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Haunted Houses in Houston: 8 Scream Parks Worth the Scare

Date Published

Haunted houses in Houston illustration: jack-o-lanterns and a haunted house silhouette against a night sky with the Houston skyline

At a glance

  • Season: Late September through early November; most run select Fri–Sat nights
  • Cost: Typically $19.99–$50 per person; check each official site before you go
  • Parking: Most venues offer free or low-cost on-site parking; Terror Dome charges $5
  • Best nights: Early October weeknights or opening weekends; avoid the last two Saturdays before Halloween
  • Age guidance: Most attractions recommend 12 and up; children under 12 should check each venue

Houston has some of the largest haunted attractions in the South, spread across the metro from a fully air-conditioned scare park in Channelview to a 1.5-mile zombie paintball ride in the piney woods north of the city. This guide covers eight verified scream parks and haunted houses, each confirmed via its own official site or a verified news source, with scare levels, ticket prices, fast-pass notes, and the best nights to go.

Quick answer: Tickets run roughly $19.99–$50 per person. The biggest venues include extra activities well beyond the walk-through. Peak-line nights are every Saturday in the last two weeks of October; arriving at opening time or on a weeknight cuts wait times sharply.

The quick list

  • Most terrifying (venue's own claim): 13th Floor Houston, FM 1960
  • Most unique activity: Woods of Kaos — shoot paintballs at live zombie actors from a moving military truck
  • Best for groups with non-screamers: Woods of Kaos — midway entry is $10, the haunted house is optional
  • Biggest haunt count: Phobia at Beltway 8, eight separate haunted houses under one roof
  • Only fully air-conditioned park: Houston Terror Dome, Channelview
  • Best family-friendly option: Woods of Kaos Kids Haunt (free with GA), designed for ages 6 and under
  • Most certifications: Creepy Hollow, HAA Iconic-tier for 15 years running

How we chose

Every attraction on this list was confirmed operating via its own official website or a verified news source (KPRC/Click2Houston, Haunted Attraction Network) as of this writing. We prioritized parks that publish their own ticket prices, operate at a physical Texas address, and have run at least one prior season. Hours and prices vary by night; always check the official site before you go. Scare ratings use each venue's own language and independent reviewer scores where available.

Southeast Houston

Houston Scream Fest

South Houston, 1500 Elton St · four haunted houses · Fridays and Saturdays in October, plus Nov 1, 6, and 7

Park entry is free and includes live music, beverages, and midway access. The haunted house section costs $40 per person and covers four walk-through attractions: Sanitarium, Castle of Doom, Casa De La Llorona, and The Graveyard. H-Town Paintball (a Call of Duty Nuketown replica map) is included with the haunted house ticket; ammunition is sold separately. The ticket booth typically opens at 8 p.m. and closes around 11 p.m.

Scare level: Moderate (3 out of 5 by independent reviewers). Age guidance: 12 and up.

Best for: Groups where someone wants to skip the scares — free park entry means they can stay at the concert stage.

Northwest Houston

13th Floor Houston

FM 1960 corridor, 7075 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste 20 · three haunted houses plus extras · Sept 12–Nov 13, select nights

This is the most elaborate single-site production on the list. Three walk-through attractions are inside: Jason Universe: Survive the Night (an officially licensed Friday the 13th experience where you confront Jason Voorhees across a full film-set recreation), Containment Sector 9 (alien-pathogen sci-fi horror), and Cannibals Crossing (a decaying woodland estate with ritual elements). 13th Floor Houston cites recognition from USA Today as one of the five most terrifying haunted houses in the United States.

Beyond the haunts: a 21+ secret bar called The Hideout, five-minute escape games, axe throwing, and a live-actor zombie gel-blaster shooting range. Tickets start at $19.99 with dynamic pricing — peak-Saturday admission costs more. The VIP "Director's Cut" add-on lets your group trigger Jason's attacks via hidden buttons in the rooms and includes a collectible patch; it sells out quickly, so book it early.

Scare level: Extreme. Age guidance: 13th Floor states the event "may be too intense for children 12 & under."

Best for: Horror fans who want a full evening. Pair with our escape rooms guide if you want to extend the night elsewhere.

