Haunted House Roundup

Spooky season is upon us, so we’ve done you the favor of surveying the current haunted house landscape in the Jacksonville area and came up with some of the best options to scare your pants off. From intense, physical experiences to more family-friendly affairs, there’s something to get people of every tolerance level into the holiday spirit!

13th Floor Haunted House

National haunted house chain 13th Floor’s Jacksonville outpost has quickly become a go-to for Halloween lovers looking for multiple haunting experiences under one roof. This years attractions are threefold: run from a chainsaw wielding maniac in Chop House, experience a trick-or-treat excursion unlike any other on All Hallows Eve, and explore the deck of a ghost ship with Legends of the Deep. On top of all that, they’re also offering are throwing and mini escape rooms to entertain the scaredy cats looking for some tamer fun. $19.99-$27.99; 7 p.m to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday; 9230 Arlington Expy, Jacksonville, FL; 13thfloorjacksonville.com // @13thfloorjax

Estuscary Haunted Trail

Head to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach for a hayride and one-of-a-kind haunted hike through a nature trail that’s been transformed into something terrifying. You’ll have the chance to enjoy some beautiful sights and possibly even scope out some local wildlife in between screams, the sort of haunted house experience you can only have in Florida. $10-$15; 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday October 21st and Saturday October 22nd; gtmnerr.org // @gtmresearchreserve

Nightmare on Bay Street

For those who aren’t afraid of a little bit of gore to go along with their Halloween partying, head to Bay Street for a haunted block party that is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Between The Doom Room, a grim house of horror, serial killer crime scene Jason’s Secret Jungle, plus outdoor stages full of horror themed entertainment and more, these hybrid night club/hauntings feature DJs spinning Caribbean, Afrobeat, Hip Hop, EDM, and more, plus drink specials and costume contest happening all night! $25-$50; 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday October 30th; 315 E Bay Street Jacksonville, FL

Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Halloween Festival

If you’re looking for an experience that’s a bit tamer and more family-friendly but still entertaining, the Peanut Patch and Corn Maze festival is your best bet. A charming haunted house awaits, as well as a corn maze that transforms at night to something a bit more frightening, plus hayrides, food vendors, and a nightly bonfire to really set the tone for Fall. $15; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays; 8656 SW 75th St, Gainesville, FL; peanutpatchandcornmaze.com

Haunt Nights at Adventure Landing

Each year around this time, wholesome family fun complex Adventure Landing transforms into something more sinister. Dubbed Haunt Nights, they’ve unveiled two haunted houses to test the nerves of all who dare to enter: Payn Manor, a large but decaying mansion with a sinister secret, and Dark Fables, the only 3D haunted house in the area, augmenting the experience with disorienting and thrilling 3D visual effects that line the walls of a terrifying labyrinth. $24.99; 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturdays; 1944 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL: hauntnightsjax.com // @hauntnights

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