Denver Haunted House Guide: Every Haunt Ranked (2026)

October in Denver means one thing: haunted house season. The Denver metro has some of the most terrifying haunted attractions in the country, and every year they get bigger, scarier, and more intense. Colorado's haunted house scene consistently ranks among the best in the nation, and Denver is the undisputed hub.

You want to experience Denver's best haunted houses with your friends, screaming and laughing your way through every room. But hitting multiple haunts in one night means driving between locations in the dark, finding parking at crowded venues, and someone has to be the sober driver. Therefore, we've created this guide to every Denver haunted house plus the ultimate haunted house party bus tour route that hits the best ones in one epic night of terror.

Understanding Scare Levels

Before we dive in, here's our scare level guide so you know what you're signing up for:

- 1-3/10: Family-friendly frights. Jump scares and spooky atmosphere, but nothing too intense. Good for teens and cautious adults. - 4-6/10: Moderate scares. Professional actors, dark environments, and startling moments. Most adults will enjoy this level. - 7-8/10: Intense. Elaborate scares, aggressive actors, claustrophobic spaces, and genuinely frightening moments. Not for the easily scared. - 9-10/10: Extreme. Full-contact experiences, psychological terror, and relentless intensity. Waivers may be required. Only for hardcore horror fans.

Denver's Haunted Houses, Ranked

#1: 13th Floor Haunted House **Location:** 3400 E 52nd Ave, Denver **Scare Level:** 9/10 **Season:** Late September through early November **Tickets:** $25-$50 (general admission), $40-$70 (VIP fast pass) **Wait Time:** 30-90 minutes on weekends, 15-30 on weeknights

Denver's most famous haunted house features three themed haunted experiences under one roof, and it's earned a reputation as one of the top haunted attractions in the entire country. The production value is Hollywood-level, with professional actors, elaborate animatronic effects, detailed sets built by movie-industry professionals, and sensory effects including scent, temperature changes, and vibrating floors that will make you scream.

What to Expect: Three distinct haunted experiences are included with every ticket. Each has a unique theme that changes annually — past themes have included post-apocalyptic nightmares, cursed carnivals, and supernatural asylums. The entire walk-through takes about 45-60 minutes across all three attractions. The actors are trained professionals who feed off your fear — screaming and running only encourages them.

Pro Tip: Go on a Thursday night for the shortest wait times. If you're going on a Friday or Saturday, the VIP fast pass is worth every penny. Arrive before 8 PM to avoid the peak rush. The gift shop and bar area outside the attractions are worth exploring while you wait.

#2: The Frightmare Compound **Location:** 10798 Yukon St, Westminster **Scare Level:** 8/10 **Season:** Late September through Halloween **Tickets:** $20-$40 (single attraction), $35-$60 (combo pass) **Wait Time:** 20-60 minutes

A massive haunted compound spread across several acres in Westminster with multiple attractions including a haunted house, haunted hayride, scare zones, and midway games. The outdoor elements add an extra layer of fear — the cold Colorado night air, the sound of screams echoing across the open field, and the knowledge that scarers could be hiding behind any corner of the compound.

What to Expect: The haunted hayride is the standout experience here. You climb aboard an open-air wagon that rolls through dark fields while actors swarm the vehicle from all sides. The main haunted house is a massive indoor maze with detailed rooms, each themed differently. The scare zones between attractions feature roaming actors who will follow you, get in your face, and make the walk between attractions just as terrifying as the attractions themselves.

Pro Tip: Wear warm layers you don't mind getting dirty — the outdoor elements mean you'll be exposed to the cold, and some of the experiences can be muddy. The combo pass that includes all attractions is the best value.

#3: Elitch Gardens Fright Fest **Location:** 2000 Elitch Circle, Denver **Scare Level:** 6/10 (scare zones) to 8/10 (haunted mazes) **Season:** Late September through October weekends **Tickets:** $40-$75 (includes park admission and rides) **Wait Time:** 15-45 minutes per maze

Denver's major theme park transforms into a massive Halloween celebration every fall. Fright Fest includes multiple haunted mazes, scare zones throughout the park, live entertainment, and — here's the bonus — all the regular thrill rides are open too, many of them running in the dark for an extra adrenaline rush.

What to Expect: Fright Fest offers the most variety of any Denver Halloween attraction. You get 5-7 haunted mazes (themes change annually), scare zones where roaming actors terrorize guests walking between rides, live DJ sets, themed food and drinks, and the ability to ride roller coasters in the dark. The haunted mazes range from family-friendly to genuinely intense, so there's something for every scare tolerance.

Pro Tip: Arrive when the park opens for Fright Fest (typically 6 PM) and hit the haunted mazes first while lines are short. Then ride the coasters later in the evening when maze lines peak. The park stays open until midnight on Saturdays.

#4: Haunted Field of Screams **Location:** 10451 McKay Rd, Thornton **Scare Level:** 7/10 **Season:** Late September through early November **Tickets:** $20-$35 (single attraction), $40-$55 (all-access) **Wait Time:** 15-45 minutes

An outdoor haunted experience with a corn maze, haunted trail, and zombie paintball. Perfect for groups who want variety and fresh air between scares. The sheer scale of the outdoor space creates an immersive environment that indoor haunts can't replicate — you're surrounded by darkness and cornfields with nowhere to hide.

What to Expect: The haunted corn maze is the main attraction — you're navigating a real corn maze in pitch darkness while actors stalk you through the rows. The haunted trail winds through wooded areas with elaborate scenes and jump scares. Zombie paintball puts you on a wagon with a paintball gun as you shoot at zombie targets in a field. It's the most unique attraction in the Denver haunted house scene.

