Last Updated: 10/14/2025
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 submitted information so far. If you would like to be on this list, be sure to send me your information.
- Barnum Carnival of Freaks (formerly Barnum Circus of Freaks)
https://www.carnivaloffreaks.com (NOTE: Someone has registered the domains BarnumCircusOfFreaks.com and BarnumCarnivalOfFreaks.com and redirected them to another haunted house. Those domains are not owned by Barnum Carnival of Freaks.)
Formerly known as the Circus of Freaks, I have no idea what is in store for 2025 under the new name!
8 Nights: Oct 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 2025. 7:30pm-11pm. - Linn’s Haunted House – $25 (discount)
The oldest haunted house around (established in 1984). Located in the basement of Linn’s Supermarket, this is the classic haunt. There are many pitch-black hallways (until they want you to see something), and several crawls that cannot be bypassed.
https://www.linnshauntedhouse.com
3805 6th Ave., Des Moines, IA 50313
16 Nights: Oct 3-4, 10-12, 17-19, 23-26, 29-31 and Nov 1, 2025. Opens at 7pm. - Mare Witch Haunted Woods IV – $20 (cash only, Oct 3 1/2 price discount)
Originally operating many years ago, this outdoor haunted forest returned a few years ago. They use some unique “distraction scares.” It is a very different haunted walk that the defunct Trail of Terror in Baxter, or the defunct Ames Haunted Forest.
https://www.hauntedwoodsdsm.com
1478 Gateway Dr., Carlisle IA 50047
16 Nights: Oct 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 29-Nov 1, 2025. Opens at 7pm. - Slaughterhouse – $40.22-$51.47. (discounts online)
500 Locust St. , Des Moines, IA 50309
https://slaughterhousedm.com
No other local haunt has been able to achieve national media coverage like this one thanks to earlier partnerships with Iowa-grown band Slipnkot. This is a permanent haunt with permanent sets, theme park-style sets and lighting, and some of the largest animated props around. If you have ever been to Universal Horror Nights, you will know what type of haunt this is.
18 Nights: Sep 26-27, October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 23-26 and 30-21, 2025. - NEW: Timberline Campground’s Haunted Hall of Tortured, Twisted Terrors – $5
Intended for ages 14+; Under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
https://www.timberlineiowa.com/2025-weekend-themes/
31635 Ashworth Rd, Waukee, IA 50263
6 Nights: Oct 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25, 2025. 6pm-9pm.
Home Haunts
- Haunted Garage Widow’s Manor – No charge, donations accepted.
An elaborate home haunt full of details and spooks. We’ve seen it the past two years and have really enjoyed it. They do a different theme each year. This is a great starter haunt for kids, too, since you can tell them to not scare you. (And, due to how much they pack into this haunt, we actually jumped a few more times than we did at one of the huge commercial haunts in the area last year. Golly.)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086735681012
836 15th street , West Des Moines, IA
5 Nights: Oct 28-Nov 1, 2025. Weeknights 6-8, Fri-Sat 6-9.
Haunted Car Washes
- Rocket Carwash Haunted Tunnel – $25 for non-members.
737 34th Ave SW, Altoona, IA 50009
1 Night: Oct 25, 2025. 7pm-11pm. - NEW: Silver Star Carwash – $25. 6310 Hickman Rd, Windsor Heights, IA 50324. 6pm-9pm thru end of October. 10% donated to Windsor Heights Elementary School. (KCCI coverage)
? Nights: When did it start? Does it run 7 days a week? Anyone got a website? - Tommy’s Express Tunnel of Terror – $25 (discount: text TUNNEL to 86697)
A car wash with clowns and other scary characters. Get your car washed while being safe inside. Just be sure to lock your doors. Great fun!
https://tommys-express.com/locations/ia377/
645 S. 60th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266
4 Nights: Oct 24-25, 30 & Nov 1, 2025. 7pm-9:30pm.
Outside of Des Moines
- Boone Haunted House
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567332867859
Boone County Fairgrounds.
Formerly known as Nightmare on 198th Rd. we are back again for another season. October 2025 location will be at Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone, Iowa. Not recommended for children. Prepare to be scared!
7 Nights: Oct 25-27, 30-31 and Nov 1-2, 2025. Opens at 7pm. - Holiday House presents: A Haunting on the Square – $5
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568330189408
100 N Howard st, Indianola, IA
“Spooky lights and sounds. Live actors and jump scares.” Holiday House is a small event center on the Square in Indianola. They will have a mini haunt/walkthrough there.
6 Nights: Oct 24-26 and 29-31, 2025. Starts at 5 or 6pm depending on night. - Mayhem Haunted House – $15
https://mayhemhauntedhouse.com
13011 120th Avenue, Ottumwa, IA 52501
6 Nights: Oct 17-18, 24-25 and 31-Nov 1, 2025. 7:30-10pm, 10:30pm-Midnight. - Zombie Hollow – Daytime $12.92, Nighttime $19.13
2310 Saint Charles Rd., Winterset, Iowa 50273
https://thezombiehollow.com
This is an immersive themed Halloween walkthrough with sections inspired by Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean, as well as Stranger Things, Star Wars, and many more. They have been hard at work expanding their already-huge sets for 2025. We can’t wait to see what they have added.
Oct 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 25-26 and 31 and Nov 1, 2025. Opens at 7-7:30pm (check website).
More haunts!
- Adventureland’s Phantom Fall Fest – $69.99+$21 parking+tax (discount online)
https://www.adventurelandresort.com
According to DMHH feedback, this is without a doubt the most popular haunted attraction around. You get access to much of Adventureland during the day for a more family friendly experience, then get multiple haunted houses to go through in the evening. I have never seen any haunt in the area get more media coverage than this one.
12 Nights: Nov 20-21, 27-28, Oct 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26, 2025. Opens at noon. - Bouton Haunted Church
109 South St, Bouton, IA 50039
https://www.facebook.com/p/Bouton-Haunted-Church-61565172877405/
A fundraiser in an old church. This one is fun and was really worth the drive when we checked it out in past years. - Future Nightmares (show)
Merle Hay Mall. Check website for showtimes.
https://futurenightmares.com
A unique year-round sci-fi horror experience in Merle Hay Mall, just down from FLIX movie theater and White Rabbit VR. We haven’t seen the current show, but have seen some of the past ones. Lighting, sound, animated props and other effects make this sit-down presentation one-of-a-kind. (And it is by one of the folks that worked on the revamp of Adventureland’s Underground.) - Sleepy Hollow Sports Park – $35-$51.50
https://sleepyhollowsportspark.com
4051 Dean Ave., Des Moines IA
The second-oldest haunt around featuring multiple haunted houses and other attractions in the Renaissance festival park. Sleepy Hollow was purchased by Polk County a few years ago, but the events held there (Renaissance festival and Halloween park) continue.
13 Nights: Oct 3-4, 10-11, 17-19, 24-26 and 30-Nov 1, 2025. Parking opens at 6:30pm. - White Rabbit VR (horror VR escape rooms)
https://www.thewhiterabbitvr.com
Merla Hay Mall.
No longer operating…
- Ames Haunted House (Ames) – Defunct
- Tormented Souls Haunt (Madrid) – Defunct
- Trail of Terror (Baxter) – Defunct.