Best Haunted Houses and Paranormal Experiences in the Cincy Region

History and horror collide in the Cincy Region. This spooky season we invite you to dive deep into the dark and eerie corners of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Uncover the creepiest haunted houses, ghost tours and paranormal experiences that will send shivers down your spine.

Haunted Houses and Attractions

The Dent Schoolhouse

Walking through school hallways can be scary enough, but they’re especially frightening at the Dent Schoolhouse. Located in an actual haunted school, this iconic attraction (and ranked one of the top haunted houses in the country!) features surprises lurking behind every corner. The local lore is that over a dozen students went missing from this public school between the years of 1942 to 1955. What happened to them? You’ll have to pay a visit to find out.

Check dates and ticket prices online. Want to see how a haunted house is created? Go behind the scenes of the Dent Schoolhouse with a private tour (select dates only). 

* Running select days September 12 – November 1.

Cincinnati Fear Fest/All Hallows Eve Terror Town

Prepare for spine-tingling scares at Cincinnati Fear Fest/All Hallows Eve Terror Town. Be transported back in time as you walk down Main Street in a haunted western town, then choose your own adventure. Featuring multiple “scare zones”, plus secret specialty bars and dining, plan to spend several hours at this experience. Intended for ages 18+; get your tickets online.

* Running select days September 20 - November 2.

Halloween Haunt

Kings Island is more than summer fun in the sun and roller coasters. Head to Halloween Haunt for all of your favorite thrill rides plus some chills, with horrifyingly haunted attractions and terrifying creatures roaming the park. Check out the Halloween Haunt schedule and buy tickets online. This year, horror movie buffs HAVE to check out the brand new "Conjuring: Beyond Fear" interactive experience featuring scenes from the iconic movie. Additional pass required. 

* Running select days September 19 – November 1.

Land of Illusion: Haunted Scream Park

Be prepared to scream, panic, and even run for your life through the seven attractions at Land of Illusion: Haunted Scream Park. The frights begin as soon as you arrive and can last for hours as you are chased along the Middletown Haunted Trail, unnerved by Killer Klowns, feel your blood curdle in Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate, terrorized by mummies in Temple of Terror, and - new to this year - get plunged into total darkness in Lights Out! Buy your tickets ahead of time online. 

* Running Fridays and Saturdays, and select dates Halloween weekend from September 5 – November 1.

Brimstone Haunt

Try all the terrifying experiences at Brimstone Haunt for a truly memorable night indoors and outdoors. The Haunted Hayride is the scary starting point at Brimstone Haunt good for ages 8+). Hike through the Bog (13+), explore the dark maze of Psychosis (13+), and brave the apocalypse at Zombie Assault. Know before you go and check out the intensity level of these experiences on their website, and purchase tickets ahead of time. 

* Running select days from September 12 – November 1.

Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride

For 20 years brave visitors have been learning that this is no ordinary hayride. Climb aboard Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride for a 25-minute bumpy and spooky trip down haunted memory lane, witnessing the best of cinema's horror past and present. Tickets are cash only.

* Running Fridays and Saturdays, September 12 – November 1.

The USS Nightmare

Experience two decks and more than 30 minutes of terror at USS Nightmare, one of Cincy’s longest-running haunted tours. This unique attraction takes place on a haunted dredge boat, docked on the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky.

* Running select days September 12 – November 8; you can buy your tickets online ahead of time. Want to make it even more intense? Try the RIP Experience and the Captain’s Extreme Tour – if you dare.

* Fun fact: The USS Nightmare is also a part of Kentucky After Dark, a collection of haunted and spooky tourist attractions across the state of Kentucky. Learn more here. 

If these events are too spooky for little ones, check out these fun Halloween events for kids.  

Haunted tours and bar crawls

Ghost Tours of Music Hall

Cincinnati Music Hall is an icon; but did you know it is one of the most haunted places in Cincinnati? Built upon the grounds of an old potter's field, Travel Channel lists Music Hall as one of the most terrifying places in America. This October, go behind the scenes and experience a spooky tour of Music Hall with the Cincinnati Research & Paranormal Studies team.

Haunted Historic Walking Tours by American Legacy Tours

Shriek and shiver through the streets of Covington or Newport on a haunted walking tour by American Legacy Tours. Expert guides will lead you through the dark city streets and regale you with stories of haunted mansions, ghastly murders, vicious feuds, and more. Take a deep dive into Cincy’s eerie past – featuring neighborhoods like Clifton, Mt. Healthy, Newport and Covington. For tickets and availability check out their website. 

Cincinnati Booze and Boos Tour

What’s better than touring some of the most haunted places in the Cincy Region? Doing so with a drink in hand! As you wander past historic buildings, hear spine-tingling ghost stories, and stop at some of the creepiest bars in the city, you’ll experience a mix of thrills, chills, and spirits from behind the bar. This two-and-a-half-hour walking tour promises a night of ghostly encounters and unforgettable tales. Grab your friends, muster up some courage, and dive into Cincinnati's mysterious past! Must be 21+ to participate; buy your tickets online.

Paranormal Experiences

Spirits by Starlight Ghost Tours

Looking for a true paranormal experience in the Cincy Region? Look no further.  An expansive collection of pioneer buildings and artifacts voyaged from across the Ohio Valley to call Heritage Village home. Now they snuggle into the curvature of a neolithic canyon, amidst Native American burial mounds, at the heart of prehistoric Sharon Woods. For half a century, strange stories have swirled around this museum. That has included: furniture moving autonomously, electrical anomalies, cold spots, disembodied voices, spectral smells and sounds, phantom footsteps, full-bodied apparitions, and more. Book your tour of this special experience here. Seeking something even more intense? You can even book a private, overnight investigation with paranormal historian Violet Shindler.

* Tours available September 20 and 27, October 4, November 8, and December 6 from 7 - 10 PM

Bar and Immersive Pop-Ups

Black Lagoon at Highball Cincy

Experience an award-winning Halloween pop-up at Highball Cincy in Over-the-Rhine. Sip on spooky craft cocktails and enjoy intricate, hauntingly detailed decor in this immersive experience. More details TBD!

Halloween Pop-up at Cobblestone OTR

Cobblestone OTR, known for its impressive transformations for holidays throughout the year, is pulling out the stops this year for Halloween. This year, expect over-the-top decor, spooky cocktails, and a costume contest on Halloween. 

* Running from October 6 - November 2

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

Head to Loveland, Ohio for a truly immersive experience! Step beyond the ordinary and wander a misty trail where enchanting creatures and magical beasts from the Wizarding World stir to life. Every turn holds a surprise — Hippogriffs spread their wings, Nifflers scurry in search of treasure and familiar spells shimmer in the air.

This bewitching journey draws you into moments inspired by the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, letting you feel the wonder of stepping inside their world. At the trail’s end, gather in a glowing village where warm food, crackling fires and the company of fellow travelers await.

* Select dates from October 24 - November 30

Ready to plan your trip to the Cincy Region this fall? Get ready to plan your trip by checking out these additional fun, fall festivals that are great for the whole family.