Haunts 2023

See also: 2010201120122013201420152016201720182019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

  1. Adventureland Phantom Fall Fest
    Address 3200 Adventureland Dr, Altoona, IA 50009
    Category Advanced Tickets AvailableCredit Cards ONLYHaunted HouseTicket Booth
    Established In 2018 (Hotel), 2022 (Park)
    Admission $69.99+$21 parking+7% tax (Card only, no cash accepted anywhere in the park.)
    Parking $21 (Card only, no cash accepted anywhere in the park.)
    Discounts
    Buy online for discounts. $4 per item processing fee applies.
  2. Ames Haunted Forest
    Name Ames Haunted Forest
    Address 1400 S 4th St, Ames, IA 50010
    Category Haunted WalkHot FoodRestroom (portable)Ticket Booth
    Dates Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28, 2023. 7pm-11pm.
    Admission $25 (cash only)
  3. Barnum Circus of Freaks
    Last Updated 10/22/2023
    Name Barnum Circus of Freaks
    Address 97 Indiana Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314
    Directions (Brand new haunt. This is the same location where Scare DSM was, and another haunt before that.)
    Category Advanced Tickets AvailableCommercial HauntsHaunted HouseHot FoodRestroom (portable)SnacksTimed TicketsWheelchair AccessWomen Owned
    Established In 2023
    Dates Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28, 2023. 7:30pm-11pm. (Check their website, as they may own on the 29th too.)
    Admission $25-$45
  4. Bouton Haunted Church
    Last Updated 10/27/2023
    Name
    Bouton Haunted Church
    Address 109 South St, Bouton, IA 50039
    Category Commercial HauntsFamily FriendlyFog MachinesHaunted HouseStrobe Lights
    Established In 2022
    Short Desc Wander through an old church with surprises at every turn.
    Dates Oct 7, 14, 20-21, 27-28 and 31 (“blackout night”), 2023. 7pm-10pm. Oct 31 is no lights, a glow stick only!
    Admission $5 (fundraiser, you can pay more if you want)
  5. Carlisle Haunted Trail
    Last Updated 10/10/2023
    Name Carlisle Haunted Trail
    Address Scotchridge Nature Trail, Carlisle, IA
    Category Haunted Walk
    Dates Oct 21, 2023. 7pm-9pm.
  6. Carlisle Haunted Woods
    Last Updated 10/20/2023
    Name Carlisle Haunted Woods
    Address 1478 E County Line Rd, Carlisle, IA 50047
    Category Cash OnlyCommercial HauntsHaunted WalkRestroom (portable)Ticket Booth
    Established In 2022
    Dates Oct 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 and 30-31, 2023. 7pm-11pm.
    Admission $20 (cash only)
    Discounts Student ID discount on Saturdays ($10).
  7. Name: Future Nightmares (Show)
    Address: 3800 Merle Hay Rd, Suite 1251, Des Moines, IA 50310
    Directions: Inside Merle Hay Mall at the old Younkers end, near the escalators that go up to FLIX. (White Rabbit VR and Combat Live Laser Tag are close by, too.)
    Category: Advanced Tickets Available, Commercial Haunts, Fog Machines, Strobe Lights, Ticket Booth, Wheelchair Access
    Established In: 2023
    Short Desc: A mad scientist and an animatronic robot perform a series of “experiments” that go horribly wrong. Of course.
    Dates: UPDTED: Oct 26 (6p-9p), 27 (6p-10p), 28 (1p-10p), 29 (3p-7p), 30 (4p-7p) and 32 (5p-9p), 2023. Shows start at the top of each hour. Arrive 15 minutes before showtime.
    Admission: $5-$15
    Discounts: $5 for kids, and $15 for adults, special price currently. Check their Facebook page for the latest.
  8. Name: Halloween Hike
    Address: 889 Highway F36 W, Newton, IA 50208
    Directions: Izaak Walton League
    Category: Family Friendly, Food and Drink, Hot Food, Snacks
    Dates: Oct 27, 2023. 6pm-8pm. Hikes start every 15 minutes and last one hour.
    Admission: Free will donation.
  9. Name: Halloween silent disco
    Address: 3800 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA
    Directions: Inside White Rabbit VR Arcade (downstairs from FLIX).
    Category: Alcohol Available, Family Friendly
    Dates: Saturday, October 28th, 2023. 9pm-2am.
  10. Admission: $10
    Discounts: 2-for-1 admission before 10 p.m.
