Disclaimer: I love haunted houses, and Halloween is my favorite holiday. Enter each haunted attraction at your own risk. I assume zero responsibility for your fate.
Scream Creek Haunted Woods
1765 Martins Chapel Church Road, Springfield
honeysucklehillfarm.com
Price: $19.95
Scare-O-Meter: ? ? ? ?
One sentence summary: I got chased through the woods by a man carrying a chainsaw, and I have never run away from something so fast IN MY LIFE.
Now, I don’t run. No one looks at me and thinks “Man, what a track star” because I’m not. I am, however, really good at anticipating jump scares in haunted houses.
But this is one that I just didn’t see coming.
It was right after I fought my way through tree branches and a correctly timed fog machine when I heard the loudest clap of an engine revving behind me.
I didn’t have time to think; I just took off in the direction I assumed was correct and hoped for the best.
What makes Scream Creek my top haunt of the season is how realistic the atmosphere is. If you’ve ever wanted to experience what it’s like to be the group of friends running for their lives through the woods in a scary movie, this is the place to go.
The weak are separated from the brave right off the bat, and I’m proud to say that I would probably last longer than 10 minutes if I were cast in a horror film.
Momma didn’t raise a quitter.
Nashville Nightmare
1016 Madison Square, Madison
nashvillenightmare.com
Price: $30 for entry to all four attractions
Scare-O-Meter: ? ? ?
One sentence summary: My friend Haley screamed and ran in circles after a clown said “Hi” to her in line.
If that’s not a sign that this is one of the best haunted attractions in the area, I don’t know what is.
This year was exceptionally special because Nashville Nightmare added two additional haunted rooms. Horror High transitioned into Industrial Undead with only a minute break in between and Night Terrors weaved into Fairytale Hell almost too quick to notice.
Guests will find that this tour is a classic example of what a haunted house should be – terrifying, adrenaline-pumping, monsters lurking behind you in an all-too-real example of why you should never trust a man in a dark alley.
The best part of our trip had to be the maze at the beginning of Night Terrors. Our group was ushered into a pitch-black elevator simulation. After several seconds, the shaking stopped and the door opened.
We tried to leave but were instead met by a hooded creature telling us we had to choose one person to stay behind.
I was convinced that my friends would choose to leave me behind, but they are actual blessings, and we all stayed together as we trudged our way around this guy.
Haley may have screamed in line for this haunt, but I definitely yelled for Jesus while we were trapped inside the box.
Slaughterhouse
3445 Lebanon Pike, Hermitage
fullmoonslaughterhouse.com
Price: $20 Friday, Saturday and $15 on Sunday
Scare-O-Meter😕 ?
One sentence summary: I’m the kind of friend that will pay for your haunted house ticket just so I can laugh at you.
That’s exactly how I got another friend of mine to agree to suffer through one haunted house with me this season, provided that I also give her a detailed description of what happens beforehand.
We’re planning on going back to Slaughterhouse for Halloween, but this haunted house deserves a place in my top three already.
Slaughterhouse is considered the longest-running haunted house in the Nashville area.
It’s entirely fueled by jump-scares and is designed like a maze, complete with tight spaces and far too many strobe lights for my taste.
It’s important to note that jump-scares are my weakness. I jump when someone taps my shoulder standing in line at a coffee shop, so God bless the people that caught me off guard in this haunted house.
Although I’m sure the scare actors definitely appreciated the ninja pose I went for when a clown came up behind me, I was living my best life in that moment.
Aside from the above-par jump scares, Slaughterhouse is a typical haunted house. Nothing too extravagant or mind-boggling sticks out which makes the experience worth the generous $20 fee.