Fallen leaves with orange and brown shades scatter the ground; trees’ bare limbs are exposed as the hues begin to swirl with the autumn wind. An uneasy feeling creeps up like one of the ghoulish decorations found in a neighbor’s yard or behind a store’s window. Light is beginning to leave the sky, exaggerating the LED lights on the haunted house entrance that lies a few steps away. Characters dressed in fake blood and monster masks lurk at every corner, but the fear is half the fun. If you find yourself looking for a scare this Halloween season, consider venturing into one of these ghostly destinations.
Paranoia Haunted House opened its gates Sept. 29, revealing their 2023 Halloween theme: Necrosis (the death in most living tissue and/or organs). Located just off Marietta Highway, Etowah students rush to get tickets to this terrifying attraction each year. Monsters roam as teens wait anxiously in line, offering the perfect chance for a picture. Paranoia features two houses, where participants can walk unguided through hallways littered with special effects and actors posed to scare visitors.
“Paranoia is a haunted house that Americans across the country are traveling for. It is not only fun, but it also creates so many memories for you and all of your friends to enjoy,” Hayden Raffield, junior, said.
Also offering not one but two opportunities for guests to face their worst fears is Nightmare’s Gate. The attraction’s two haunted houses, Terror Falls and The Hauntings of Longview Estate, opened Sept. 22 and invite those brave enough to step inside up until Halloween night. General admission is $35 dollars, but if one is really itching for a scare, consider purchasing the fast pass for $75.
“I like haunted houses because it is fun to go and do with friends and family during spooky season. It gives an adrenaline rush in a fun way, and you make memories,” Jaiden Smith, senior, said.
Down in Jasper, GA, the Haunted Hills Farm (also known as the Holler) challenges visitors to make it through their woods after dark. One ticket is worth three horrifying experiences at the Holler on the Haunted Trail, Haunted Hayride, and the Blacklight Haunt. The 15 acres and 40 minutes of scream time is priced at $28 at the gate and $30 online. Once the ticket is bought, there is no waiting, as one can watch the scary movie the farm is playing, sit near their campfires, or stop at concessions until called to enter the attraction.
“This season, we are having one black out night when the Holler goes dark. We turn off all the lights, and you make your way through in the dark. You will have a glowstick to help you on your way. You cannot see our monsters coming, and they are everywhere,” the Haunted Hills Farm website said.
Do not let the spooky season slip by without stopping at a haunted house guaranteed to create some horrifyingly fun memories.