    Haunted Bone Cemetary (Yard Display)
    Last Updated: 10/10/2023
  11. Name: Haunted Bone Cemetary (Yard Display)
    Address: 1901 27th St, Des Moines, IA 50310
    Directions: Residential area yard display.
    Category: Yard Display
    Dates: Beggars Night: Oct 30, 2023. 6pm to 8pm only.
  12. Name: Haunted Cornfield
    Address: 5 Miles South of Knoxville on Hwy 14, Knoxville, IA
    Directions: 5 Miles South of Knoxville on Hwy 14
    Category: Advanced Tickets Available, Cash or Credit, Commercial Haunts, Haunted Walk, Ticket Booth
    Dates: Oct 20-21 and 27-28,2023. Dark until 11pm.
    Admission: $15
    Discounts: $4 off discount at dandfarms.com
  13. Name: Haunted Garage (home haunt)
    Address: 836 15th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
    Category: Covered Waiting Area, Family Friendly, Fog Machines, Home Haunt, Non-Commercial Haunts
    Established In: 2017
    Short Desc: ELABORATE twisty layout with fantastic western sets.
    Dates: Oct 27-31, 2023. 6pm-9pm
    Admission: Donations split with a children’s home in Padilla, Mexico
  14. Name: Haunted Tunnel
    Address: 737 34th Ave SW, Altoona, IA 50009
    Directions: At Rocket Carwash.
    Category: Car Wash, Commercial Haunts, Family Friendly
    Dates: Oct 27-28, 2023. 7pm-10pm.
    Admission: $15 for non-members, FREE for members.
  15. Name: KrampuS: Jingle Hell
    Address: 500 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
    Directions: At Slaughterhouse
    Category: Advance Tickets Required, Commercial Haunts, Haunted House
    Short Desc: Prepare for a Night of Terror and Delight on December 2nd in Des Moines!
    Dates: December 2, 2023. 6pm-9pm.
    Admission: $30
  16. Name: Linn’s Haunted House
    Address: 3805 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
    Category: Cash or Credit, Commercial Haunts, Haunted House, Restroom (portable), Strobe Lights, Ticket Booth
    Established In: 1984
    Short Desc: Oldest haunt in Des Moines. “You can’t see your hand in front of your face until we want you to, but then it’s too late.”
    Dates: Sept 29-30, Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-22 and 27-31, 2023. 7pm (open to 10, 11 or Midnight depending on the weekend).
    Admission: $25 (credit cards accepted)
  17. Name: Living History Farms Family Halloween
    Address: 11121 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
    Category: Family Friendly, Trick-or-Treat
    Dates: Oct 20-22 and 27-29, 2023. 5pm-8pm on Fridays/Saturdays, and 4pm-7pm on Sundays.
    Admission: $9
    Discounts: $8 for members.
  18. Name: No Escape Iowa (escape room)
    Address: 328 Main Street, Suite 12, Ames, IA 50310
    Category: Advanced Tickets Available, Commercial Haunts, Escape Room, Restroom (real), Waiver Required
    Short Desc: “Ghostly Figures” escape room with jump scares.
  19. Name: Pirate Potter House (Yard Display)
    Address: 3720 Brook Ridge Court, Des Moines, IA 50317
    Directions: Residential area.
    Category: Yard Display
    Established In: 2001
    Dates: 2023: Tue-Thu, 4pm-8pm. Fri, 4pm-9pm. Sat, 2pm-9pm. Sun, 2pm-9pm. (Subject to weather.)
  20. Name: Rez Blue Arena (VR escape room)
    Address: 2323 Grand Ave STE 400, Des Moines, IA 50312
    Category: Commercial Haunts, Escape Room, Virtual Reality
    Dates: MON. – FRI. 1 PM – 9 PM, SAT. – SUN. 11 AM – 9 PM
    Admission: $35
  21. Name: Slaughterhouse
    Address: 500 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
    Category: Advanced Tickets Available, Commercial Haunts, Covered Waiting Area, Haunted House, Line Skip Ticket Available, Ticket Booth, Timed Tickets, Virtual Queue, Wheelchair Access
    Dates: Sep 29-Oct 1, 6-8, 13-15, 19-22 and 26-29, 2023. Thu/Sun 7pm-10pm. Fri/ Sat 7pm- Midnight.
    Admission: $25-$45
  22. Name: Sleepy Hollow Sports Park
    Address: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
    Category: Commercial Haunts, Haunted House, Haunted Walk
    Short Desc: Multiple haunted houses.
    Dates: Oct 6-7, 13-15, 20-22, 26-29 and 31, 2023. 7pm-10:30pm.
