By Jennifer Vazquez
Observer Correspondent
For many, the month of October signifies autumn for others baseball postseason. And, yet, for many, it’s the time of year when they can indulge in the macabre, frightful, unexplained and mysterious. For these month-long Halloween enthusiasts The Observer has compiled a list of must-see haunted houses!
Since we are fortunate enough to be located in the tri-state area, there are many opportunities and locations to indulge in the frightfully fun. There are many locations in New York City, as well as in the state of New York. There are countless locations in Pennsylvania, as well. Even the great state of New Jersey has many haunted houses that are so detailed and awe-striking they seem right out of a movie.
Right here in Bergen County there are magnificent haunted houses including one in Wood Ridge. The Haunted Hill House, located at Bianchi House Park, 111 First St., will take place on Oct. 26 and 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Oct. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. According to it’s official website, it is northern New Jersey’s biggest charity haunted house and performance.This haunted house is a family friendly event that is back by popular demand! The Halloween performance and walk-thru is also affordable at $5 per person. Not only will you surely have fun taking part in this local haunted house but proceeds will “benefit the Wood- Ridge Historical Society’s continued mission to preserve local artifacts and provide educational opportunities to the community,” according to the borough’s official website. For more information on this local frightful delight visit www.iwontbeafraid.com.
Night-mares Haunted Attraction is another local frightful gem. It has a series of different nightmares you can easily find yourself in. For example, the Brighton Asylum is an attraction with a storyline of a medical facility that performed grotesque and cruel experiments, until one day the patients overtook it. The government shut down the facility after investigating staff disappearances in 1952. Though completely fictitious, it sounds scary, right? This attraction is located at 2 Brighton Ave. in Passaic – exit 154 off the Garden State Parkway, located right on the Clifton border.
The Brighton Asylum also holds The Horror Museum where visitors will come face-to-face with props and costumes from well-known scary movies such as Scream 4, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Resident Evil, among many others. All the props and costumes come directly from the movie studios, according to their official website.
Another attraction Nightmares Haunted Attraction boasts of is Zombie Apocalypse: Doomsday 2012. This hayride experience is located at Depiero’s Country Farm 300 Grand Ave. in Montvale. The story line behind this haunted attraction is a zombie apocalypse. Visitors will arrive and be scanned for “viruses.” Those found to be infected will be “quarantined,” all others will be allowed to board the many wagons available where they will be transported to a “safer” location, while those infected jump out! However, after the hayride ends you must walk the rest of the journey on foot!
For more information on any, or all, of the attractions and activities that take place at Night-mares Haunted Attraction, visit www.nightmares.com.
If you would like to venture off and have a frightful adventure in another state, look no farther than Pennsylvania. One of the most famous haunted houses in the country is actually a haunted jail. Eastern State Penitentiary is now closed, however, during its heyday it housed some of the most notorious and merciless criminals in this country, including Willie Sutton and Al Capone. During the day ESP offers prison tours, but at night it turns into one of the most beloved and highly rated haunted houses known as “Terror Behind the Walls.” This haunted house is so popular that many seek tickets weeks in advance as the lines trail on and on the night the haunted house takes place. For tickets and information on both daytime tours or the nighttime haunted house, visit www.easternstate.org.
There are many more haunted houses, ghost tours, hayrides and other frightful attractions in the surrounding area. These are just a starting point –a few great options to really get you into the Halloween spirit. Happy hauntings!
