Wait? Can They Touch Me?
For thrill-seekers on the prowl for something with more than just traditional jump scares, take a look at what we call touch, hands-on, extreme, or sometimes full-contact haunts. Depending on the show, this style of haunted attraction offers an intensified experience where actors may physically interact with guests. These attractions push the boundaries of fear, immersing participants in scenarios that feel more like a real horror movie experience!
In a recent online poll conducted by The Scare Factor, over 55% of respondents said they preferred touch haunts, while about 27% enjoyed both touch and non-touch experiences. Only 18% said they preferred no-touch haunts. This could reflect a growing interest in interactive and immersive haunted house experiences by hardcore haunt fans alike.
What Is a Touch Haunt?
A touch haunt is a haunted attraction where actors are allowed to make physical contact with guests. No, you cannot touch them back. This might include:
- Light brushing or tapping
- Grabbing or pulling
- Restraints, forced movement, or isolation
- Getting wet, messy, or separated from your group, and simulated electrocution, or suffocation
- Simulated violence
These elements are designed to heighten the immersion and intensity of the experience by placing you in the action instead of just watching it unfold. The features listed above are a sampling of the things we have experienced personally and may not be in all touch attractions.
To be clear, we define a touch haunt, or extreme haunt an attraction that heightens our personal experience by scaring the crap out of us AND we have no lasting changes to our body or personal property. Any “haunt” advertising otherwise is not a haunt.
Types of Touch Haunts
Touch haunts come in several forms, and not all are “extreme.” Here are a few common types:
1. Optional Touch Haunts
Some attractions allow guests to choose their level of interaction. For example, guests may wear glowsticks or necklaces to indicate they consent to being touched. These indicators can often be removed at any point during the experience if a guest changes their mind. If these instructions are unclear, be sure to ask before going into the attraction.
2. Tiered Scare Levels
Certain haunts offer different “tiers” of scaring, with touch elements introduced at higher levels. A prime example is the Castle of Chaos in Utah, which provides five distinct levels of fear:
Level 1: Monsters Be Gone – No touch. Guests carry a glow wand to keep monsters away.
Level 2: General Admission – Classic haunted house experience, no physical contact.
Level 3: Hands-On Horror – Actors may touch guests lightly, but without moving them.
Level 4: X-Scream Hands-On Horror – More intense; actors may touch and move guests, including restraining or isolating them.
Level 5: Ultimate Hands-on Horror – An 18+ experience requiring a signed waiver. This level includes extreme physical and psychological elements not suitable for most guests.
Each level is optional, and guests choose their preferred intensity when booking tickets. Full details are available directly from Castle of Chaos’ official website.
3. Exclusive Extreme Events
Some family-friendly haunts host special 18+ nights featuring more intense scares and physical interactions. These events often include waiver requirements and are designed for adult audiences seeking a heightened experience.
We’ve had a blast at USS Nightmare’s Captain’s Extreme Tour.
The Controversy Around Extreme Touch Haunts
One of the most controversial examples in the extreme/touch haunt category is a venue we’ll refer to as “MM.” You know which one we’re talking about. Known for pushing well beyond the traditional boundaries of haunted attractions, MM has gained viral attention for its multi-hour experiences, intense physicality, and extreme psychological tactics. Guests are required to pass health screenings, background checks, and sign a 40-page waiver before participating.
At The Scare Factor, we want to be absolutely clear:
We do not condone MM as a legitimate haunted house, because it isn’t one.
We are frequently asked whether we’ve done it or plan to in the future, and the answer is a firm NO.
MM’s practices have sparked widespread backlash, with critics labeling it as a “torture chamber disguised as entertainment.” Petitions and media investigations have further fueled the debate over how far is too far, even in an industry built around fear.
While it may technically be operational, MM stands in stark contrast to the type of haunted attractions we support, ones built on creativity, safety, theatricality, and genuine scare entertainment.
Safety and Consent
Reputable touch haunts prioritize safety and informed consent. Participants are often required to sign waivers acknowledging the nature of the experience. Actors undergo training to ensure interactions are safe and appropriate. For instance, Nightmare on Edgewood in Indiana emphasizes actor training and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. They also have cameras installed throughout the attraction for customer safety.
It’s important to note that while some touch haunts have strict “no-touch” zones (areas of the body that are off-limits), others may not have such clearly defined boundaries. Always inquire about a haunt’s specific policies before participating. Know before you go!
Are Touch Haunts Safe?
Reputable touch haunts are designed with safety and consent as top priorities. Actors are trained to stay in character while following strict guidelines. Many attractions have:
- Waivers and safety briefings
- Emergency stop signals or safe words
- Clearly defined physical boundaries
- Trained staff and security are nearby
As a general rule, do your homework before attending. Read reviews, watch videos, and don’t be afraid to ask questions directly.
As professional haunt reviewers who have personally visited hundreds of haunted attractions across the U.S., including dozens of touch haunts, we’ve seen firsthand how physical interaction can heighten fear while still being safe, consent-driven, and professionally executed. In our experience, most touch haunts are operated with just as much, if not more, attention to safety and guest boundaries as traditional no-touch haunts.
Why Do People Love Them?
Touch haunts deliver an adrenaline rush like no other. For fans of horror, they offer:
- Total immersion: You’re not watching a story; you’re also living it.
- Physical scares: Adding realism and unpredictability
- Unique memories: Every visit feels personal, and no two runs are exactly the same
As noted by Haunting.net, many extreme haunts are designed to evoke a spectrum of emotional responses, from terror and confusion to vulnerability and thrill.
