6 Spookiest Haunted Houses near Mile High City

[Halloween skeleton. Photo: Ryan Policky] What better way to celebrate fall than getting spooked with your friends and family at one of the scariest haunted houses in Denver. The Mile High City boasts a large array of haunted houses and halloween focused fun.

Haunted houses in Colorado range from child friendly, family scares, to adult only, pee your pants terror. Parents ultimately can make their own judgement, as age recommendations are merely that. We’ll let you know below what ages are suggested by those running it.

Most haunted houses are only open weekends at sundown, and of course Halloween Night, though days and times vary, so please always check with the official website. Dates listed below are ranges and do not include closed weekdays or even closed weekend days.

Best Haunted Houses near Denver, CO

Remember to show up earlier in the evening if you hate waiting because these places may have long lines. Some haunted houses in Denver sell tickets online in advance and some even offer a fast pass or line skip. Ghouls, goblins and ghosts lurk around every dark corner at these haunted houses. Experience the supernatural this season with your closest friends. Who will be the first to scream?

The halloween season kicks off in autumn when the nights get colder, darker and longer. Haunted houses open select nights from late September through October 31st, and some up to the weekend or two after. Dress casual, no need to visit a Denver Halloween costume store just for the occasion.

Here are the top haunted houses around Denver, CO, in no particular order:

1. The Frightmare Compound

For the last 28 years, The Frightmare Compound has been scaring the socks off Front Range residents. It’s the oldest and longest running haunted house in Denver. There are two haunted houses featured here, both located in Westminster.

i. Freightmare Compound – Founded in 1983 by Brad Holder, this Westminster haunted house was the first. He painstakingly crafted the compound for 16 years before falling ill. They say his body is buried deep within the haunted house, making this one of the most authentic.

ii. House of Darkness – The clown’s house, owned by Poppy Sycamore, was a highlight of his hometown’s circus every year since 1947. It ran until Poppy fell ill in 1976, the night a bloody massacre occurred inside the fun house. It closed and reopened in Westminster all these years later.

iii. Lights Out – It’s a two day event November 1 & 2. You and your friends are alone in the compound, lost in absolute darkness!

September 27-October 31, 2019 – Closed September 29-30, October 1-2, 7-8 | 108th & Old Wadsworth, Westminster, CO 80021 (Map)

2. City of the Dead Asylum

Now situated at the City of the Dead, The Asylum dubs itself as “Denver’s Favorite Haunted House”. It’s interactive and places you into a make-believe scenario. It’s not recommended for children under the age of 12. Situated north of Denver in Henderson, the three main attractions include:

Scared crazy patients inhabit The Asylum. Visitors here are welcome to roam the grounds on their own and partake in the recreational amenities. But be careful not to venture too far or chance vanishing into the void. Careful of the delusions patients and the terrifying world in which they reside.

The City of the Dead is Denver’s longest and biggest indoor haunted house. It’s been called the Metro’s scariest too. It’s located at the Mile High Flea Market in Henderson, on the corner of I-76 and 88th Ave.

The City of the Dead is a town of death and decay, long forgotten by society. There are only a few remaining residents, though they are barely considered that as they are barely alive. Make your way safely down the streets past clans of the living dead, or succumb to their wishes and join them in roaming the streets for eternity.

September 20-November 2, 2019 | 7007 E 88th Ave, Henderson, CO 80640 (Map)

3. 13th Floor

The 13th Floor boasts a location that’s 10,000 square feet bigger than in 2017! And it already had a reputation as one of Denver’s scariest. It’s open for two weekends after Halloween and recommended children over 11. Big attractions include:

i. Mini Escape Games – Fully interactive group experience where you have 5 minutes to escape the room.

ii. The Other Side – After bicycling around town by the infamous Quarry you lose one of your friends. Did he disappear or was he taken to the other side?!

iii. Tales of the Unknown – A doctor at Hades Labs was supposedly transformed by a chemical Agent 13 into a half man/half rat. He scurries around either looking for a cure or his next dinner.

iv. Clown– – Every 13 years the clown returns to ravage the souls of kids and adults who are scared. Will he sense your fear?

