Let me tell you something. About Halloween. I don’t do haunted houses. Never have. Someone jumps out of a closet; I’m running the wrong way with pee running down my leg. But here’s the thing. Metro Detroit has some of the best haunted attractions in the Midwest. People love them. So, I did the research. From a safe distance.

I put this guide together in four parts. Haunted houses. Haunted hayrides. Lighter options for the little ones. And free neighborhood displays, which, frankly, is where you’ll find me. Each listing has the address, the website and this season’s schedule.

One more thing. Tickets. Buy them online. Ahead of time. The weekends before Halloween sell out. And check the website the day you go. Because things change. Like my nerve.

Haunted Houses

Erebus Haunted Attraction (Pontiac)

Erebus. Four stories. A half-mile walk. Inside. In the dark. People call it one of the scariest haunted houses in the country, and I believe them, because I am not going to find out myself. Most groups take 35 to 45 minutes. Not recommended for kids under 13. Or for me.

• Address: 18 S. Perry St., Pontiac
• Dates: Open nightly through November 7, except October 19 and November 2 to 5.
• Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 6 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, 6 to 11 p.m.
• Good to know: Cards are accepted online only; cash only at the door (ATMs on site). Paid parking across the street.
• Website: hauntedpontiac.com

Eloise Asylum (Westland)

This one is set inside the old Eloise psychiatric hospital. A real place. With real history. Two walk-through attractions in a 54,000-square-foot building, about 35 to 40 minutes. Part of the proceeds goes to the homeless shelter on site. So you get scared. For a good cause. I’ll just write a check.

• Address: 30712 Michigan Ave., Westland
• Dates: Fridays through Sundays through November 1. A Rockin’ Haunt Night concert runs Friday, October 30.
• Hours: Friday, 7 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, 7 to 10:30 p.m.
• Website: eloiseasylum.com

Hush Haunted Attraction (Westland)

Hush is for the grown-ups. Several haunted experiences on one ticket. And bars. Throughout. Which, if you ask me, is the only sensible way to do a haunted house.

• Address: 37550 Cherry Hill Rd., Westland
• Remaining dates: October 14 to 18, 21 to 25, 27 to 31, and November 1, 6 and 7.
• Hours: Check the website for nightly times.
• Website: hushhaunt.com

Rotten Manor (Holly)

Rotten Manor. Voted a top five haunt in Michigan. You get the Manor, the Rotten Forest and Asylum, a House of Wax and a hayride. Plus a carnival midway. The midway, I could handle. The Manor and the Forest each take 35 to 45 minutes.

• Address: 13245 Dixie Hwy., Holly
• Remaining dates: October 15 to 18, 22 to 25, and 29 to 31.
• Good to know: Tickets are sold on site only, and it is cash only (ATM on site).
• Website: rottenmanor.com

Wiard’s Night Terrors (Ypsilanti)

Wiard’s. Same family farm where you get cider in the daytime. At night? Different story. Five attractions. The Ultimate Haunted Barn. The MindShaft. The Asylum. Alien Caged Clowns in 3D. Clowns. In 3D. And the Hayride of the Lost.

• Address: 5565 Merritt Rd., Ypsilanti
• Dates and hours: Select nights in October, starting at 7:15 p.m. See the calendar on the website.
• Good to know: Tickets are sold online only.
• Website: hauntedhousemichigan.com

Haunted Hayrides

Blake’s Haunted Big Apple (Armada)

The haunted hayride at Blake’s runs about 30 minutes through dark woods. Full of creatures. Then, in the middle of it all, they stop. And hand you cider and a donut. Which is very civilized. Add the three-story haunted barn, zombie paintball or Spookyland for the family.

• Address: 71485 North Ave., Armada
• Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through November 1, including Halloween night.
• Hours: Ticket booth Friday and Saturday, 6 to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 6 to 10 p.m. Attractions start after sunset.
• Tickets: Hayride $28.95, or combos starting at $29.95 online ($10 more at the door). Tickets are good any open night this season.
• Website: blakefarms.com/blakes-haunted-attractions

Scarefest Scream Park (Lenox Township)

Scarefest. Twenty years. Fifty acres. Four attractions: the narrated Hayride of Doom, the Castle of the Dead haunted house, a forest walk and the Terror Zone maze. In between, there are bonfires, live entertainment and a heated bar tent. A virtual queue holds your place in line, so you can stand by the fire. Where it’s warm. And nobody is chasing you. Ages 6 and up.

• Address: 34111 28 Mile Rd., Lenox Township
• Dates: Weekends through November 1.
• Good to know: It often sells out, so buy online.
• Website: scarefestscreampark.com

Rotten Hayride at Rotten Manor (Holly)

A ride through the haunted woods behind Rotten Manor. On a wagon. In the dark. Pair it with the indoor attractions if you want the full night.

• Address: 13245 Dixie Hwy., Holly
• Remaining dates: October 15 to 18, 22 to 25, and 29 to 31. Cash only.
• Website: rottenmanor.com

Hayride of the Lost at Wiard’s Night Terrors (Ypsilanti)

You ride into the clutches of a fellow named Mr. Ravensblud. I don’t know Mr. Ravensblud. I’d like to keep it that way. It’s one of the five attractions at Night Terrors.

