When I think of Halloween, one of the first things I think of are haunted houses! If you’re looking for a Halloween thrill, Richmond has plenty of terrifying and spooktacular haunted houses just outside the city limits.
Although Richmond is a bustling metropolis, much of the area surrounding the city still consists of farm land with plenty of open fields where haunted houses are set up each Halloween. These areas are perfect for haunted hay rides, trails, and houses all aimed at giving visitors the fright of their life!
Take note: haunts are not for the faint of heart (or children), so make sure you bundle up and get ready for a thrill.
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Ashland Berry Farm – Terror on the Farm
- Address: 12607 Old Ridge Road Beaverdam, VA 23015 | Website
One of Richmond’s most popular haunted attractions is Ashland Berry Farm’s Terror on the Farm series that occurs each Thursday-Sunday in October. During the day, Ashland Berry Farm features hayrides, pumpkin picking, and other family-friendly fall activities, but once night falls, the ghosts and ghouls come out to play!
Terror on the Farm features four terrifying haunts including a haunted trail where you are driven out to the woods and left alone to wind your way through the trails. Costumed performers will be lurking in the shadows waiting to scare you and your friends as you make your way through the trails and out to safety.
Don’t worry about getting lost, the trails are well marked and the performers are never far away if you need help. The schedule of events and ticket discounts can be found on their website, but tickets must be purchased at the time of entry.
You can purchase tickets for individual haunted attractions or get all 4 for $40. Lines for tickets and attractions can be fairly long, especially on dates closest to Halloween night, so don’t be surprised if there’s a crowd. Luckily, the performers will continue haunting until all groups have gotten their chance to experience Terror on the Farm.
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Creepy Hollow Scream Park
- Address: 14437 Stone Horse Creek Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059 | Website
Equally as popular and terrifying as Ashland Berry Farm is Creepy Hollow Scream Park. Located just 20-30 minutes outside the city limits, Creepy Hollow Scream Park performers are waiting to scare groups of visitors in their popular Scream Forest attraction.
You and your friends will be directed into the woods to test your luck at escaping the haunted forest. Multiple haunted houses are constructed throughout the trail, so you never know what’s waiting for you inside! The walk through the forest is well marked and takes about 30 minutes to complete, so you’ll have plenty of time to experience all the thrills and chills at this Halloween attraction.
Due to their remote location, this attraction is unable to process credit/debit cards on site, but tickets can be purchased online in advance. Tickets are $20, but make sure you look for their discount options online and at local stores and businesses.
King’s Dominion – Halloween Haunt
- Address: 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, VA 23047| Website
If you’re looking for a day of thrills, check out King’s Dominion theme park for all of your favorite thrill rides during the day and spooktacular haunts after the sun goes down!
Each weekend in October, the park is open during the day so you can enjoy all of your favorite rides and attractions, but after dark watch out for their costumed performers that lurk around the park waiting to scare you.
Halloween Haunt features scare zones, Halloween-themed performances, and multiple haunted houses throughout the park, each with a different theme.
All of the haunted attractions are included in the price of a ticket which starts at just $45 for a full day of fun. This park can get very crowded, so make sure you get there early to experience all they have to offer.
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Busch Gardens – Howl-O-Scream
- Address: 1 Busch Gardens Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | Website
Located just one hour east of the city of Richmond is the popular theme park, Busch Gardens. Each weekend from September 10th-October 31st, Busch Gardens is transformed into one of the most popular haunted thrills in all of Virginia!
Their haunted attractions feature 5 haunted houses, 4 “terror-tories,” 4 sinister shows, 4 booze bars, and 2 party zones complete with costumed actors and creepy Halloween decor. The park is open every Thursday-Sunday during Howl-O-Scream with opening hours as early as 10am on the weekends so you can enjoy everything this park has to offer day and night!
Tickets start at just $45 and include all of the parks normal attractions as well as their Halloween special events.
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Blood Lake Haunted Trail
- Address: 16500 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA 23113 | Website
Blood Lake Haunted Trail is a Halloween attraction that consists of two walking trails with costumed actors ready to scare the pants off willing participants! The walking trails are well-marked, but do consist of uneven terrain, so walking shoes are a must.
Tickets are just $18 for entry to both trails and there are plenty of actors, special effects, and gruesome stories waiting for you in the dark! This haunted attraction is located on the grounds of the Windy Hill Golf Course and Sports Complex, so go early to enjoy a game of mini golf or a few rounds of fun in their batting cages or driving range before the monsters come out at night.
This attraction is open every Friday and Saturday in October and also offers “no startle” nights every Thursday for those who want to enjoy the Halloween stories and special effects without the scares.
Red Vein
- Address: 13580 Ashland Road, Ashland, VA 23005 | Website
Red Vein came onto the scene as one of Virginia’s new haunted attractions just a few years ago, but since then they have become one of the most popular Halloween haunts! Red Vein features detailed and intricate storylines for each of their 4 haunted attractions including the Asylum, a corn maze, a haunted house, and haunted woods.
Head over to their website to learn more about each attraction and read up on the legends surrounding these hallowed grounds. Tickets start at just $22 for all 4 haunts and can be purchased online or at the event. They offer timed ticketing to decrease wait times and make sure everyone has enough time to enjoy the experience without overcrowding.
If you make it out alive, check out their event barn featuring vendors, bands, food trucks, and more!
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Dead City Lodge – Hadad’s Lake
- Address: 7900 Osborne Tnpk, Henrico, VA 23231 | Website
If you’re concerned you or someone you know is not physically able to enjoy some of the other haunted houses, this attraction is for you! Dead City Lodge is Virginia’s newest and only drive through haunted attraction!
This haunted attraction is located just 20 minutes outside of the Richmond city limits so it’s definitely worth checking out for the very first year.
Tickets start at $10 per car and you can enjoy knowing that you are practicing social distancing and keeping everyone safe.
Shocktober
- Address: 601 Catoctin Cir NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 | Website
You’ll have to head a couple hours north of the city of Richmond for one of the scariest haunted houses in the country! Shocktober in Leesburg, Virginia was voted 5th scariest haunted house by Travel & Leisure magazine and it definitely lives up to the hype.
Shocktober takes place in Carlheim Mansion, a REAL haunted house that was built in 1872. Costumed actors will be lurking in the shadows of this 20,000 square foot mansion ready to scare the pants off visitors.
Tickets can only be purchased online and start at $40 with proceeds benefiting The Arc of Loudon, an organization that supports people with disabilities and their families. This year they will also be offering a virtual, COVID safe event online for only $5.
