As Halloween season comes into full swing, anyone looking for spirits, spine-shaking experiences and ghost events can find plenty to explore around Central Florida.
Halloween Horror Night and Howl Oscream have gained a wide audience, both Florida and tourists, but there are plenty of other local haunts to hang out as an October 31 approach.
The happy horror and unforgettable nights of the Creative City Project are taking a break for the season, but here are 13 ghostly attractions and experiences away from Orlando’s theme parks.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Masks are hung on a petrified forest costume trailer in Alta Monte Springs in 2021 (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
A stone-formed forest
Called “Central Florida Premier Cream Park,” this Alta Monte Springs returns to three trails, escape pride, immersive theatre experiences, backstage tours, laser tags, games, food trucks, nights of special events, and another year of horror. This year’s theme is “landlord.”
Opening Hours: Select October 3rd. 1 (There will be a special event on the selected day/night)
Address: 1360 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs
Price: $15 to $60 per person (tickets are also available at the ticket booth before the price)
More information: apetrifiedforest.com
Fear reaches Scream Park
Located on a far-off ranch, this Tavares Haunt brings three attractions to Lake County. Explore ownership of Reach Manor, Lab 12-55, and Obscura Agent Training. Additionally, guests can experience a pitchfork parlor and bar or x throw and carnival game.
Opening hours: 7pm to 10pm (opens from 11pm at night) Friday to November 1st to November 1st, and Thursday, October 30th
Address: 1255 S. Dora Blvd. At Tavares
Price: Online only in advance: General admission fee is $30, and general admission fee by Speed Pass is $50
More information: FearReachscreamPark.com
Venetta’s Storyteller
The home’s haunting experience in Windermere takes place in two garages transformed into an abandoned cinema. Experience “Silver Scream – Cursed.” Animatronics lurches with guests walking through the scene from theatre to theatre.
Opening hours: 7:30-10 PM October 3, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, November 1, and 11pm on October 31
Address: 13161 Venetaway, Windermere
Price: Free (Donation accepted)
More information: StoryTellerHaunt.wixsite.com
Katherine Blueberry Lake
Set in Groveland, the farm brings family-friendly festivities to the community with fall festivals, mazes and pumpkin patches. After it gets dark, visit the exploration of “Katherine is Back,” a ghost Halloween maze, or a dark forest trail of terror.
Opening hours: Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm to 10pm to October 31st
Address: 5849 Groveland Lake Catherine Road
Price: $17 per person (haunted maze, prepaid ticket), $24 (dark forest, advanced ticket)
More information: lakecatherineblueberries.com
American Ghost Adventures and Orlando Haunt: Orlando-based Ghost Tour
Two different tour operators offer year-round ghost tours in downtown Orlando. The appearance of American Ghost Adventure and Orlando. Drill into ghost history on a walk with stories of murder, bootleggers and scandals. Both companies offer options including stops to pubs and bars.
More information: AmericanGhostadVentures.com or orlandohaunts.com
Longwood Haunted Historical Tour
Join storyteller and supernatural enthusiast Michael Mattson for a theatrical walkthrough of Bradley Masteal House in Longwood. This 90-minute experience is aimed at a mature audience.
Opening hours: October 4th, 11th, 6pm (other dates are sold out)
Address: 130 W. Warren Avenue, Longwood
Price: $30 per person (before tax and fees), ticket limited
Details: matsonmagic-enterment.square.site
Dr. Grimmley’s Ghost Path
Seduce your destiny by challenging nightmare squeezes games, sacred sin, or curve houses on the grounds of Umatira’s sun-good farm. Every night after 10pm there is a “Light Out” edition for extra horror. Those who don’t want to embark on the trail but want to tag them can buy “cold” tickets to play cornholes and other creepy fun and games.
Opening hours: 7:30pm to 11:00pm Friday – Saturday, October 3rd to November. 1
Address: Roger Giles Road 40541, Umatilla
Price: $25-$100 per person
More information: drgrimleyshauntertrail.com
St. Cloud’s Terror Trail
Take a tour of the terrorist trails inside Peghorn Nature Park in St. Cloud. This has scared Floridians in the Central for over a decade. Experience the “Legend of Peghorn” this year, which is not recommended for young children.
Opening hours: 8am to 11am on October 11th, 17th to 18th, 24th to 25th
Address: 2101 Cent Cloud’s Peghorn Way
Price: $15 per person online in advance, $20 at the gate
Details: stcloudfl.gov
Ghost charm in Tales of Terror
Central Floridians seeking good fear can take part in the tales of fear and nightmares in this rural Lake County haunt. Experience “The Cult: Bloodhouse” and “Deadlight Alley” this year. The adventure has three levels of intensity and is open only to guests over the age of 18. Find two scary trails, escape rooms, live performances, vendors and nights of special events.
Opening hours: 8pm to 11pm, 17th-18th, 24-25th October
Address: 14,200 Corkwood Lane in Astatula
Price: $15-60 per person (before the price)
More information: talesofterrorhaunt.com
Patrick Connolly / Orlando Sentinel
When it opened in Lockhart on Friday, September 28, 2018, the girls respond to Michael Myers in the Orlando Haunted Maze (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Haunted Maze
This homemade haunt is organized by George Goldstein. George Goldstein donates a portion of his proceeds to charities every year.
Opening hours: 7:30pm – 11:30pm Friday – Saturday, October 3rd to November. 1
Address: 3209 Calloway Drive, Orlando
Price: $10 per person
More details: facebook.com/orlandohauntedyard
Face fear
This winter Springs presents the “Gator Guard House” and announces abandoned prisons that are supposed to be haunted.
Opening hours: 8pm to 11pm on October 24th-26th
Address: 817 E. State Road 434 in Winter Springs
Price: $15 for adults, $10 per child over 10 years old
More details: faceThefearhouse.com
Plus 2: The value of the drive
In addition to homes in the 11 Orlando area, two other independent ghost attractions stand out as potentially worth a drive. Visit Irnery’s Ghost Trail near the interstate in Plant City. I have four experiences from Friday until November 1st to November 1st. Outside Dade City, north of Tampa, Scream-a-Geddon is open every night from 7pm until November 8th, scaring six visitors.
Find @pconnpie on Instagram or send an email at pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
