DES MOINES, Iowa — As spooky season descends on the Des Moines metro, haunted houses and other attractions will begin their reign of terror.
Be sure to check out what we've gathered so you can have a fantastic fall: a spook-tastic season, if you will.
Nightmare at Jordan Creek (Previously Nightmare on Ingersoll)
Location: 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy Suite #12520, West Des Moines
If haunted houses aren't really your thing, but you still want to celebrate the season, this pop-up bar at Jordan Creek in West Des Moines may be the solution for you.
Presented by the Station on Ingersoll, food, cocktails and mocktails will be available with fun for all ages. Operating from Oct. 1 until Nov. 2, the bar will host fun events like Halloween movie-themed trivia.
Beetlejuice Trivia, the first trivia night of the season, will take place Sunday Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. with reservations urged by the venue.
Location: 3200 Adventureland Dr, Altoona
Phantom Fall Fest returns to Adventureland this fall which means you can ride rollercoasters all day and then explore four haunted houses during the evening.
Haunts include mALICE in Wonderland, CarnEvil, Cornstalkers and Spirits of the Swamp.
Scare zones include Deadsville, Nordic Nightmare, The Fallen and Hellbillies.
Daytime kids activities on the weekends will include contests, trick-or-treating, painting and karaoke
Dates of operation
- Every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 27.
- Fridays Oct. 18 and 25
Times of operation
- Fridays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturdays noon to 10 p.m.
- Sundays noon to 9 p.m.
- Starting at $40
Location: 500 Locust St, Des Moines
Perhaps the most infamous site in the metro, this year's them is "2024 Year of the Stiches." With some of the highest reviews of any haunted house attraction in the Des Moines, this one is sure to satisfy.
Dates of operation:
- Sept. 27 - Nov. 2 (Friday through Sunday)
- Thursdays Oct. 17, Oct. 24 and Nov. 31
Times of operation
- Friday through Saturday 7 p.m. to 12 p.m.
- Thursdays and Sundays 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- $35 General Admission
- $45 VIP - Immediate Entry
Be sure to also be on the lookout for the location's speakeasy bar, The Haunt, which is open select Friday and Saturday nights 6 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: 97 Indiana Avenue, Des Moines
Beginning in 2023 and claiming to be Des Moines' newest haunted house, Barnum Circus of Freaks, which is heavy on the circus theme, says attendees should "Prepare to be mesmerized, horrified, and utterly captivated by the twisted and the bizarre."
Dates of operation
- Oct. 4-26
Times of operation
- Friday through Saturday 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- $25 General Admission
- $45 Fast Pass
Location: 4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines
Celebrating 30 years of fears and claiming to be largest and most elaborate Halloween theme park in Iowa, Sleepy Hollow offers more than 10 haunted attractions in one place while also providing on-site food vendors.
With its variety of scares, it says that all ages are welcome but suggests parents be involved with their children in determining if it is appropriate to attend.
The venue's website states that only online tickets will be guaranteed as gate tickets are cash only and first-come first-serve.
The entire venue is operated on a cash-only basis but ATMs will be on-site.
Dates of operation
- Oct. 4 and 5
- Oct. 11-13
- Oct. 18-20
- Oct. 25-27
- Oct. 31 and Nov. 1
Times of operation
- Parking opens at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- Admission stops at 10:30 p.m.
- Oct. 13, 20, 27 and 31 admission stops at 8:30 p.m.
- Park closes 12 a.m.
- Prices range from $25 to $30 depending on discount
Location: 3805 6th Ave, Des Moines
Although opening day for the venue is listed as "to be determined" because of a fire earlier this year along with some legal troubles making repairs difficult, it is still regarded as the "grandfather" of all other Des Moines haunted attractions as it was established in 1984 and will be celebrating its 40th season.
The mainstay of the haunted Des Moines scene was opened by Merlyn Linn, owner of what was originally Linn’s Supermarket, in the basement under the supermarket. In 2016, Linn began leasing the upstairs supermarket to new operators under the agreement the haunted house could continue operation every fall. If it was ever purchased, he would still be able to operate for another 10 years the agreement stated.
In 2020 the supermarket was purchased and the new owners said they wanted he haunted house out, according to Des Moines Haunted Houses.
The location did suffer approximately $20,000 in fire damage, which has pushed its planned Oct. 4 opening day back.
In its long history, it continues to hold a special place in many peoples' hearts.
Previous Admission Rates
- Adults: $25 per adult adult
- Children (10 & under:) $20/ child (Must be accompanied by an adult)
