These 6 Haunted Houses In Iowa Will Terrify You In The Best Way

Now that Halloween is just around the corner, it's time to get ready for every thrill-seeker's favorite fall activity ... haunted attractions in Iowa! Prepare to be scared out of your mind at six of the best haunted houses in Iowa.

1. Scream Acres, Atkins

Scream Acres is a four-part haunted attraction that offers a haunted cornfield, a slaughterhouse-themed scare area, a zombie prison, and a 2,800-square-foot carnival-themed haunt. Scream Acres is open every Friday and Saturday night in October and tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth. To go through all three attractions, it usually takes about 25 to 40 minutes. Visit the Scream Acres website for more information, including current hours and ticket prices.

2. The Haunted Forest, Ames

The Haunted Forest in Ames offers a full thirty minutes of fear-packed excitement and the scariest walk you'll take all year. The park is open every weekend in October. Visit The Haunted Forest website for more information, including current hours and ticket prices.

3. The Heart of Darkness, Waterloo

The Heart of Darkness in Waterloo just might be the scariest haunted house in Iowa! It offers 13 different haunted areas including a maze, 3D haunted circus, haunted barn, Darkhold Castle, and more. Plus, you can enjoy live music and food while you wait! Tickets are cheaper if you buy them online, and they offer military discounts, family discounts, and kids' nights. They are open during the month of October on Thursdays through Sundays. Visit The Heart of Darkness website for more information, including current hours and ticket prices.

4. Scare Central, Sioux City

Scare Central in Sioux City offers two different scare complexes. The first is Nightmare on 4th Street, which offers over 5,000 square feet of terror as you walk through the dark attraction filled with terrifying live actors, amazing special effects, and incredible monsters. The second is the Fear Factory, which offers 4,500 square feet of horror as you encounter flesh-eating zombies. Nightmare on 4th Street and the Fear Factory are both open weekends from late September through Halloween. You can opt to visit either haunted attraction or buy a combination ticket to experience both. Visit the Scare Central website for more information, including current hours and ticket prices.

5. Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park, Des Moines

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park is one of the Midwest's best haunted theme parks and they create an atmosphere like nothing else you will encounter. They offer many attractions including the Castle of Blood haunted house, zombie paintball, a freak-show-themed haunt, Nightmare Estates, a 3D alien attack gallery, a fog maze, and more. Plus, they have delicious food vendors if you get hungry and bonfires set up to keep you warm. They are open on select dates in October and there are several levels of ticket pricing depending on what you want to do. Visit the Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park website for more information, including current hours and ticket prices.

6. Thrashers House of Terror, Mount Pleasant

From creepy clowns to evil doctors, Thrashers House of Terror is definitely a top contender for the spookiest haunted house in Iowa. It's open on Thursdays through Sundays during October and you can either purchase a regular ticket or opt for a fast pass to skip the line. Are you brave enough to enter this twisted circus? Visit the

" target="_blank">Thrashers House of Terror website for more information, including current hours and ticket prices.

What do you think is the scariest haunted house in Iowa? Share it with us! If you need a break from thrills and chills, check out our previous article for the best pumpkin patches in Iowa to visit on a fall day. And for more fun things to do in Iowa in the fall season, Airbnb Experiences has some fantastic options.