NC haunted house among scariest in the US, report says. Read full list
A North Carolina haunt just earned a spot among the 13 scariest in America.
HauntWorld magazine, a leading authority on haunted attractions, ranked Kersey Valley Spookywoods at No. 9 on its list of Top 13 Scariest Haunted Houses in America, praising the Archdale scream-fest for nearly 40 years of spine-tingling scares and blockbuster-level production.
“Proudly representing North Carolina, Kersey Valley Spookywoods has earned the #9 spot on HauntWorld’s prestigious Top 13 Haunted Attractions — a national honor recognizing nearly four decades of dedication to delivering one of the most immersive and professionally produced haunted experiences in the country,” HauntWorld wrote.
The magazine highlighted Spookywoods’ “massive scale,” where “sets are measured in acres, not square feet,” and “each scene is crafted with cinematic detail.” One standout feature is its ICONS-themed area, a terrifying tribute to legendary monsters and creatures who roam through “towering sets and haunted landscapes.”
Guests can also browse the all-new Haunt Couture Halloween gift shop, a massive retail shop that’s “three times larger than Spookywoods’ original haunted house from 1985” and filled with exclusive merch, horror apparel and collectibles.
HauntWorld also praised the park’s behind-the-scenes magic, saying from a year-round build crew to advanced actor training at “Fear Camp,” it creates an experience that “continues to raise the bar — not just for North Carolina, but for the entire haunted attraction industry.”
This latest honor comes two years after Parade Magazine named Kersey Valley Spookywoods the Best Haunted House in North Carolina in 2023, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Kersey Valley Spookywoods tickets
Guests can choose from three different types of tickets: Immediate Access, VIP and General:
- Immediate Access ($99): No wait for guests and includes a group photo, lanyard with pass and 20% off gift shop purchases.
- VIP ($65-$75): Guests can expect to wait 30 minutes.
- General ($35-$50): Guests can expect to wait an hour.
Parking prices range from $10 for general to $20 for preferred.
Tickets can be purchased online at spookywoods.fearticket.com or at the gate. For more information, call 336-431-1700.
Scariest haunted houses in US
Here are the 13 scariest haunted houses in the nation, according to HauntWorld:
- Cutting Edge Haunted House, Fort Worth, Texas
- Bennett’s Curse, Baltimore, Maryland
- Erebus Haunted Attraction, Pontiac, Michigan
- Fear Factory SLC, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Haunted Overload, Lee, New Hampshire
- Hellsgate Haunted House, Lockport, Illinois
- The Darkness, St. Louis Missouri
- Factory of Terror, Canton, Ohio
- Kersey Valley Spookywoods, Archdale, North Carolina
- The Dent Schoolhouse, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Attractions, Ulster Park, New York
- 13th Gate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Georgetown Morgue Haunted Attraction, Seattle, Washington
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "NC haunted house among scariest in the US, report says. Read full list."
