2021 Guide to Haunted Houses in California
Did you know that California has 123 haunted house attractions listed for the 2021 Halloween haunt season!? Some of them may be located closer to you than you think…
Below, we’ll break down what types of haunts you can choose from, ranging from spooky hayrides and terrifying trail walks to creepy home haunts and multi-attraction scream parks. We’ll also discuss where in California some of the most popular haunted houses are located!
The following list totals up each type of haunt in California, based on how they are listed on our website:
Amusement/Theme Park Haunts: 6
Haunted Boats: 1
Charity Haunts: 16
Cornfield/Maze: 6
Haunted Farm: 2
Haunted Hayride: 4
Haunted Houses with Multiple Attractions: 39
Home/Yard Haunts: 47
Haunted Ride (Non-Hayride): 3
Haunted Trail: 13
Haunted Train: 2
Year-Round Haunted Houses: 2
Fun Fact:
The city with the most attractions / surrounding haunts is Los Angeles, CA.
Each year, we search the internet to find out what these haunts are up to during the off-season. During our 2021 update session for California, 19 haunts’ information was updated, 18 were removed (for various reasons) and 4 haunts were added to the California Haunted House Directory.
We also have Scream Teams that visit some of these haunts and provide in-depth reviews on what you can expect to experience. Based on their most recent visits*, here are the Top 5 Haunts in California by review rating:
- The 17th Door – Fullerton, CA (2018) with an overall score of 9.53!
- Hobbs Grove – Sanger, CA (2018) with an overall score of 9.06!
- All Saints Lunatic Asylum – Apple Valley, CA (2018) with an overall score of 9.4!
- Into The Dark Terror Vault – San Francisco, CA (2019) with an overall score of 8.84!
- Heartstoppers Haunted House – Rancho Cordova, CA (2019) with an overall score of 8.74!
*Only our teams’ most recent ratings from up to 3 years ago (as of this writing) were considered for this list.
The following are some of the most popular haunted attractions** in California, based on our website traffic:
Hawes Haunts
6465 Deschutes Road, Anderson, CA 96007
Summary:
In addition to our great haunts, you get access to unlimited rides on the Silver Spur Roller Coaster, Bumper Cars, Go Karts and Dancing Under the Stars.
Higbee Horror Haunt
601 Neece Drive, Modesto, CA 95351
Summary:
Do you love a good scare? Do you love the classic horror movies that are shown in October? If so, we have the perfect attraction for you and your friends this Halloween season. In October Higbee Horror Haunt will open its gates of terror in Modesto,CA. This walk-through haunted house has real-life characters designed to make your heart race and to put a little jump in your step.
Albertson Halloween House
497 North 16th Street, San Jose, CA 95112
Summary:
For most of the year, the green house at 497 North 16th Street, in San Jose, California does not draw any special attention to itself. But on Halloween night, the front of the Craftsman-style house is transformed into a magical scene where hundreds of kids not only get treats, but also get treated to an experience they will never forget. Visitors are greeted by costumed characters, invited to choose treasures, and given an opportunity to have their picture taken to remember the evening. Whether there’s a twenty-five foot high pirate ship, a quarter-scale AT-ST from Star Wars or a Disney Princess Castle, the Albertson Halloween House always delivers an unforgettable experience. Since their first themed house in 2002, the Albertson Halloween House has become a must-visit destination for kids of all ages on Halloween night.
No Candy
What? That’s right. You would think that with so many trick-or-treaters we would have to give out candy. But, in fact the opposite is true. It is actually less expensive to buy themed toys for the kids than to purchase candy in that volume. Kids love it. They get to walk away with two to three toys, which might include a compass, a pencil, a beaded necklace or some other toy based on that year’s theme.
A Safe Place
A few years ago, we got to become part of the San Jose Safe from the Start program, which provides glow necklaces to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night to keep kids safe as they walk around the neighborhood. We often give out glow necklaces to kids who come to the house. So, in addition to the the toys they get, kids get a fun costume accessory that also keeps them safe.
It Takes a Village
We have a community work day every year where our friends in the community come out to help paint. Whether it is a pirate ship, a castle or the Gotham City skyline, adults and kids alike get to help bring the house to life. Many of these same friends end up volunteering as costumed characters on Halloween night to help welcome guests to the house. Thanks to everyone who has pitched in and leant a hand!
Come On By!
We create the Albertson Halloween House because we want people to have as much fun at Halloween as we do. So, come on by! We’d love to see you!
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Summary:
Be transported into an immersive world of ghosts, psychopathic clowns, vicious demons and Halloween magic.
Beware the Dark Realm
28621 Sugar Pine Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Summary:
Beware the Dark Realm is a FREE non profit Home Haunt to help raise funds for Family Promise. The Sivley Family have been building home and professional haunts since 1971. Beware the Dark Realm haunted house is a high intensity walk-through attraction filled with terrifying live monsters, amazing special effects, and incredible sets, making this one of the premiere home haunts in California.
Pirates of Emerson
4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Alameda County, Pleasanton, CA 94566
Summary:
The Bay Area's Halloween Tradition!®
Dead Time Dreams Haunted Attractions
2300 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122
Summary:
Dead Time Dreams Haunted Attractions are managed and produced by Gravenstein Productions. Our business goals and philosophy is to provide a incredible Haunted House experience. You are not just walking through looking at painted room scenes. These attractions are far more like actually being in the movie itself with all the realism and details for a full sensory impact where you try and cope with what's happening as your psyche is being assailed….
Preston Castle Halloween Haunt
900 Palm Drive, Ione, CA 95640
Summary:
Featured on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Asylum and as the location of several horror movies, come experience Northern California’s only REAL Haunted House!
This is a fun Haunt walk-through and not a historical tour of the Castle. This Halloween experience may be too intense for younger children.
Knotts Scary Farm
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
Summary:
Knott’s Scary Farm is the longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event in Southern California. With 50 years of nightmares, unimaginable scares and innovative thrills, Knott’s Scary Farm has left no tomb unearthed, no crypt un-rattled and no fear untouched.
Experience the culmination of 50 years of terror in the fully transformed theme park, with uniquely haunted mazes and attractions, sinister shows, and more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding across every inch of the park.
Visit Knott’s Scary Farm this Halloween season to help usher in the next 50 years of frights.
Knott’s Scary Farm is not recommended for children under 13. All guests, regardless of age, need to have their own paid admission ticket.
**This information was determined by looking at the haunts’ traffic on our site from the past two years. This is not a top haunts list. The above haunts are listed here in no particular order.
Click Here for our full list of all California haunted houses.
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