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Get Ready for Goosebumps at Iowa's Top Haunted Houses

ia haunted houses

When the cool weather rolls in and the leaves begin falling off the trees, it’s scare season. It’s the time of year where we line up in droves to walk through haunted houses, creepy corn mazes, and all-out scream parks. Spread across the state, from the Gateway of Chaos on the western side to the Circle of Ash over towards the east, if you want some scary fun this Halloween season, be sure to check out the top 2024 haunted attractions in Iowa. 


Circle of Ash Haunted Attraction, Central City, IA

Featuring three different haunted attractions, suffice it to say, Circle of Ash in Central City might be one of the most horrifying attractions in Iowa. Whether you choose to spend your time within the indoor Circle of Ash, or you venture out into Socko's Fun House, or the Frightmare Forest Haunted Attraction (or all three), you’ll be sure to get those goosebumps you’re looking for at the Circle of Ash Haunted Attraction. 

Thrashers House of Terror, Mt. Pleasant, IA

Organized and hosted by the Midwest Old Threshers Organization, all proceeds from Thrashers House of Terror go towards supporting this farming association. The real appeal for Thrashers House of Terror sits in the haunted attractions waiting for you behind the doors of this family-friendly spook fest. Clowns, demonic children, and so much more can be found within Thrashers House of Terror, making for quite the scary night in Iowa. 

Scream Acres Scream Park, Atkins, IA

Split between four gruesome attractions, Scream Acres in Atkins is the real deal when it comes to Halloween haunts. Whether you try and survive the 3d sinister silo, cell block z, the slaughterhouse, or the fan-favorite, the haunted cornfield, you’ll be sure to fall asleep later that night thinking about the Scream Acres attractions.

Linn’s Haunted House, Des Moines, IA

Still operated by its original owners, Linn's Supermarket has years of terrifying visitors in the books. Inside, there are small, carpeted crawl spaces that offer every claustrophobic person their worst nightmare. Linn’s Supermarket Haunted House also has you fumble through the dark, bumping into a costumed character hiding in the shadows. For a true, heart attack-inducing good time, Linn’s Supermarket in Des Moines just might deliver more than you are bargaining for.

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park, Des Moines, IA

Featuring six different haunted attractions, Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park is one of the biggest haunted attractions not only in Des Moines but in the Midwest. However you spend your time at the Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park, whether it’s at the carnival of lost souls or pretending like you didn’t wet your pants, it will be Halloween time well spent. 

The Heart of Darkness Haunted Complex, Waterloo, IA

Head on down to Waterloo this Halloween to enter the Heart of Darkness. Featuring 13 themed areas having only one mission, to scare you senseless! Visitors to the Heart of Darkness can expect big scares, unbelievable costumes, and plenty of big laughs and sighs of relief when it’s all over. Enter if you dare, just know that anything that enters the Heart of Darkness, never leaves the same. 

Key Insights at a Glance

  • Haunted attractions in Iowa are popular during the Halloween season.
  • Circle of Ash in Central City is known for its horrifying attractions.
  • Thrashers House of Terror in Mt. Pleasant offers family-friendly scares.
  • Scream Acres in Atkins features four gruesome attractions.
  • Linn’s Supermarket in Des Moines offers heart attack-inducing scares.
  • Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park in Des Moines is one of the biggest haunted attractions in the Midwest.
  • The Heart of Darkness in Waterloo features 13 themed areas designed to scare visitors senseless.

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