The 13th Floor Haunted House Review (2026)

Getting tickets for the 13th Floor is incredibly simple, with the link right on the haunt’s homepage and all the advertising one could ask for. Guests who have signed up for notifications from the 13th Floor can even get early access to incredible sales before the tickets even go on sale.

The 13th Floor is located in an older, industrial section of Denver, which makes it easy to navigate to the right place with your favorite map app. That also means, however, that parking can be tough. The 13th Floor folks go out of their way to help guests with this, including a text the afternoon of our visit that was all about parking. While there is plenty of street parking for free, it tends to fill up quickly. There are also vendors who sell parking all around the venue, as well as a lot associated with the haunt that charges no more than $10. In any case, visitors are well-advised to leave plenty of time for parking or consider ride-sharing (then visiting the secret bars to enjoy their bevy of bevies), especially if visiting later in the evening when street parking has largely been claimed, and the lots might be full.

Once guests have parked, the haunt’s entrance beckons, inviting guests into the entryway, which features some simple backdrops for photos, then through security. Note that only clear bags are permitted inside, and guests must go through metal detectors, along with the usual rules. That process went seamlessly, though, as the folks working the haunt are pros.

The same goes for the creatures milling around in the courtyard that greets guests. As we stood near the entrance, taking in the buzzing sights and sounds that surrounded us, we were repeatedly accosted by the actors in the area. A gigantic Jason silently stalked the area near his eponymous haunt, menacing us with a machete. The sight of his iconic mask turning to stare directly at me as he approached sent a chill down my spine that started when I was a kid in the ‘80s watching him mow through campers. Not all of the courtyard cast was terrifying, however. One incredibly friendly creature seemed to have escaped from The Stitchworks: House of Reanimation, and wanted nothing more than to inspect and befriend us before ultimately skittering off into the sunset. Another cast member prepared us for the tragic terror that awaited us in the Cathedral of the Crimson Queen haunted attraction with baleful wails. That courtyard crew kept things incredibly lively and entertaining with incredible performances and tremendous costuming, setting the stage for the haunts themselves.

After passing through security, guests are immediately surrounded by the 13th Floor’s courtyard, which is the central hub for accessing all the haunt has to offer. Music fills the air, punctuated by the occasional chainsaw blast or cast interaction, while the din of excited guests wafts around. The haunt queue lines and entrances are clearly marked, with one of the secret bars being not so hidden behind wide-open doors. Photo ops, cabanas for rent, and the gift shop line the back, and a food stand and photo pickup booth flank the main entryway. Between the vibes and the actors in the courtyard, the 13th Floor did a decent job of setting the mood to scary.

Each of the three attractions had its own theme, and each achieved varying levels of success. The Jason Universe haunt had the cleanest theme, which was Crystal Lake clear, albeit a bit campy. The Stitchworks and Cathedral haunts communicated their respective themes a little less clearly, which wasn’t helped by the flags at the queue lines simply saying “Attraction 1” and “Attraction 2” rather than anything related to the theme or attraction’s name. Each of the three haunts also had varying levels of immersion. Although the Jason Universe theme was obvious and well-executed, the haunt itself was a little sparse, allowing our eyes and attention to wander between interactions with Jason. The Cathedral did a better job of keeping us immersed, but also had a few lulls that allowed us to note things that broke the illusion. Finally, the Stitchworks kept us enraptured more than either of its sister attractions. After each haunt, guests are sent back into the central courtyard to interact with the cast more and figure out their next steps, which is a stark difference from each haunt but provides a terrific transition and a chance to catch their breath before screaming it back out again!

Overall, the special effects at the 13th Floor are incredible! Haunt fans will be hard-pressed to find another haunt in the metro area with the same level and quality of huge animatronics found here, which, when paired with the other top-notch special effects that fill the haunts, make the scare actors’ performances stand out all the more.

Given the natural feel of the Jason Universe haunt, there were fewer special effects throughout the attraction, though the three haunts collectively showcased an eerie assortment of special effects. Visitors experience unstable paths, creative set designs, disorienting lighting changes, and one of the best vortex tunnels we’ve been through in years, saying nothing of the other high points guests get to visit in the haunts.

While the special effects help set the scene and create some eye candy, the haunt actors really carry the show. We were somewhat surprised at the dearth of cast in the Jason Universe haunt, as there were a handful of interactions with Jason himself in the various sections of the path, but no cast between those moments. The other two haunts seemed to have more actors, and there were more interactions in each than the Jason Universe, but all of them could have used more living creatures. Admittedly, the day after we visited, we saw a wanted ad from the haunt, so it may be that additional roles will be filled as the season progresses.

All of the actors we encountered, however, did a tremendous job of playing their parts. The Jason actors displayed their trademark brutality and brawn, dispensing with campers before fixing upon their next victims, who just happened to be us. The Cathedral cast brought the performances, but could have benefited from a little more variety in approaches and appearances. Stitchworks offered the best assortment of characters, some a little crabbier than others.

The 13th Floor provides plenty of fear. The Stitchworks: House of Reanimation and the Cathedral of the Crimson Queen took the crown, topping the scores with the most well-paced and unpredictable scares. The space that now belongs to the grotesquely reanimated Stitchworks has been part of the 13th Floor’s scare floor for ages now, so the haunt runners have the timing down pat, the scenes well-crafted, the special effects perfectly placed, and the actors’ paths down to a science, and it shows. The Cathedral shared much of the same, with a highly active cast and terrifying effects. The Jason Universe was somewhat unique in that it seemed more like a series of vignettes separated by tightly winding pathways than the other haunts, which, although enjoyable, wasn’t as scary as we anticipated, especially when the thematic music grew markedly louder, building suspense and being a dead giveaway of an impending encounter. Given the tight and frequent turns in the pathway, the back part of our group often only saw the aftermath of Jason’s handiwork rather than seeing it happen, as the front of the group did.

The haunt’s finales were all a good time, with the Jason Universe finale being unexpectedly different and far more gruesome than the other haunts’ finales. Don’t think you’ve found safety in The Cathedral and Stitchworks, though, as they also end with some creative twists to the traditional finale.

The cost of admission to the 13th Floor varies as the season progresses, with some nights coming in as low as $19.99 per ticket and others at a premium of $34.99 per person. And that’s just the beginning. Visitors can upgrade to fast pass tickets that offer approximately ⅓ the wait of general admission, and Skip the Line, which promises no wait but are limited. Fans wanting even more can purchase the Platinum Pass, which includes Skip the Line admission while providing access to many of the 13th Floor’s other adventures and add-ons.

Still want more? Well, they’ve got you covered with RIP Cabanas for rent for a private respite with great views of the courtyard, and respawn passes that allow visitors to go through the haunts a second time! Although the minutes per dollar ratio varies depending on the night you visit, it remains near the average for a top-quality haunt in Colorado. Add to that the frights and delights of the midway and its monsters, and the value of a night at the 13th Floor is undoubtedly high!