Psychologically, introducing touch activates the brain’s fight, flight, or freeze response, making the fear feel real, even though you’re safe. The sudden physicality creates genuine spikes in adrenaline and cortisol, which heighten memory retention and emotional impact. That’s why guests often describe touch haunts as the most intense and unforgettable haunted experiences they’ve had.
What to Bring / How to Prepare
What to Know Before You Go:
- Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, wet, or possibly stained with fake blood or slime (sometimes, depending on what they use, it can permanently stain)
- Read and understand the waiver carefully, and know what you’re agreeing to
- Don’t attend under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Know your personal limits, and respect them
- Ask if the haunt offers safe words or emergency exits
- If actors are moving or guiding you, don’t resist. It’s better to loosen your body and go with the motion. Fighting back or pulling away may not only break immersion, but it can leave you sore the next day (trust us, we’ve learned that the hard way).
How to Find a Touch Haunt Near You
At The Scare Factor, our haunted attraction directory includes details about:
- Whether the haunt is touch or no touch
- Age and waiver requirements
- Actor interaction levels for haunts with reviews
- Scare intensity and safety scores for haunts with reviews
Some of our review teams also post walkthrough videos and behind-the-scenes insights to help you decide what type of haunt is best for you.
Verified Touch Haunts on The Scare Factor
These attractions are known for incorporating physical interaction into their experiences. Some offer optional touch elements, while others are full-contact haunts. Always check each haunt’s specific policies and requirements before attending.
Nightmare on Edgewood – Indianapolis, IN
One of Indy’s most intense haunts, offering a highly interactive experience.
View Listing | Read 2024 Review
Malice Manor – Clarksville, IN
A fully original haunted house with immersive storytelling and interactive elements.
View Listing | Read 2024 Review
The Haunted Hotel – Louisville, KY
An extreme, interactive, and in-your-face touch haunt.
View Listing | Read 2024 Review
Hammer Brothers Haunted Circus – Waynesfield, OH
Features a haunted cornfield and a haunted paintball wagon trail with a circus twist.
View Listing | Read 2023 Review
Face Your Fears Hotel of Terror – Springfield, OH
Offers an optional touch experience with the purchase of a touch pass.
View Listing | Read 2024 Review
The Scream Chamber – Athens, TN
An intense haunt that may include physical interaction; check their policies for details.
View Listing | Read 2024 Review
Haunted Hoochie at Dead Acres – Pataskala, OH
Known for its extreme and controversial approach to haunted attractions. The Hoochie is a full-contact haunted house with a theme of brutal horror.
View Listing | Read 2022 Review
Blood Prison – Mansfield, OH
Set in the historic Ohio State Reformatory, this haunt offers an intense experience that may include physical contact, should you be brave enough to opt for it! Yes, they offer an optional touch option!
View Listing | Read 2024 Review
Baxter Avenue Morgue – Louisville, KY
A long-standing haunt with a reputation for intense, theatrical scares utilizing light touch.
View Listing
The 17th Door – Buena Park, CA
An over-the-top immersive experience, considering one of the scariest, most intense, and most physically interactive haunted houses in the country.
View Listing
Deranged Haunt – Romulus, MI
An interactive, story-telling haunted house attraction where everything is not as it seems. They offer an optional Blood Sacrifice option on special occasions that includes full touch.
View Listing | 2024 Review
Black Orchard Haunted House – Shelbyville, KY
Visit the brutal murder site of the infamous Black Orchard Murders. These atrocities were so graphic that they remain classified to this day. Silas Black and his family of killers remain at large.
View Listing | 2024 Review
Unreal Nightmares – Jasonville, IN
A full touch escape room / haunted house hybrid where you must search for clues and escape before being trapped forever!
View Listing | 2024 Review
Indy Scream Park – Anderson, IN
This park offers an optional touch option in several of their haunted attractions, where you may get a more interactive experience where you may be touched, separated from your group, lie on tables, get inside a body bag, and more! Customers must be 18+ to participate in the more interactive experience.
View Listing | 2024 Review
Scream A Geddon – Dade City, FL
As a sister park to Indy Scream Park, Scream A Geddon also offers optional touch pass options in several of their haunts by “marking” themselves with a glow necklace for customers 18 and up.
View Listing
USS Nightmare – Newport, KY
USS Nightmare offers two different shows that vary from their traditional haunted ship attraction: The Captain’s Extreme Tours on select dates only (extreme haunt) and the RIP Experience.
View Listing | 2024 Review
Streaper’s Nightmare – Peru, IN
This is a touch haunt that will surprise you around every corner! We think this would be a good option if you want to see if you like touch haunts, but have never been to one before.
View Listing | 2024 Review
Castle of Chaos – Midvale, UT
The haunt where you choose your level of fright and home to the extreme immersive horror event, The Kruseb(e)l.
View Listing | 2024 Review
Field of Screams – Mountville, PA
The creatures at FOS will certainly reach out and invade your personal space, we know from experience! This really increased the overall Scare Factor of this scream park!
View Listing | 2024 Review
Pennhurst Asylum – Spring City, PA
Imagine walking through a dark, foggy underground tunnel, and at any time, something may brush up against you. Be prepared when you go to Pennhurst, what lurks in the dark may be a living scare actor or a spirit from the past…
View Listing
And many more!
*Note: Touch policies at haunted attractions are subject to change. While the haunts listed above have included physical interaction in the past, always check their most current website or contact them directly before attending.
TL;DR: Are Touch Haunts Worth It?
They’re not for everyone, but if you’re craving something more intense than your typical haunted house, a touch haunt can take fear to the next level. Whether you want to be lightly brushed or thrown into the deep end of psychological horror, there’s a haunt out there ready to test your limits.
This article was published on 6/7/2025 by Team Zombillies
Edited by Team Brady Pack, Team Skelegore, and Team Teachers of Terror
