Nothing quite sets the stage for Halloween like an eerie exploration of a haunted house. Are you prepared for spine-tingling encounters? Exclusively for thrill-seekers like you, we've curated a compilation of the eeriest haunted houses, ghostly tours, and an array of other haunting experiences right here in the Bay Area. Are you daring enough to embark on these bone-chilling adventures?
For more Halloween adventures, explore my blogs Best Trick or Treat Spots in Silicon Valley and Best Pumpkin Patches in Silicon Valley!
Important Note: Please keep in mind that attraction details are subject to change without prior notice. It's advisable to visit the venue's official website for the latest updates and ticket purchases. Additionally, remember to review the websites for any age restrictions, as some of these attractions may be a bit too spine-tingling for the little ones.
Winchester Mystery House
This Halloween, venture into the eerie Winchester Mystery House, where legend says restless spirits influenced its construction. Sarah Winchester, the reclusive widow of a firearm tycoon, believed that the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles haunted her. To appease these spirits, she continuously built onto the mansion for nearly forty years, resulting in architectural oddities like staircases that go nowhere, doors that open into walls, and a confusing maze of rooms and hallways. It's thought that the peculiar design was intended to bewilder the spirits that she felt were pursuing her. Are you brave enough to explore the secrets of this enigmatic mansion during the spookiest season of the year?
This Halloween, the Bay Area's most iconic house is celebrating with a special event, Unhinged: Hotel, on select nights throughout October. Your admission includes a 45-minute tour through all four floors and two basements of the mansion, as well as access to The Mist outdoor scare zone, a Halloween museum, interactive activities, themed food and drinks, and photo ops.
Too spooked for nighttime? Daytime tours and year-round activities like the Sarah Winchester Garden Tour, Axe Throwing at the Stables, and Sarah’s Attic Shooting Gallery are also available year round. The Winchester Mystery House is sure to offer thrills for all!
- Location: Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128
- Phone: (408) 247-2000
- Email: info@winchestermysteryhouse.com
- Hours: Open 10am - 5pm weekdays and 10am - 7pm weekends with special nighttime Halloween events through November 2nd.
- Admission: General tickets for Unhinged start at $69.99 (vary by date).
Napa Downtown Ghost Walk - Ghosts & Legends of the Redlight District & Main St.
The Napa Downtown Ghost Walk – Ghosts of the Redlight District & Main St. offers a thrilling journey through the darker history of early Napa City. Explore the lives of the intriguing characters who once roamed the city’s wild side, from ladies of the evening to those who sought their fortunes. Visit Main Street, First Street, and the old Red Light District, while uncovering eerie tales from the Napa Asylum and Chinatown. The tour includes ghost-hunting tools and humor, making it a unique experience for ages 15 and up. Don’t miss the Haunted Traveling Museum!
- Location: Old Napa Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94558
- Phone: (707) 606-5050
- Email: napaghosts@gmail.com
- Dates: Open year-round Thu & Sat at 8 pm with extra dates during the Halloween season.
- Admission: Tickets are $32, and may be purchased online.
Haunted Sonoma Downtown Tour – Ghosts Around the Plaza
Discover Sonoma’s haunted history on the Haunted Sonoma Downtown Tour – Ghosts Around the Plaza. This captivating journey introduces you to the spirits that still roam the streets, from Native American ghosts near the Mission to the eerie remnants of a botched bank robbery and shootout. Walk along the historic El Camino Real and explore the darker side of Sonoma, one of California’s oldest cities. Learn about its bloody past, the fight for independence from Mexico, and the hidden mysteries beneath its surface. An unforgettable, spine-tingling adventure awaits!
- Location: 1st Street East at The Large Oak Tree, Sonoma, CA 95476
- Phone: (661) 261-5430
- Email: napaghosts@admin
- Dates: Open year-round on Wed & Fri at 8 pm with extra dates during the Halloween season.
- Admission: Tickets are $30, and may be purchased online.
