Get Spooked!

Oct. 5, 2014

2014’s Creepiest Haunted Houses

If you feel it’s not Halloween until you’ve been thoroughly petrified, then we’ve got your destinations this October. We’ve compiled a list of some of northern Michigan’s best, and most terrifying, haunted houses for your hairraising pleasure, but be sure to choose wisely. While we’ve rated these on our Scream Factor scale of 1-10 (10 being the scariest) to give you an idea of what you’ll be in for, only you know how much fright you can take!

FORT FRIGHT NIGHT

Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City October 10-11 only, 6:30-9:30pm (last admission 8:30pm)

Scream factor: 6

A trail of lanterns lights the way through 18th-century Fort Michilimackinac. For just two scary nights, the fort is overrun with ghouls and witches, werewolves climbing log fences, French voyageurs weaving tales over bonfires and skeleton redcoats patrolling the grounds. The Haunted Rowhouse and Demon Walk add to the fearful experience, which will equally scare kids ($4) and adults ($7). While there are plenty of tricks, there are treats, too. If you’ve still got the stomach for it, cookies, candy and mulled cider are offered as you make your way through the fort. mackinacparks.com/colonialmichilimackinac 231-436-4100

SCREAM IN WOLVERINE

10474 Straits Highway, Wolverine Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays in October, and November 1-2, 7-11 pm

Scream factor: 10

Drawing the daring from nearby Petoskey, Indian River and Topinabee, this mid-state scare factory offers three terrifying treks for $20 (or $5-$9.50 per horror if you’re too scared and can only handle one at a time). Kurt and Burt’s House of Terror showcases a distraught doctor haunting his old laboratory and the Crazed Clown Convention brings together some of the creepiest clowns you’ll ever see. What happened to all the people from the bustling lumber town that used to sit where The Swamp of Terror is today? Just try to find out why everyone disappeared… if you dare. www.screaminwolverine.com

TEE LAKE HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR

3987 Tee Lake Road, Lewiston October 1-31, every night from dusk-10pm

Scream factor: 8

Not only can you experience both a haunted trail and a haunted house, you can (attempt to) sleep right next to them. The Drive-Thru Haunt (free) is a self-guided tour through glowing, haunted displays accompanied by spooky music from your car radio via 106.3 FM, while Terror at Tee Lake Haunted House ($5) is every summer camper’s nightmare. The “Camp Killer” is on the loose and it’s your job to hide from him. If you’re still not scared enough, stay overnight in one of their themed cabins ($110 per night). Pick from The Witch’s Cottage, complete with a potion supplies, or Igor’s Hideaway. www.terroratteelake.com 989-786-2208

BOYNE FIREFIGHTERS HAUNTED HOUSE

Park Street, Boyne City October 31 only, 5pm

Scream factor: 4

The Boyne City Firefighters serve as caretakers for this haunted house, tucked in an otherwise unassuming red barn next to the district library. But once you’re inside, it becomes apparent that Halloween spirits have been at work; there are scary scenes to walk through, spooky things to see and haunting sounds in the air. After you’ve been thoroughly frightened, take refuge in the library, where candy, cookies, cider, coffee and other treats will be offered throughout the night. www.boynechamber.com 231-582-6222

NIGHTMARE AT CHALLENGE MOUNTAIN

Boyne Falls Fridays and Saturdays in October, 7-10 pm

Scream factor:8

Built upon layers of folklore, history, ambitious design and, of course, plenty of scares, the two sections (indoors and outdoors) of this “Interactive Theater Haunted House Experience” reveal plenty of ghosts, goblins and other things you’d never expect to see on Springbrook Road. From the Grimm and Haunted Forests to the Deadly Witches Cottage, from the Haunted Basement to the Grateful Dead Graveyard, there is a wide range of frights here. If you arrive early, you can dine on German BBQ at the Schwenk’in Wagon to fortify yourself for the upcoming trek of horror. www.cmnightmare.com 231-675-2152 $10 adults/$5 kids.

ZIP OF TERROR

Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls October 18 only, every 30 minutes from 7-11 pm

Scream factor: 8

While a zipline ride alone might be scary enough for some, Boyne Mountain turns up the fear factor even more with this after-dark, self-guided tour of their 10 zipline experiences. Just a faint glow marks the path as you whiz down the mountain, led only by your costumed guides, with frightful things going bump in the night and lurking around every wooded corner as you zip past. Planning ahead is required for this unique “haunted sport,” which typically runs just over an hour. Call for prices and reservations. www.boyne.com 800-GO-BOYNE (462-6963)

SCREAMS IN THE DARK

Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, Traverse City Fridays and Saturdays in October, 7-11pm; Sundays in October, 7-10pm; and November 1, 7-11pm

Scream factor: 10

The terrifying Grimell Asylum returns to the annual Screams in the Dark “festivities” for 2014, but a few additional tours will be competing with it for pure terror this year. If you’ve got a fear—darkness, claustrophobia, snakes—the Delirium tour will maximize it. Even more intense is Pandemonium, described as “pure chaos” with demented, giggling evil clowns and twisted funhouse hallways. Too scared? Too bad. There are no refunds, they warn. A Haunted Trail and Hayride offer slightly tamer scares at $5. $15 will get you in to all five attractions. Getting out is up to you. www.evernighthaunt.com 231-360-5044

THE GHOST FARM OF KINGSLEY

5010 Pierce Road, Kingsley Fridays and Saturdays from October 3- November 1, 7-11 pm

Scream factor: 6

Taking their motto—“Harvesting Screams Since 2010”—seriously, the Ghost Farm offers a mix of mildly spooky activities (Ghost Town Animal Farm, Spooky Trick-or-Treat Walk, Hay Monsters) and more suspenseful pursuits. Ravencrow’s Revenge Haunted Walk ($9) tells the tale of The Farmer who built a scarecrow out of cursed clothing (oops). Elsewhere on the Farm, The Farmer is finally letting guests into his barn, for the first time ever, on his Cursed Barn Haunt ($5). If you’re brave enough to go in, that is. www.facebook.com/ghostfarm 231-645-1447

THE HAUNTED FOREST AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

12500 Crystal Mountain Drive, Thompsonville October 18 and 25, 7-10pm

Scream factor: 6

You can warm yourself by the fire as you wait your turn to walk into the Haunted Forest, but we know you’re just stalling. What’s scaring you? Is it the chilling screams heard in the distance or the odd rustlings and shadowy figures seen behind the shrubs? You’ll be fine. Just make sure you tiptoe quietly down the shadowy trail and maybe—just maybe—the things lurking around every turn won’t actually get you this year. $8 per person. If you’re not ready to run away afterward, stick around and add on Adventure Activity tickets for laser tag or the climbing wall. www.crystalmountain.com 231-668-6628

MANISTEE GHOST SHIP

Manistee Lake, Manistee Fridays and Saturdays in October, 7:30pm

Scream factor: 7

Take US 31 into town and you’ll see it docked on Manistee Lake: the rustic, but imposing, S.S. City of Milwaukee, taken over during Halloween month by ghostly beings. Navigate the steep stairways as you step further into the deep, still darkness of the Ghost Ship’s five decks of thrills, chills and suspense—but don’t be surprised if zombies and vampires try to attack you along the way. And, is that a ghoul at the wheelhouse helm? Find out for yourself. $8 adults/$5 students and seniors. www.manisteeghostship.com 231-723-3587