    Admission: $33-$51 (plus tax)
    Parking: $5
  23. Name: The Haunt 3.0
    Address: 319 West Broadway St, Colfax, IA
    Category: Home Haunt, Non-Commercial Haunts
    Short Desc: Larger this year.
    Dates: Oct 20-21, 27-28 and 31, 2023. 7pm-Midnight except Halloween (7pm-10pm that night).
    Admission: $10
  24. Name: Tormented Souls Haunt and Scream Park
    Address: Edgewood Park, Madrid, IA
    Directions: Leave your car at Edgewood Park, then wait for their Terror Bus to pick you up and drive you deep in to the woods where the scream park is located.
    Category: Advanced Tickets Available, Fog Machines, Haunted Walk, Hot Food, Paintball Shoot, Restroom (portable), Strobe Lights, Ticket Booth
    Dates: Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28, 2023. 7:15pm-11pm.
    Admission: $22-$46
  25. Name: Trail of Terror
    Address: Ashton Wildlife County Park, Mingo, IA 50168
    Category: Commercial Haunts, Fog Machines, Haunted Walk, Hot Food, Restroom (portable), Strobe Lights, Ticket Booth, Waiver Required
    Dates: Oct 20-23 and 27-28, 2023. 7:30pm-10:30pm.
    Admission: $15
    Discounts: Venmo accepted.
  26. Name: Tunnel of Terror
    Address: 2480 E First St, Grimes, IA 50111
    Directions: At Tommy’s Express.
    Category: Car Wash, Cash or Credit, Commercial Haunts
    Short Desc: Car wash with clowns and creatures coming up to your car 😉 And surprises!
    Dates: Oct 27-28, 2023. 7pm-10pm
    Admission: $25 or free to members.
  27. Name: White Rabbit (VR escape room)
    Address: 3800 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310
    Directions: Merle Hay Mall lower level near FLIX escalators.
    Category: Commercial Haunts, Escape Room, Virtual Reality
    Established In: 2023
    Dates: Wed-Sun, 2023.
    Admission: $35
  28. Name: Zombie Hollow
    Address: 2310 Saint Charles Rd, Winterset, IA 50237
    Category: Advance Tickets Required, Commercial Haunts, Family Friendly, Food and Drink, Haunted Walk, Restroom (portable), Snacks, Timed Tickets
    Established In: 2023
    Short Desc: 1/4 mile family-friendly Halloween walk through with amazing sets and effects.
    Dates: Full show: Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-29 and 31, 2023. 7pm-9:30pm
    Day show (no actors): Oct 7-8 (12-3), 14-15 (11-4), 21-22 (12-3) and 28-29 (12-3), 2023. CHECK WEBSITE FOR LATEST! A date was removed and another added on 10/25.
    Admission: $18 (online sales only)
  29. Name: zz-Boji Scare (Arnolds Park)
    Address: 37 Lake St, Arnolds Park, IA 51331
    Directions: At Arnolds Amusement Park in 2023.
    Category: Commercial Haunts, Haunted House
    Established In: 2020
    Dates: Sep 29-Oct 31, Friday and Saturdays, starting at dark.
    Admission: $12
  30. Name: zz-Columbia Haunted Forest
    Address: 887 Utah St, Columbia, IA 50057
    Dates: Oct 20-21 and 27-28, 2023. 7pm-10pm
    Admission: $5
  31. Name: zz-Deranged Haunted Attraction
    Address: 102 8th St, Belle Plaine, IA 52208Category: Commercial Haunts, Haunted House, Ticket Booth
    Dates: Sep 30 (7pm-11pm, 15$), Oct 7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-29, 2023. Fri-Sat, 7pm-11pm.
    Admission: $18
  32. Name: zz-Eldora Haunted Hospital
    Address: 2413 Edgington Ave, Eldora, IA 50627
    Directions: East wing of the hospital, directly west of Kum and Go.
    Category: Advanced Tickets Available, Commercial Haunts, Haunted House, Ticket Booth, Timed Tickets
    Dates: Oct 7, 14, 20-21 and 27-28, 2023. 7pm-11pm.
    Admission: $10 at door, $15 online reserved time
    Discounts: Lower $10 price on off-peak nights. See website.
  33. Name: zz-Mysfit Farm’s Haunted Barn
    Address: 1937 Underwood Ave, Marshalltown, IA
    Category: Commercial Haunts, Haunted House, Haunted Walk
    Short Desc: Two barns and two fields.
    Dates: Oct 20-21 and 27-28, 2023. 7pm-11pm.
    Admission: $10