East of Houston

Houston Terror Dome

Channelview, 16030 East Freeway · Sept 18–Nov 1

The Terror Dome is the only fully air-conditioned haunted attraction on this list — a meaningful detail in early October when temperatures still push 85°F. General admission runs $29.99–$34.99 depending on the night; Express passes (skip-the-line) run $39.99–$54.99. Parking is $5. Extras included with admission: axe throwing, three 10-minute escape rooms, and a haunted bar.

Scare level: Extreme (5 out of 5 by independent reviewers). Age guidance: 12 and up.

Best for: East-side visitors, and anyone who needs air conditioning with their scares.

Kingwood

Purgatory Scream Park

Kingwood, 1965A Northpark Dr · 21 nights only, Sept 25–Nov 7

Four distinct themed walk-throughs in one park: Kingwood Asylum (institutional horror), Asphyxia (psychological terror), Dead Wood (backwoods nightmare), and Hysteria (corrupted carnival). The park holds a 4.7 Google rating. VIP admission skips the standard queue, includes a collectible keepsake, and adds a free drink. The Elite Pass adds front-of-line entry, an exclusive T-shirt, a VIP lanyard, and a meal.

Best for: Kingwood-area visitors. See things to do in Kingwood for dinner options nearby.

Spring

Haunted Trails in Old Town Spring

Spring, 26302 Preston Ave · weekends Sept 26–Nov 1

Old Town Spring's haunted trails run weekends only, making this a natural pairing with a walk through the shops and restaurants along Spring's Main Street. The trails format keeps most of the experience outdoors, so dress for the weather. Scare level: Moderate-high (4 out of 5 by independent reviewers). Age guidance: 12 and up. See our Spring, TX guide for what else is in the area.

North of Houston — Cleveland

Woods of Kaos

Cleveland, TX (approx. 45 min north of downtown), 280 County Rd 3891S · Fridays and Saturdays Sept 17–Oct 31, plus select weeknights

The most distinctive attraction on this list: Ground Zero is a 1.5-mile military-truck ride in the dark where guests shoot paintballs at live zombie actors staged across 12 scenes ($45 per person). The separate Kaos Haunted House is a 28,000–30,000 sq-ft walk-through with live actors, animatronics, a chainsaw maze, a hidden bar, and jump scares throughout ($35). General admission to the outdoor midway only — 100,000+ sq ft with food, live music, axe throwing, escape rooms, and carnival games — is $10, meaning the whole group can come without everyone committing to the horror.

  • Fast Pass: +$15 (skip-the-line)
  • VIP: $125 (Fast Pass + T-shirt + 3 escape rooms + axe throwing)
  • Kids 5 and under: free
  • Kids Haunt (ages 6 and under): free with general admission

Scare level (Kaos Haunted House): Extreme. Ground Zero: Thrilling action, not traditionally scary.

Insider tip: Select weeknight dates (noted on the official site) typically have far shorter queues than Saturday nights, at the same price.

South of Houston — Rosharon

Creepy Hollow Haunted House

Rosharon, 12872 Valley Vista Dr · Fridays and Saturdays Sept 25–Nov 7, plus Sunday Oct 25 and Lights Out with Krampus Nov 6–7

Creepy Hollow has run for 15 years and holds the Haunted Attraction Association's Iconic-tier certification — the HAA's highest recognized level. Three attractions are included in one $40 general admission ticket: Scare Factory, Dark Woods, and Pitch Black. A No Touch Pass (+$10) signals actors to keep hands to themselves; a Speed Pass (+$20) skips the queue entirely. The November 6–7 "Lights Out with Krampus" finale adds a post-Halloween twist.

Scare level: Extreme (5 out of 5). Age guidance: 12 and up.

Best for: South-side and Pearland area visitors. See things to do in Pearland for food nearby.

West of Houston — Richmond

REDRUM Fear Park

Richmond, 1800 E Hwy 90 Alt · select dates Oct 2–Nov 7

An outdoor fear park with indoor haunts including a 3D circus attraction and a Purge-themed walk-through laser tag experience. Fort Bend County visitors can combine it with a dinner in downtown Richmond. See things to do in Richmond for more in the area.

