Best Haunted Houses in Colorado (2026 Guide)
The best haunted houses in Colorado for 2026 are concentrated along the Front Range. In the Denver metro, 13th Floor Haunted House and City of the Dead are among the biggest and most intense in the state, alongside The Frightmare Compound in Westminster — Colorado’s oldest haunted house — and the Haunted Field of Screams scream park in Thornton. Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and the Canon City area add strong regional haunts. Most open on select nights from mid-to-late September through early November, and dates and tickets change every year, so confirm the current calendar on each official site before you go.
Colorado delivers a serious Halloween season. The Denver–Front Range corridor fields a cluster of large, professionally produced haunts, while Colorado Springs, Northern Colorado, and the southern mountains each add their own attractions. This guide covers the best haunted houses in Colorado for 2026 by region, what kind of night each one delivers, and how to plan your visit. Opening weekends, hours, and prices shift from year to year, so always confirm the details on each attraction’s official site before you buy. Want the full statewide list with a map and filters? Browse every haunt in our Colorado directory, or find haunted houses near you.
The best haunted houses in Colorado by region
Denver and the Front Range
The Denver metro is the heart of Colorado’s haunt scene. 13th Floor Haunted House returns for its 18th season in 2026 with multiple attractions under one roof and runs on select nights into mid-November, while City of the Dead at the Mile High Flea Market in Henderson bills itself as one of the largest and most intense haunts in the area, packing three attractions into one location. The Frightmare Compound in Westminster — often called Colorado’s oldest haunted house — runs a long season, and the Haunted Field of Screams in Thornton delivers an outdoor scream park with several attractions on one ticket. Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion in Littleton pairs a multi-room walkthrough with a year-round Halloween superstore, and Elitch Gardens Fright Fest brings scare zones and haunted houses to the downtown Denver theme park. For the full metro lineup, hours, and tips, see our guide to haunted houses in Denver.
Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak
South of Denver, The Fear Complex in Colorado Springs anchors the Pikes Peak region. Home to the long-running Haunted Mines, it packs multiple themed areas into one lengthy walkthrough and is slated to return for the 2026 season — confirm the current opening calendar on its official site before you drive out. It is the standout haunt for anyone in the southern Front Range who does not want to make the trip up to Denver.
Northern Colorado
North of the metro, Fear of the Dark Haunted House in Fort Collins serves the university city and the far northern Front Range, while Terror in the Corn in Erie combines a haunted corn maze and outdoor trails between Boulder and Longmont. These are colder, often outdoor nights, so dress for the weather and check each site for the current season.
Southern Colorado and Canon City
Down in Fremont County, a surprisingly deep cluster of haunts sits within a short drive of one another: Aftermath Haunted House and Darkside of the Abbey in Canon City, plus Terror At The Warehouse in nearby Florence. Most run select October weekends and post hours on social media, so confirm before you make the drive. Together they give the southern part of the state its own homegrown Halloween scene.
What to expect at Colorado haunts
Colorado runs the full range, from family-friendly corn mazes to some of the most intense professional walkthroughs in the Mountain West, so scare levels vary widely by attraction — check each haunt’s stated intensity before you buy. Knowing how scary haunted houses really get helps you match the right one to your group. Because many of the state’s haunts pair indoor mazes with outdoor trails and scream parks — and Colorado nights get cold fast — our guide to haunted houses versus haunted hayrides is worth a read, and you can see how Colorado’s marquee haunts stack up nationally in our roundup of the best haunted houses in America.
Know before you go
- Buy tickets online in advance. Colorado’s marquee haunts — especially 13th Floor, City of the Dead, and the Frightmare Compound — sell out prime October weekends, and fast-pass or timed-entry options often cut the longest waits.
- New to haunts? Our first-timer’s complete haunted house guide walks through exactly what to expect on your first visit.
- Dress for a cold, high-altitude night. Many Colorado haunts include outdoor trails and scream parks, and Front Range evenings drop fast — our what to wear to a haunted house guide helps you plan for the weather.
- Confirm prices, hours, and age guidance on each official site — these change season to season and vary by attraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best haunted house in Colorado?
Colorado has several standout haunts. In the Denver metro, 13th Floor Haunted House and City of the Dead are among the largest and most intense, while The Frightmare Compound in Westminster is the state’s oldest. Which is “best” depends on whether you want a big-production indoor walkthrough or an outdoor scream park.
When do Colorado haunted houses open?
Most open on select nights from mid-to-late September through early November, peaking on the weekends closest to Halloween. The Frightmare Compound and Elitch Gardens Fright Fest, for example, open in late September for 2026. Dates vary by attraction and change each year, so check each official calendar.
Where are most of Colorado’s haunted houses?
The biggest concentration is the Denver metro and the wider Front Range, from Thornton and Henderson in the north to Littleton and Englewood in the south. Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and the Canon City area round out the statewide scene.
Are Colorado haunted houses scary?
They range from family-friendly corn mazes to some of the most intense professional attractions in the region. 13th Floor, City of the Dead, and The Frightmare Compound are known for high production values and strong scares, while smaller regional haunts are often more approachable. Check each attraction’s stated intensity first.
Do Colorado haunted houses sell out?
They can. The most popular haunts in the Denver metro sell out the weekends closest to Halloween, so buying online in advance — and considering a fast pass — is the safest way to lock in the night you want.
Ready to plan your night? Find haunted houses near you and compare your options before Halloween.
new in halloween animatronics
How much do Halloween animatronics cost? A price guide by size and type, from under-$50 props to $700 giants, with what drives the price and how to save.
A first look at Grandin Road's Halloween Haven 2026: premium animatronics, witches, and lit yard pieces from $69 to $699, plus which pieces to buy first.
Party City Halloween 2026 animatronics are live now including the Pumpkin Skeleton Ground Breaker and Shelly the Disco Mirror Skeleton. See every new prop ranked plus preorder tips.
Paid link: As an Amazon Associate we may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Find Haunted Houses in:
trending in haunt industry
Everything you need to know about East Coast Haunters Convention 2026 — dates, location, what to expect, haunt tours, seminars, and how to get tickets before prices increase.
HalloweenCostumes.com's 2026 Fan Design Program lets you design a real Halloween animatronic. Two winners get 10 props each plus 5% revenue. Submissions close April 30.
ShudderCon 2026 runs April 25–26 at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge, TN. Tickets from $15–$75. Here's the full preview for horror fans, haunt pros, and scare actors.