Best haunted houses prey on deep rooted phobias: Travel Tuesday

From clowns to enclosed spaces, phobias lurk in many people’s psyche. Around Halloween, the best haunted houses prey on people’s deep-rooted phobias.

Even the bravest person can have a deep-rooted phobia. Fears like claustrophobia, ophidiophobia or even alektorophobia (fear of chickens) can have people break out in a cold sweat. Halloween, and its many haunted houses, rely on people’s fears to get them screaming. While everyone knows that haunted houses are safe, the perceived vulnerability entices people to experience the Halloween tradition.

According to America Haunts, the haunted house designers are trying “to get in your head.” The idea is to expose “even the bravest individuals to feel vulnerable” which has everyone screaming and jumping at every turn. The biggest, strongest man could pull back at the sight of a little spider or the daintiest woman could jump over a foot at the sight of a sinister clown.

While haunted house fans can debate on the best, scariest or fear-inducing options, a few haunted attractions stand out as top choices.

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Erebus, Michigan

If you suffer from claustrophobia, Erebus is not for you. Considered one of the most extreme haunted houses in the nation, Erebus held the record for the longest walk-through haunted attraction. In this haunted house, things can touch you. From plants swallowing you to things falling on you, those who dare walk through the doors never know what to expect.

The most extreme element, being buried alive. Yes, one room has visitors literally being buried by balls. Don’t worry, you don’t actually die or suffocate, you just feel like you are.

Erebus is located in Michigan. For more information, please visit the Erebus website.

Headless Horseman, New York

The story of the infamous Headless Horseman is known to many. The Headless Horseman haunted experience in New York blends uses a New York farm to create a constantly changing theme to scare guests. For years, this haunted attraction has been considered one of the scariest in the area. The combination of amazing make-up, insane special effects, and expert actors make this haunted attraction a dare to a conqueror.

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A new addition to this haunted experience is an escape room. Not only will you be screaming in fear, you have to solve your way to an escape. This experience has guests being part of the event, not just watching it. Can you escape in under 60 minutes or will you be doomed to remain part of the haunted attraction?

Headless Horseman is located in the Hudson River Valley of New York. For times and tickets, please visit the company’s website.

13th Floor

Would you stay on the 13th floor of a hotel? Have you ever noticed that some elevators don’t have a number 13? Do you think that everyone suffers from triskaidekaphobia? The creators of the 13th Floor will give you reasons to be scared of 13.

With a couple locations in the U.S., the 13th Floor plunges visitors into a 13th-floor horror-filled realm. The haunted house has extreme details that add to the terror. From demented clowns to wicked witches, each haunted attraction can create nightmares for months to come. You may never want to see the number 13 again.

For more information on 13th Floor and the locations, please visit the company’s website.

DARMSTADT, GERMANY – OCTOBER 19: A person dressed as Frankenstein’s monster tries to scare visitors at Frankenstein castle on October 19, 2013 in Darmstadt, Germany. Grotesque monsters, howling werewolves, long-nosed witches and Frankenstein’s monsters feature in the annual weekend event at the castle, which is now one of Europe’s most popular Halloween events. The festival started in 1978 after American troops stationed at Rhein Mein Air Base decided to use the famous castle as a venue for Halloween celebrations. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)

The Dent School House, Ohio

When we were little, school could be scary. New friends, demanding teachers and random noises from the janitor’s closet. Yes, didaskaleinophobia is a real condition. This haunted house builds on a real-life school house terror for its attraction. There is a legend about a local janitor who was a demented killer. This haunted attraction borrows from that story.

This experience is scary because it brings people back to their youth. Who didn’t have a bad or scary day at school? Hopefully, a demented janitor wasn’t waiting by the gym lockers. Still, fears stem from real life experiences. You will never want to see a classroom again after this experience.

The Dent School House is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Cutting Edge, Texas

Could you make it through a haunted attraction that takes an entire hour to walk through? Do you think that there is a prize waiting for you? At Cutting Edge, the prize is getting out without peeing or puking on yourself.

The extreme haunted house is located in an abandoned meat packing factor. Those people with carnophobia should avoid this experience at all costs. Needless to say, butchery is the theme of this haunted attraction. From body parts to disturbing characters, the gross level is quite high. Plus, a rumored foam pit can’t cleanse you of this horror.

Cutting Edge is located in Fort Worth, Texas.

Next: Which city is the Halloween vacation capital?

These haunted houses are just a few haunted attractions that prey on people’s fears. Have you been to one of these locations or do you have an insanely scary Halloween attraction to share?