Pro Tip: Wear closed-toe shoes and dress warmly — you'll be outdoors for the entire experience. The zombie paintball sells out on weekends, so buy tickets online in advance.

#5: HellScream Haunted House **Location:** Colorado Springs area (seasonal locations) **Scare Level:** 9/10 **Season:** October **Tickets:** $30-$50 **Wait Time:** 20-45 minutes

While technically south of Denver, HellScream is worth the drive for serious horror fans. This haunted house pushes boundaries with tight spaces, sensory deprivation, and an oppressive atmosphere that builds psychological dread rather than relying solely on jump scares.

What to Expect: HellScream is designed to get under your skin. The experience starts with an unsettling introduction that sets the tone for what's ahead. Expect narrow crawl spaces, rooms where you can't see your hand in front of your face, and actors who specialize in psychological horror. The entire experience takes 30-40 minutes and feels much longer.

#6: The Asylum **Location:** Various Denver locations (check their website for current venue) **Scare Level:** 10/10 **Season:** October (limited dates, tickets sell out fast) **Tickets:** $40-$80 **Wait Time:** Varies (timed entry)

Denver's most extreme haunted experience. This is NOT for the faint of heart — actors can touch you, separate you from your group, and subject you to physical challenges. You must sign a waiver before entering. The Asylum is an interactive theater experience as much as a haunted house, and the actors are performing a story that you become part of.

What to Expect: You'll enter alone or in very small groups. Actors will grab you, whisper in your ear, lead you through dark rooms, and put you through psychological and mildly physical challenges. There's a safe word if you need to stop. The experience lasts 30-45 minutes but feels like an eternity. You will leave shaking.

Pro Tip: Only book The Asylum if you're genuinely comfortable with being touched, confined, and separated from your group. This is an extreme experience designed for hardcore horror fans. Tickets sell out quickly — book at least 2-3 weeks in advance.

Denver Ghost Tours and Haunted History

Beyond the seasonal haunted houses, Denver has a genuinely haunted history that's worth exploring year-round.

Denver's Haunted History

Denver was a Wild West boomtown, and its history is filled with the kind of violence, tragedy, and drama that tends to leave ghosts behind. The city was founded during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1858, and the early years saw everything from devastating fires and floods to gunfights and epidemics. Many of Denver's oldest buildings are rumored to be haunted by the spirits of those turbulent times.

Ghost Tour Options

Denver Ghost Tour (LoDo) — A walking tour through Lower Downtown Denver visiting the most haunted locations, including the Oxford Hotel (where ghosts of former residents reportedly roam the halls), the Brown Palace Hotel (where a murdered man's spirit is said to haunt the eighth floor), and the tunnels beneath downtown that were once used during Prohibition. Tours typically run 90 minutes and cost $20-$30 per person.

Capitol Hill Ghost Tour — Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood is one of the most haunted areas in the city. The Molly Brown House, the Croke-Patterson Mansion, and several other Victorian-era homes have well-documented paranormal histories. Guided tours run during October but some operators offer year-round schedules.

Cheesman Park — Built on top of a former cemetery (where not all the bodies were removed), Cheesman Park is widely considered one of Denver's most haunted locations. Evening walks through the park are a rite of passage for Denver ghost enthusiasts.

The Ultimate Haunted House Party Bus Route

Here's our recommended route for hitting the best haunted houses in one epic night:

The Classic Three-Haunt Night (Weeknight Recommended)

6:30 PM — Pickup at your location. Halloween playlist pumping, snacks and drinks on board, strobe lights setting the mood. 7:15 PM — Arrive at 13th Floor (the best haunt goes first while energy is high) 8:45 PM — Board the bus, share scare stories, catch your breath. Head to Westminster. 9:15 PM — Arrive at Frightmare Compound (combo pass recommended) 10:45 PM — Board the bus for the ride to Thornton 11:00 PM — Haunted Field of Screams for the outdoor corn maze experience 12:15 AM — Board the bus for the ride home (or hit a bar for post-haunt drinks!)

The Marathon Scare Night (Weekend, Start Early)

5:00 PM — Pickup at your location. Pre-haunt dinner stop at a themed restaurant. 6:00 PM — Elitch Gardens Fright Fest (hit 2-3 mazes plus dark rides) 8:30 PM — Board the bus, head to 13th Floor 9:00 PM — 13th Floor Haunted House (VIP fast pass strongly recommended) 10:30 PM — Board the bus for Westminster 11:00 PM — Frightmare Compound (haunted hayride is a must) 12:30 AM — Board the bus for the ride home or a late-night bar stop

Tips for Your Haunted House Party Bus Tour

- Book VIP/fast pass tickets at every haunt — the time savings are massive and mean you can hit more locations - Dress in layers — you'll be going between heated bus, cold outdoor lines, and temperature-controlled indoor haunts - Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes — you'll be on your feet for hours and some haunts have uneven surfaces - No costumes or masks at most haunted houses — they don't want you confused with their actors - Eat before you go — fear burns calories, and you don't want to be hangry while waiting in line - Charge your phone — you'll want to capture reactions, but most haunts prohibit recording inside the attractions - Weeknights (Thursday especially) have the shortest lines — you can hit 3-4 haunts in the time it takes to do 2 on a Saturday

This route works best on weeknights when wait times are shorter. On weekends, plan for longer waits and invest in VIP fast-pass options at every location.

Book your haunted house party bus tour — if you dare.