September 13-November 9, 2019 | 3400 East 52nd Avenue, Denver, CO 80216 (Map)

4. Reaper’s Hollow

With 3 completely separate attractions, Reaper’s Hollow is sure to satisfy your Halloween fix. Home of Fright Acres, it’s the largest outdoor haunted attraction venue in Colorado. It’s located southeast of Denver in the quiet but spooky suburb of Parker.

Choose between the legendary Reapers Hollow, The Dead End Motel, Goblins Grove and Fright Zone. Reapers is a giant haunted cornfield trail. The Motel is an indoor haunt that you can’t stay at. Goblins is out in the woods. Each attraction has separate entrances and exits and are totally different themes.

September 28-November 2, 2019 | 11321 Dransfeldt Rd, Parker, CO 80134 (Map)

5. Haunted Field of Screams

Four terrifying attractions combine to create Colorado’s largest halloween scream park, the Haunted Field of Screams. All four are interactive haunts, with two tours, one maze and a paintball shootout. All children under 13 must be chaperoned by an adult. It’s located just north of the Mile High City in Thornton.

i. Condemned – You are the prey being hunted by psychotic killers. Wind through abandoned ruins, torture chambers and other structures that will make your stomach sick.

ii. Dead Man’s Maze – It’s just you, your group and a bunch of organ eating zombies and ghouls. They hunt you while you’re on your way through a dark cornfield maze, lit only by the moonlight. They don’t stop until you free yourself.

iii. Zombie Paintball Massacre – Survivors armed with CO2 and balls of paint, shoot the undead from your commandeered trailer. Make your way across a rundown farm to reach the zombie patrol outpost on the other side. This is a high adrenaline fight for your life and the fate of humankind.

iv. CarnEvil In The Corn – Test your fate as your wander through the cornstalks. This disorienting adventure leads you to a forgotten freak show led by a ringmaster out for blood.

v. Pitch Dark – Special limited ride to the gates of hell held October 31st to November 2nd. It’s the Haunted Field of Screams freaky BLACKOUT EVENT.

September 27-November 2, 2019 | 10451 McKay Rd, Thornton, CO 80233 (Map)

6. Fright Fest at Elitch Gardens

Elitch’s Fright Fest boasts three eerie haunts: No Vacancy, Big Top Freaks, and Séance. Guests participate in these interactive tours, making their way through thrilling hallways, a nightmarish inn, a carnival graveyard run by cannibal clowns. Explore Elitch Gardens Theme Park after dark…if you dare.

It’s open Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. So this is a great option for parents looking to take their kids to a Halloween event during the day on weekends, open at noon. Though it’s recommended for guests over 12 years old.

All October long it’s “Family By Day and Fright By Night”. Best part of this large Halloween event is that the theme park rides are open too, though KiddieLand will close at 6pm each night during Fright Fest.

September 27-November 2, 2019 | 2000 Elitch Cir, Denver, CO 80204

Additional Haunted Houses throughout Colorado

For those that live south of Denver, you have a few options for Halloween festivities. Canon City’s Aftermath Haunted House features one of Colorado’s best haunted houses. It runs October 12th, 19th, 25th and 26th, 2019 from 7pm to 10:30pm, complete with zombie laser tag.

Colorado Springs boasts the bone-chilling HellScream Haunted House. It starts Saturday, September 27th and runs at various dates through November 8th. Another Springs’ Halloween staple is the Haunted Mines. It also starts September 27th and goes to November 9th. They boasts it as bigger, darker and terrifying than ever!

Thanks for checking out our list of top haunted houses around the Mile High City. If you’re still looking for more, you can visit the Pikes Peak Region, as it has its fair share of terror themed festivities. You can also uncover Colorado’s most haunted places any time of year.