Scare level: Extreme (5 out of 5 by independent reviewers). Age guidance: 13 and up.

Two locations: Phobia Haunted Houses

Beltway 8 (Houston): 5250 S Sam Houston Pkwy E · Kemah Boardwalk: 215 Kipp Ave · Sept 26–Nov 7, select nights

Phobia runs the highest haunt count in the Houston metro. The Beltway 8 location has eight separate haunted houses under covered queuing; budget about 15 minutes per house and arrive at opening time if you want to do all eight in one night. Tickets run $40 for three houses or $50 for five at Beltway 8. The Kemah Boardwalk location has two linked haunts for $30 and pairs naturally with a stop at the boardwalk before the sun goes down.

Scare level: Extreme (5 out of 5). Age guidance: 12 and up.

Best for: Beltway 8 if quantity is the goal; Kemah if you're already on the south shore. See our Kemah Boardwalk guide for what else is nearby.

When to go — and when to skip

Halloween weekend and the two weekends before it are peak-crowd nights at every venue. Waits of 45–90 minutes per attraction are normal on those nights at the larger parks.

Best nights to go: The first two weekends in October, opening weekend in late September, and any Thursday or Sunday date the venue offers. Most venues sell dynamic-priced tickets online — early-season and weeknight tickets are noticeably cheaper than peak-Saturday admissions at places like 13th Floor.

Practical notes: Most venues close their ticket booth 1–2 hours before the listed closing time. Arriving after 10 p.m. on a peak Saturday may mean the ticket window is already closed. Book online in advance for any fast-pass or VIP option — they sell out.

Save this: pre-visit checklist

  • Buy tickets online in advance; peak nights sell out or cost more at the door
  • Check the official site the day of for weather cancellations or early closures
  • Wear closed-toe shoes — uneven terrain, fog machines, and outdoor sections are common
  • Check the no-touch policy if that matters; Creepy Hollow sells a No Touch Pass, and each venue has its own rules
  • Bring cash for parking ($5 at Terror Dome) and for extras at venues that sell food from trucks
  • Plan a designated driver or rideshare — 13th Floor, Terror Dome, and Woods of Kaos all have bars on site
  • Arrive at opening time on any Friday or Saturday in the last two weeks of October

For everything else happening this Halloween, see the Houston Halloween guide. For daytime fall activities, the pumpkin patches near Houston guide has 12 options within driving distance. For family-focused planning, see family activities in Houston.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the scariest haunted house in Houston?

Several Houston-area attractions earn the top scare rating (5 out of 5) from independent reviewers, including 13th Floor Houston, Houston Terror Dome, Phobia at Beltway 8, Creepy Hollow, and REDRUM Fear Park. 13th Floor Houston cites recognition from USA Today as one of the five most terrifying haunted houses in the United States.

How much do haunted houses in Houston cost?

Tickets typically run $19.99 to $50 per person depending on the venue and night. 13th Floor starts at $19.99 with dynamic pricing; Houston Terror Dome charges $29.99–$34.99 for general admission; Phobia at Beltway 8 charges $40 for three houses or $50 for five; Creepy Hollow charges $40 for all three attractions. Fast-pass and VIP upgrades add $10–$125 depending on the park.

Are there haunted houses near Kemah or the south shore?

Yes. Phobia Haunted Houses operates a two-haunt location at the Kemah Boardwalk (215 Kipp Ave, Kemah) for $30 per person, running September 26 through November 7 on select nights. Houston Scream Fest (1500 Elton St) is also on the south side of Houston, near the 45 South and Hobby Airport corridor.

What nights are least crowded at Houston haunted houses?

The first two weekends in October and any Thursday or Sunday the venue is open are consistently less crowded than peak Saturdays. Avoid the two weekends before Halloween and Halloween night itself. Some venues use dynamic pricing, so weeknight tickets are also cheaper.

Are haunted houses in Houston appropriate for kids?

Most Houston haunted houses recommend ages 12 and up. Woods of Kaos is the exception: it offers a Kids Haunt for ages 6 and under (free with general admission) and a $10 midway-only entry so younger children can enjoy the grounds without the intense walk-throughs. Houston Scream Fest's free-entry park area is also non-scary.