When I think of Halloween, one of the first things that comes to mind is haunted houses! Richmond’s residents know their city has plenty of terrifying and spooktacular haunted locations just outside the city limits if you’re looking for a Halloween thrill.
Although Richmond is a bustling metropolis, much of the area surrounding the city still consists of farmland with plenty of open fields. These haunted houses in Richmond, VA, come alive each Halloween with haunted hayrides, trails, and houses, all aimed at giving visitors the fright of their life and perhaps even a brush with some ghoulish ghosts!
Take note: these haunts are not for the faint of heart (or children), so bundle up and get ready for a thrill.
Ashland Berry Farm – Terror on the Farm
- Address: 12607 Old Ridge Road Beaverdam, VA 23015
- Website
One of Richmond’s most popular haunted attractions during the Halloween season is Ashland Berry Farm’s Terror on the Farm series, which occurs each Thursday-Sunday in October. This popular destination draws most visitors in search of spooky thrills and eerie fun. During the day, Ashland Berry Farm offers hayrides, pumpkin picking, and other family-friendly fall activities, but once night falls, otherworldly spirits, ghosts, and ghouls come out to play!
Terror on the Farm features four terrifying haunts, including a haunted trail where you’re driven out to the woods and left alone to wind your way through eerie paths. Costumed performers, embodying all manner of ghoulish apparitions, lurk 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 experience all four for $40. Lines for tickets and attractions can be 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 had their chance to experience Terror on the Farm.
More pumpkin picking in VA
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 transforms into one of the region’s top haunted locations. During the day, you can enjoy all of your favorite rides and attractions, but after dark, beware of costumed performers lurking around the park, waiting to share chilling tales and give you a fright.
The Halloween Haunt features scare zones, Halloween-themed performances, and multiple haunted places throughout the park, each with a different theme. All of these haunted attractions are included in the price of a ticket, which starts at just $45 for a full day of fun. The park can get very crowded, so make sure you arrive early to experience everything they have to offer.
More events at Kings Dominion
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 6th-November 2nd, 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 10 am on the weekends so you can enjoy everything this park has to offer day and night!
Tickets start at just $39.99 and include all of the park’s normal attractions as well as their Halloween special events.
More things to do in Williamsburg, VA
Red Vein
- Address: 108 Robinson Street, 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 $28 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!
Scream Forest
- 14437 Stone Horse Creek Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059
- Website
Scream Forest invites the brave to venture into the dark woods, where only the night separates you from the horrors that lurk beyond. Set in the shadows of Dr. Ulysses S. Farrington’s haunting experiments, this spine-chilling experience brings visitors face-to-face with eerie spirits and disturbing scenes of those who failed to escape the Doctor’s Woods. Each step through this sinister forest will pull you deeper into the nightmare, challenging your courage as you search for a way out.
New for this year, Phobia X pushes your fears to the extreme. After escaping the woods, prepare to face the unsettling corridors of Stone Horse Creek Sanitarium, where twisted experiments meet haunted hallways, and end your journey in Axl’s Dark Carnival, a chaotic maze filled with clowns and sinister surprises. For $28, visitors can experience all these terrifying attractions at Creepy Hollow Scream Park.
Other Haunted Activities in Richmond VA
Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl
The Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl offers a thrilling blend of spooky storytelling and spirited libations, making it a unique way to explore the city’s haunted history. Participants are guided through some of Richmond’s most notorious haunted pubs and bars, where they can enjoy ghostly tales while sipping on craft cocktails and local brews. This lively crawl not only delves into the chilling lore of the city’s past but also provides a fun social experience, allowing guests to unwind in a haunted atmosphere. Perfect for both ghost enthusiasts and those looking for a fun night out, this pub crawl guarantees an unforgettable evening filled with frightful tales and festive drinks.
Haunts of Richmond Ghost Tours
While not one of the haunted houses in Richmond VA, Haunts of Richmond Ghost Tours takes guests on a journey through Richmond’s eerie past, exploring authentic haunted locations around the city. Unlike typical haunted houses, this Richmond ghost tour delves into the city’s real ghostly legends, where local history intertwines with tales of restless spirits and unsettling paranormal encounters. Walking through historic Shockoe Bottom and Capitol Hill, participants experience the darker side of the city, guided by enthusiastic tour guides who bring to life stories of eerie happenings that have lingered for generations. The tour meeting location is conveniently situated to allow easy access for guests eager to step back in time and see Richmond through a spine-tingling, ghostly lens.
Each tour offers a unique blend of Richmond lore and the supernatural, with guides sharing stories of long-departed residents who supposedly still roam the streets. From accounts of shadowy apparitions to chilling tales of lost souls, Haunts of Richmond leaves guests with a sense of unease as they explore the city’s haunted corners. These tours provide an engaging way to learn about Richmond’s past while uncovering the ghastly legends that make it one of Virginia’s most haunted cities. Perfect for history buffs and thrill-seekers alike, Haunts of Richmond is an unforgettable way to encounter Richmond’s haunted legacy.
More things to do in Richmond for Halloween
Closed Haunted Houses in Richmond VA
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.
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.