California’s Great America's Tricks and Treats
Celebrate Halloween with a fun and spooky twist at California’s Great America’s Tricks and Treats! This family-friendly event offers an enchanting experience for all ages. From little goblins to grown-up ghouls, everyone will find ghastly great things to do for Halloween. Plus, they’ve got skeleTONS of delicious seasonal treats, drinks, and of course, candy!
- Land of Tricks: Step into Ickyville, where all things gross and slimy come alive. Laugh along with the Clean-Up Crew’s messy mayhem, and don’t forget to explore Spooky Spires, a gothic-inspired 1920s village. From deadpan humor to macabre carnival games, this area is full of spooky, kooky fun.
- Land of Treats: For a more magical Halloween experience, head to Everfall and immerse yourself in the essence of autumn. Pumpkin spice, cozy flannels, and candlelight set the mood for campfire stories and acoustic seasonal songs. Alternatively, visit Sweet Tooth Acres, where candy is abundant and the Halloween magic shines brightest on the Trick-or-Treat Trail. You’ll even meet the candy-switching witch, a delightful surprise for children!
Each themed land at Tricks and Treats offers fun Halloween activities for all ages. Guests can enjoy solving spooky mysteries, competing in games, and meeting quirky characters. There's also a Halloween costume contest, seasonal crafts like pumpkin decorating, dancing, and special souvenirs to take home. Visitors are encouraged to come in full costume to fully immerse themselves in the experience!
Enjoy live entertainment throughout the park, including music performances and master storytellers spinning eerie folklore. Delicious seasonal foods take center stage with creative dishes like Blood Bag Empanadas and sweet treats like Bride of Frank’s Ice Cream. For the adults, there are themed brews and cocktails to enjoy throughout the park.
- Location: California’s Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA
- Dates: Open select days through October 26th from 7 pm - midnight
- Admission: Tickets start at $29.99. Purchase them online to save as much as $30 off the price at the gate. Ticket includes available rides.
Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park
The Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park is a timed-entry, walk-through event for 2024, featuring suspenseful and terrifying experiences where your worst nightmares come to life. While children are allowed, it’s not recommended for those under 13. A new rule requires anyone under 16 to be accompanied by someone 21 or older. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, as they are not available at the event. Prepare for a chilling adventure that will leave you focused solely on survival!
- Location: Alameda County Fairgrounds (Corner of Bernal & Valley Ave), Pleasanton, CA 94566
- Dates: Open Thursday through Sunday most weekends at 7:05 pm with extra date on Halloween.
- Admission: General admission is $40 on most nights and $45 on premium nights. Your ticket gives you access to all four Haunted Houses. Speed and VIP passes are also available for extra charge and give you speedier entry, as well as access to Oddities Attraction.
Fear Overload Scream Park
Fear Overload Scream Park is hailed as the Bay Area’s most terrifying and elaborate haunted house experience, featuring two pulse-pounding attractions. Both attractions offer meticulously designed sets, trained scare actors, and endless frights, making it an intense walk-through experience not for the faint-hearted.
- Darkmoor Penitentiary: Enter a crumbling prison where Warden Blackwood's twisted experiments haunt the halls. Ghostly whispers and cold hands await, but beware—no one leaves unchanged.
- Slotch Sanatorium: Explore a ruined asylum where Dr. Crowley’s cruel experiments trapped tortured souls. Uncover dark secrets, but escape is uncertain.
Don't forget to visit Eerie Essentials, the park’s emporium filled with chilling keepsakes and macabre gifts to remember your night of terror!
This attraction is not recommended for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased online, and you can save on ticket prices by buying in advance.
- Location: 2086 Newpark Mall, Newark, CA 94560
- Dates: Open now through to Nov 5th, except Oct 17th. See the full schedule on their webpage.
- Admission: General admission ranges from $28.99 - $58.99. Faster and Fastest admission are an additional $12 and $24, respectively.
