway Dr, Carlisle IA 50047
Directions: 1/2 mile East of 65/69 bypass on Highway 5, exit 72. Turn South at People’s Bank and follow the signs.
Dates/Times: Oct 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27. Opens at 6:30, with first group starting at 7pm. Kids trail from 6:30-9pm.
Calendar: Fri-12, Sat-13, Fri-19, Sat-20, Fri-26, Sat-27
Theme: Haunted forest.
Long Desc: Proceeds benefit several local Boy Scout troops and crews.
Admission: $7, $5 (12 & Under in costume)
Category: Haunted Walk, Snacks
Website: scotchridgecenter.org/index.htm - Name: Twisted Tales: The Next Chapter
Location: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines IA 50317
Directions: East of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park.
Dates/Times: Oct 5-6, 12-13, 18-21, and 25-29. Open at 7pm.
Calendar: Fri-5, Sat-6, Fri-12, Sat-13, Thu-18, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21,�Thu-25, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29
Theme: Fairy tales gone bad.
Short Desc: Fairy tales gone bad. One of five haunted houses.
Long Desc: Physically demanding (stairs, ramps, slide, crawls). All-new haunted house with several outdoor scenes. The theme from their fairy tale haunted walk (2010-2011) gets updated with a new computer controlled preshow, projection effects, and about twenty discrete channels of audio.
Duration: 5 minutes
Admission: Available only as part of a $25 “do it all” or $19 “pick three” package.
Buy Tickets Online: www.ticketometer.com/Sleepy-Hollow-Haunted-Screampark
Discounts: $2 off coupons at area Git-n-Go stores. Group discounts.
Category: Haunted House, Food
Website: www.sleepyhollowscreampark.com
Twitter: @shspdmscream - Name: Ultimate Haunted House
Location: 5401 East University Ave, Pleasant Hill IA 50327
Directions: At White Water University.
Dates/Times: Oct 12-14, 19-21, 26-31. Fri and Sat, 7pm-Midnight. All other days, 7pm-10pm.
Calendar: Fri-12, Sat-13, Sun-14, Fri-19, Sat-20, Sun-21, Fri-26, Sat-27, Sun-28, Mon-29, Tue-30, Wed-31
Long Desc: A seemingly endless journey through various scenes with many animated props and effects. There is a long spin tunnel, and tons of actors. Multiple chainsaw encounters!
Duration: 8-10 minutes
Admission: $13
Discounts: $2 off coupons will be distributed around Des Moines and surrounding area.
Category: Haunted House - Name: Waukee Haunted House
Location: 1255 Warrior Lane, Waukee IA 50263
Directions: In Centenial Park.
Dates/Times: Oct 26-27. 7pm-10pm.
Calendar: Fri-26, Sat-27
Long Desc: Waukee Park Board haunted house in the Centenial Park enclosed shelter house. Not suggested for young children.
Admission: $5
Category: Haunted House
Website: waukee.org - Name: Zombie Hollow (home haunt)
Location: 3109 Pine Circle, Urbandale IA 50322
Dates/Times: Oct 26-27, Oct 30. 7pm-10pm. Oct 31 7pm-9pm.
Calendar: Fri-26, Sat-27, Tue-30, Wed-31
Short Desc: Pirates of the Caribbean fans HAVE TO SEE THIS!
Long Desc: AMAZING walk through display featuring lighting, sound, animated figures, and tributes to scenes from Disney’s Pirates of the Carribean and Haunted Mansion rides! Raises money through freewill donations that will go to charity to benefit severely injured or dismembered veterans
Admission: Free will donation
Category: Home Haunt
Website: www.thezombiehollow.com/
Other Indexes
We believe in cross promotion, so here are other haunted house indexes we have found. DMHH is not responsible for the accuracy of information on these sites, but we will at least try to point out major omissions if we notice them.
- Spooky Des Moines by Lite 104.1 – Lite 104.1 becomes the first listing of haunts (other than this site) to show up in Google. As of this update, they are not listing White Water University, and they have the name of The SLAUGHTERHOUSE incorrect. (Last year, SLAUGHTERHOUSE was located elsewhere, and had done design work on Zombies at Batter’s Box. This year, they merged and SLAUGHTERHOUSE is at Batter’s Box, so the location information is correct.) This site also omitted White Water University in 2011.
- Des Moines Register Events Calendar – This link goes to the DM Register’s “Holiday/Seasonal->Fall events->Halloween->Haunted houses” category. As of this update, they are only listing four haunted houses.
- KCCI Beggar’s night list – Currently listing only two haunted houses.
- Metromix Haunted Houses in Des Moines – A rather complete listing of haunts, though several of their listings contain outdated/incorrect information from last year. So far, though, Metromix wins the best listing of haunted houses outside of this website.
See also: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.