By Allen Huffman, Des Moines Haunted Houses
If 2020 hasn’t been scary enough, October is here which means haunted attractions of all kinds open to terrorize you. Due to Covid-19 concerns, many will not be happening this year, including:
- NOT OPERATING: Linn’s Supermarket Haunted House – For the first time in 37 years, there will be no chance to crawl through their dark basement.
- NOT OPERATING: Ames Haunted Forest – A tradition for over two decades, the forest will be silent this season. No official cancellation notice has been posted, but normally they would be operating by now.
- NOT OPERATING: ScareDSM – A new downtown haunt was supposed to open this year, but now its grand opening has been pushed back to 2021.
- NOT OPERATING: Waukee Haunted House – This one weekend haunt always packed a ton of action into the city park’s shelter, but will not be packing anything this year.
- NOT OPERATING: Trail of Terror – This Baxter, Iowa fundraiser has grown in popularity in recent years, but 2020 will not offer visitors a chance to survive their 3/4 mile terror trek.
Even popular home haunts such as the Grimes Haunted Garage are taking a pass on the horror festivities this year. So what can one do if they want to be chased by clowns with chainsaws?
Here are all the haunts we believe to be operating, as of October 1, 2020:
Ankeny Haunted Barn
3215 SE Corporate Woods Dr
Ankeny, IA 50021
Oct 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-Nov 1, 2020. Opens at 7pm.
$35 (VIP), $25 (haunt). Printable $5 OFF coupon on the website.
Call 515-802-1276 for information.
Covid-19 precautions: Masks required on Sunday nights, and recommended on all other nights.
https://ankenyhauntedbarn.com/covid-19
Originally established in 2010 in Bondurant, this haunt gained a dedicated following during the five years it operated. It closed after the 2015 season but has now returned to offer one last trip through the barn. This year features more indoor scenes than they have ever offered. Many rooms are inspired by horror movies such as Nightmare on Elm Street, Saw, Scream and The Ring. The tradition of encountering live snakes and rats is expected to return.
Slaughterhouse (new location)
500 Locust St
Des Moines, IA 50309
Oct 2-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-25 and 29-Nov 1, 2020.
$30 (includes logo facemask). Tickets MUST be purchased in advance online.
Covid-19 precautions: Masks required and provided.
http://slaughterhousedm.com/faq-1
Originally started as “Big Al’s Slaughterhouse” in 2010, this haunt has operated at a number of temporary locations before taking a break for a few years then returning as a permanent haunt in downtown Des Moines. This year they are in a new spot on Locust street and promise an new experience. This haunt has made many lists as one of the best attractions in the state of Iowa.
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park
4051 Dean Ave
Des Moines, IA 50317
Oct 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-25 and 29-31, 2020.
$48 (VIP), $30 (park pass), $5 parking.
Covid-19 precautions: Masks required, gloves required (and provided).
http://sleepyhollowscreampark.com/covid-19/
Last year, Sleepy Hollow celebrated it’s 25th hauntaversary. The ticket price includes access to multiple haunted attractions, indoor and out. One of their haunts is getting a retheme this year.
Tormented Souls Haunt
Edgewood Park (parking)
Madrid, IA 50156
Oct 3, 9-10, 16-17-, 22-24 and 29-30, 2020. Opens at 7:15pm.
$19 (haunt), $29 (zombie shoot paintball ride), $43 (combo package).
Call 515-321-8356 for information.
Covid-19 precautions: Masks required.
https://www.tormentedsoulshaunt.com
Billed as “Des Moines area’s best kept secret,” this large outdoor haunt made the scene in 2013. It became the first attraction in the area to offer a paintball experience where you ride on a tractor-pulled trailer and shoot targets and zombies using mounted paintball guns. The haunt is huge and contains more actors and scenes than anything else operating in the area this year. And you don’t drive to this haunt — you abandon your vehicle at Edgewook Park and hop on a strange bus that will escort you to the haunt location, deep in the woods of the abandoned mining town Zook Spur.
And, for something a bit more family friendly, there is a new low scare “haunted forest” for children:
Family Halloween Spooktacular at the Pines
2977 NW 66th Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
Oct 23-24, 2020. 5pm-9pm.
$18.50. $1 OFF if purchased in advance.
https://www.facebook.com/events/948785402291125/
This new event, operated by the Saylorville Event Center, will use some of the same property used by the Des Moines Renaissance Faire last August. It will be a family-focused event featuring a variety of free attractions (after paid admission, of course). Family photos, temporary tattoos, smore roasting, storytellers, costume contests, and more. And, a low scare haunted forest — the perfect “first haunt” for the younger ones.
Allen Huffman publishes a website that covers all the haunted attractions in the area. Find even more information on spooky spots in Des Moines at www.dmhauntedhouses.com.
For additional Halloween fun, be sure to visit our Halloween Fun Guide.
