Theme parks can be just plain scary any time of year.

There is that dramatic peek down the track’s first big dip from the roller coaster’s front car. There are immersive 3-D and 4-D attractions that drop you into enthralling new worlds. And sometimes the scariest part of all: Finding your car. Was it by Gate E or Gate Z, anyways?

But come Halloween, theme parks put a new spin on scary, replacing the thrills with chills on rides and attractions. For the theme parks themselves, it’s become a way to extend the season and get more guests through the gate. And for folks who like to get scared, these theme park Halloween makeovers offer some more intense scares than your typical trip to the pumpkin patch or corn maze.

Here are just a few of the theme parks that are scaring up attention this Halloween – making them true tourist destinations.

Finding a Full (Haunted) House in Las Vegas

Doubling your bet at the blackjack table and getting dealt 16 is scary. But we’re willing to bet that Circus Circus’ Fright Dome will give you worse nightmares. Called “one of the most extreme haunted houses in the world” by The Travel Channel, Fright Dome has high-flying rides, live shows, haunted houses and scare zones. Haunted houses include Clownz, where you’ll find lots of clowns. And not the jovial, nose-honking, juggling kind of clowns. In “Friday the 13th: 4-D,” you’ll go camping at Crystal Lake with Jason Vorhees, you know, the creep with the hockey mask. Remember, you’re on the Vegas Strip at the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino. That means you might be screaming right beside a celebrity. Try not to shake so much that you can’t shoot a clear selfie. 

‘Chilling’ Out in Cali

Sunny Southern California is home to two of the most popular Halloween theme park transformations: Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights and Knott’s Scary Farm (called Knott’s Berry Farm any other time of year.)

Halloween Horror Nights actually has multiple locations, with the others being held in Universal Studios locations in Orlando, Singapore and Japan. If you’re a scary movie junkie, then you’re in luck, as the ghastly attractions are largely based on popular TV shows and films. The mazes, haunted houses, scare zones and live shows are pulled from “American Horror Story,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Walking Dead,” “Halloween,” “The Exorcist” and more. And don’t forget the wandering scare specialists, who emerge from the fog machine or pop out behind benches when you least expect it – but usually right before you drop your smart phone. 

Knott’s Scary Farm is an old-school amusement park that goes all out for Halloween. This is the real deal, as Knott’s has been scaring folks for four decades.

The special effects-filled Paranormal Inc. invites audiences to an undead investigation in a haunted hospital that goes a bit awry. Special Ops: Infected is a laser gun battle – but instead of firing away harmlessly at fellow guests, you’re staving off a zombie apocalypse in a massive, sprawling maze. Other attractions feature cannibal farmers and voodoo-worshipping witch doctors. One note: if the characters see you running away, they will chase you, so make sure to wear your sneakers and hydrate beforehand. If you have the kiddos, arrive earlier in the day for a family-friendly Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, Boardwalk Ballroom and Camp Snoopy. 

Something For the Kids…

While many of the attractions we’ve run down cater more to a teenage and even adult crowd, especially after the sun goes down, there are some great Halloween theme park options that are fit for the whole fam.

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Kissimmee, Florida is an ideal place to start. The aptly named Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party provides plenty of trick-or-treating opportunities, a Halloween-themed parade and fireworks, as well as special seasonal characters walking about – think “Monsters Inc.” and “Hocus Pocus” (the witches from the latter even put on a “Villain Spectacular” stage show.

Be sure to follow’s Disney pretty specific costume guidelines if you’re going to dress your wee ones up. Here’s a spoiler: no costumes for guests 14 years of age and older. Sorry, mom and dad. 

Hershey Park in the Dark in Hershey, Pennsylvania is another top choice for families. And considering the name, you know you’re going to get some pretty good treats in your pillow case or basket. No apples or toothbrushes here, right? Additionally, the park turns off the lights for select rides during the last hour each night, so you can experience attractions’ twists and turns without knowing when they’re coming. Kids are also encouraged to bring a flashlight and tour Hershey Park’s animal exhibit with a nocturnal wrinkle, Creatures of the Night at ZooAmerica. 

Halloween is a surprisingly fun time to sample popular theme parks. The crowds may be thinner than peak season and the price may be discounted, depending on your destination. The hours may vary, too, so be sure to check. Just remember: it’s OK to scream. And close your eyes. And even run for the door – as long as it’s an approved exit. Happy Halloween!

Mike Ward is a copywriter, family columnist and sometimes comic who lives in Richmond, Va. with his wife, two young kids and two mutts. He likes long road trips and rooting for losing sports teams. 

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