• Address: 5565 Merritt Rd., Ypsilanti
• Dates and hours: Select October nights from 7:15 p.m. Tickets online only.
• Website: hauntedhousemichigan.com

Less Scary Options for Younger Kids

Glenlore Trails: CarnEvil 2 (Commerce Township)

Now this. This is more my speed. A one-mile illuminated walk through the woods, set up like a crooked carnival midway. Games. Swinging skeletons. A few surprises. Spooky, sure. But friendly. Earlier time slots are popular with young kids. Special nights include a 21+ adult night on October 16, trick-or-treating on October 25 and Halloween night in costume.

• Address: 3860 Newton Rd., Commerce Township
• Dates: Thursdays through Sundays through November 1.
• Tickets: Youth (4 to 12) from $15, general (13+) from $25, ages 3 and under free. Timed tickets online.
• Website: glenloretrails.com

Spookyland at Blake’s Big Apple (Armada)

The family side of Blake’s haunted weekends. A petting farm. A 3D barn. A corn maze. Inflatables. Nobody jumps out at you. Tickets are $17.95, and it runs the same nights as the haunted attractions.

• Website: blakefarms.com/blakes-haunted-attractions

Hayride of Doom at Scarefest (Lenox Township)

Scarefest says its narrated hayride works for younger guests, and a guide stays with you the whole way. That’s important. You want a guide. Ages 6 and up.

• Website: scarefestscreampark.com

Free Halloween Displays

And now. My favorite part. Free. No tickets. No one in a mask grabbing your ankle. Just people who love Halloween and decorate like they mean it. One request. These are people’s homes. Park legally. Stay on the sidewalk. Look. Don’t touch. Most importantly, prepare to donate. These people love the holiday as much as you do and are willing to put in the time and energy to bring some joy to others, give them some scratch for their effort.

Terror on Tillson Street (Romeo)

Tillson Street. In Romeo. This is the big one. About 25 to 30 historic Victorian homes along 2 1/2 blocks, every one of them decorated with handmade scenes. Tens of thousands of people come every October. You walk. You look. You say, how did they do this. Nobody chases you. Perfect.

• Location: Tillson Street, between Sisson and South Main streets, Romeo
• When: Decorations start going up in early October, but the full displays are in place the week before Halloween.
• Trick-or-treating: October 31, 6 to 8 p.m. The street is closed to all traffic from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., so don’t park on Tillson unless you plan to stay.
• Good to know: Free. Park on nearby village streets and walk. There are no public restrooms on the street, but downtown Romeo restaurants have them.
• Website: terrorontillson.com

Lochaven Haunted House (Waterford Township)

A house on Lochaven Road. A local legend. The whole front yard becomes a Halloween show, and there’s a walk-through haunted house if you want it. You don’t have to want it. I didn’t. Admission is free, and the haunt runs on donations.

• Location: Lochaven Road, Waterford Township. Search “Lochaven Haunted House” in Google Maps.
• Kid tip: You can see the displays without going through the walk-through. For younger kids, visit early in the season or on a weeknight for fewer surprises.
• Parking: Along the side of the road.

Twisted Fears (Clinton Township)

On Harrison Street, a family puts on a free home haunt. Live actors. Special effects. You come in through the driveway and wind through the garage. A garage. That’s where I keep the lawnmower. In past years it was recommended for ages 10 and up, with a lights-on Kid Day for the little ones. And for me.

• Location: Harrison Street, Clinton Township
• Good to know: Expect loud noises, fog and flashing lights. Check the Twisted Fears Facebook page for this year’s dates.

Skeletons Are Alive (Downtown Northville)

Downtown Northville, every October. More than 200 skeletons. Posed all over the shopping district. Sitting on benches. Having a nice time. It’s an easy, stroller-friendly walk, and it pairs nicely with a stop at Parmenter’s cider mill down the road.

• Location: Main Street area, downtown Northville. Check the downtown site to confirm this year’s display.
• Website: downtownnorthville.com

Tips for a Good Scare

• Buy tickets online. Erebus, Blake’s and Glenlore save you time or money online. Wiard’s sells online only. Rotten Manor is the exception. Tickets on site. Cash only.
• Bring cash anyway. Erebus and Rotten Manor take cash only at the door. Both have ATMs. Good.
• Go early. Or go on a Friday or Sunday. Saturdays are the longest lines, especially the weekend before Halloween. Blake’s says waits peak around 9 p.m.
• Know your crew. Erebus isn’t recommended for kids under 13. Scarefest is ages 6 and up. For the little ones, and for people like me, stick with Glenlore Trails, Spookyland or the free displays.
• Dress for the weather. Hayrides and forest walks are outside. October nights get cold. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy.
• Leave valuables in the car. Dark rooms. Running. A phone that falls out of your pocket in a haunted house? It stays in the haunted house.

Happy Haunting

So. There you have it. Haunted houses, hayrides and a few things for people like me. Whatever your comfort level, Metro Detroit has a Halloween night for you.

And if you’re out in Pontiac, Holly, Romeo or Armada this fall, and you start thinking, I could live here. Call me. I’m happy to help you figure out what it would take. That part? Not scary at all.

Marc Edelstein | NMLS# 533706 | Powered by Ross Mortgage Corporation | thatmortgagebanker.com

Sources

Details were taken from each attraction’s official website as of October 14, 2026: Erebus, Eloise Asylum, Rotten Manor, Wiard’s Night Terrors, Blake’s Haunted Attractions, Scarefest, Glenlore Trails. Free display details are from Terror on Tillson, LittleGuide Detroit, Metro Parent and WXYZ. Hush and Rotten Manor dates and Scarefest’s schedule are from WXYZ’s 2026 haunted house roundup.