What says fall more than pumpkin spice and everything nice? Gather your friends and family and head out to explore all things spooky and kooky, creepy and crawly, ghostly and ghoulish. Here are a few spook-takular fall destinations right here in Indiana!
Fright Level – Spirited
Grim-nasium Haunted House at the Children’s Museum – Indianapolis, IN (Oct 11-31)
The Children’s Museum Guild is introducing a fear-inspiring gymnasium, for their 55th Annual Haunted House! Grab a courtside seat to cheer on your favorite phantom in the monster-filled gym, but keep your eyes open because ghoulish surprises lurk in the bleachers!
For those too cute to spook there are lights-on hours and frightening hours for the children who dare to have a scary good time! In addition to the Grim-nasium, The Children’s Museum offers several family-friendly fall activities. Don’t miss The Black Hat Bash on October 6. It’s considered one of the city’s biggest and best family-friendly Halloween parties!
More Information: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/haunted-house
The Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie – Fishers, IN (Oct 11-28)
Conner Prairie’s annual Halloween festival is full of activities, shows, and fang-tastic family fun. One of the most-loved adventures is the haunted hayride where you get “chased” down by a headless horseman!
In addition to the hayride, a corn maze, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow marionette show, kids’ crafts, face painting, magic show, storytelling, midway games, and fall treats are all available for your family’s enjoyment! This event runs every evening, rain or shine, October 11 – October 28.
More Information: http://www.connerprairie.org/things-to-do/events/headless-horseman
Fright Night – Fort Wayne, IN (Oct 20, 2018)
Fright Night is one of the most anticipated Halloween events in downtown Fort Wayne! It features a hair-raising Zombie Walk where thousands of decomposing zombies shuffle through the downtown streets. The walk starts at the Allen County Public Library with numerous other mystical activities for people to enjoy throughout the day and evening. The event lasts all day from 9 AM – 11 PM with the walk taking place around 5 PM. Don’t miss your chance to walk with the dead during this ghoulishly delightful day. Arrive early so you can enjoy the adult zombie makeup stations and not-too-scary makeup for children prior to the walk!
More Information: https://www.visitfortwayne.com/event/fright-night-2018/20796/
Exploration Acres – Lafayette, IN (Sept 14 – Oct 28)
Exploration Acres is known for their clever corn mazes and this year is no different. They’ve turned the popular Netflix series, Stranger Things, into an incredible 20-acre corn maze and it’s getting national attention! It’s currently ranked #2 of best corn mazes from USA Today.
In addition to using your navigations skills to get through the field, you can also enjoy a pumpkin patch which boasts more than 38 varieties of pumpkins. No visit to a farm is complete without a hayride and dozens of other kid-friendly activities! The farm is open September 14 – October 28.
More Information: https://explorationacres.com/
Fright Level – Spooky
Irvington Ghost Tours – Irvington (Indianapolis), IN (Sept 28 – Oct 27)
A spirited walking tour through Irvington is a fun evening activity for a ghost enthusiast or history buff. Hearing the stories of several famous people that have ties to Irvington is fascinating! This moonlit community event is available every Friday and Saturday, September 28 – October 27.
The tour costs $15/person and also includes a book written by the tour guide who is a former history teacher. This activity is known to draw large crowds so it’s suggested to go earlier in the season and always pack your patience. While this is a family-friendly tour, it lasts until about 10 PM and does include discussion of some adult-content.
More Information: http://www.indianaghosttours.org/
Ghost Stories at Crown Hill Cemetery – Indianapolis, IN (Oct 13, 2018)
Ghost Stories is a fun outdoor event featuring very talented storytellers from Storytelling Arts of Indiana sharing haunted tales in one of the nation’s largest non-governmental cemeteries. Several storytellers will take the stage with their chilling stories turning up the fear factor as the night continues.
The stories begin at 7:30 PM. Bring blankets and lawn chairs before darkness falls, and prepare to be entertained. Pack a picnic or check out one of the food trucks that will be on site.
More Information: http://www.crownhill.org/event/7th-annual-ghost-stories-rip-reception/
Fright Level – Scary
We asked our social media followers about the freakiest Halloween activities and we were frightened by all the responses! The group has spoken:
Indy Scream Park – Anderson, IN (Sept 15 – Nov 3)
This park has brought some of the best minds in the haunted house industry to create five different haunted-house-type attractions. A few of the terrifying attractions include Zombieland: Unchained, Pandemic: Mutation, and Brickmore Asylum.
Due to the startling actions and bone-chilling appearances, Indy Scream Park is recommended for adults and teens only.
More Information: https://www.indyscreampark.com/
Necropolis – Indianapolis, IN (Oct 3-31)
Necropolis: City of Perpetual Darkness is located in the Dark Armies Facility on the east side of Indianapolis. Dark Armies is open all year for paintball and laser tag, in case you are too frightened to enter Necropolis!
Necropolis is actually four haunted attractions made up of “The House,” “The Cemetery,” “The Factory,” and “The Hotel.” Visit just one or all four if you dare! This haunted activity is completely indoors so there is never a fear of weather interference.
More Information: http://www.darkarmies.com/necropolis-haunted-house/index.html
Hanna Haunted Acres – Indianapolis, IN (Sept 28 – Nov 3)
Hanna Haunted Acres lives up to its name. It’s literally acres of land spread throughout the state of Indiana, all dedicated to one purpose—terrify you! The hair-raising haunted houses are large, unrelenting, and unapologetic.
Hanna Haunted Acres has 6 bone-chilling attractions, however, their Haunted Hayride is their crown achievement. It is a well-paced roller coaster cruising through the woods with all possible nightmarish creatures imaginable lurking about. Forced to keep at the pace of the tractor pulling your wagon, you will have no choice but to endure the terror!
More Information: https://hannahauntedacres.com/
House of Trepidation – Indianapolis, IN (Sept 28 – Oct 31)
This 20,000 square foot, three-attraction indoor haunted house is just south of downtown Indianapolis. House of Trepidation is considered “young” in the haunted house industry, opening only three years ago—but don’t let that fool you! They still bring more than 50 years of combined pro-haunt and scream park experience. The scenes, sets, and environment they have created will instantly immerse you into the surroundings and frightfully delight!
A journey through Trepidation, Crossroads of Carnage, or Purgatory will take you through scream-filled dark rooms. As a visitor, plan to be extremely uneasy and do everything you can to stick together!
More Information: https://houseoftrepidation.com/
No matter where you travel this fall, stay safe and enjoy your trip. At Jiffy Lube of Indiana, our certified technicians are always ready to keep your car in road trip condition. If you decide to take your vehicle elsewhere before heading out on the road, be sure you have a thorough inspection! You wouldn’t want your car to die…. on an abandoned bridge… at night… Happy Haunting!
