Haunted Houses, Halloween Mazes and More in Central and North Central Ohio, from A to Z

This is yet another installment in my series of articles regarding haunted houses and attractions in Ohio. I have attempted to make lists of the haunted houses and attractions in all of Ohio that are as accurate and comprehensive as possible. Each installment focuses on a different region in Ohio. If you are interested in my other installments, check out my content producer page.

Below is my guide to the haunted houses and attractions in Central and North Central Ohio. All attractions are listed in alphabetical order. I also included a little information on each attraction.

Acres of Screams(New Washington)- Visitors to this haunt first take a half-mile hayride to the haunted cornfield maze. Once there, visitors will be left on their own to navigate the maze in total darkness. The haunt also features Woods of Horror, Trailer of Terror, and Terror Tom's Indoor Maze. It is not recommended for children under eight. I have been to this attraction a few times and had a good time. It is well worth a visit.

Dead Acres (Pataskala)- Also referred to as the Haunted Hoochie, this haunt is like a real live horror show. It has been ranked as one of the top haunted attractions in the nation many times and by many different organizations. It is a very unique attraction. It is also very intense and graphic. For example, some of this year's features include a simulated live demon birth and a suicide. This haunt is definitely not for children or the faint of heart. Also, unlike most other haunts, you are likely to get touched, grabbed, etc in this one. Don't worry, though. They won't hurt you if you don't hurt them. I have been to Dead Acres many times and I absolutely love it. It is by far the best haunted house in the state.

Drive Thru Haunted Park (Granville)- This haunt is part of the Licking Park District. It allows visitor to experience the haunted attraction in the comfort of their vehicle. There is also food, drink, and souvenirs available. This haunt is family oriented.

Galion Jaycees Haunted House (Galion)- Although I could not find any information on this haunt online, I do know it is in operation. This haunted house is put on annually by the Galion Jaycees. I have been there several times. I was about seven the first time I went. It is not a super-scary attraction so many children will find it enjoyable as well as adults.

Haunted Hayride (Marion)- This haunt is ran by the 11 Meter Club and has been in operation for more than twenty-five years. It offers visitors a hayride lasting about twenty minutes and taking them through a forest of frights.

Haunted Hollow (Delaware)- This haunt is located at the Olentangy Indian Caverns. It features a trek through an old frontier town, Indian village, and haunted caverns. It also includes a climbing wall, miniature golf, hay rides, pumpkin painting and smashing. The attraction is very family oriented and has something for the whole family.

Haunted Prison Experience (Mansfield)- This haunt is located in the old Ohio State Reformatory which is purported to be extremely haunted. It has even been investigated by TAPS and featured on the Sci-Fi channel's show Ghost Hunters. Each year, the theme of the haunt changes. This year's theme is The Night "They" Came Home. I have been to this attraction many times and I had a wonderful time. The building itself is extremely creepy. It is definitely worth a visit.

The Haunted Ship (Columbus)- This haunt is located on The Santa Maria in downtown Columbus. During Halloween season, the ship is transformed into a haunted attraction. The haunt is not-super scary and children may find it enjoyable.

Hells Fury (Crestline)- This haunt features nearly thirty scenes of fright including state of the art effects. It has been completely updated for the new season. There is also a "no-scare" day for children when they can come and get candy as well as meet the monsters.

Horror Hotel (Chatfield)- This haunt has won several awards and has been featured on many television shows. It is a very unique attraction taking visitors on a guided tour of a hotel that only caters to monsters. All the monsters are custom made by the owner, David Lady who is a professional mask maker. It is interesting to note that the Ladys live in the hotel year round. I have been to this attraction a few times. It is very unique. Monster movie fans and those interested in art will find it particularly enjoyable. However, so will the average Halloween fun-seeker.

Pataskala Haunted Forest (Pataskala)- This haunt is sponsored by the Lions Club. It takes visitors on a thirty minute trek through woods purported to be haunted by the Murdoch family. Although the haunt is not super-scary, it is not recommended for young children. All proceeds go to charity.

Terror Park (Columbus)- This haunt is located in Cooper Stadium, home of the Columbus Clippers. It offers everything from clowns and vampires to spiders and zombies. This attraction is not recommended for small children. However, there are flashlight tours available for those who want to experience the haunt without all the scares. There is also free babysitting available should someone in your party be too scared to go through the haunt.

The Dead Walk (Columbus)- Also called Neo's Home Made Halloween, this is a homemade haunted attraction. Each year, the haunt is changed up and revamped. It is not super-scary and is good for all ages.

The Experience (Columbus)- This haunt is located in an old building that used to be a boarding school. It is reported to be haunted. The Experience is not your traditional haunted house. Rather, it is a hybrid between a theatrical presentation and an intense haunted attraction experience. Don't expert the actors to try and jump out and scare you. Instead, be prepared to be immersed in a storyline that will leave you experiencing true fear. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this attraction and I cannot wait to visit.

The Haunted Palace (Marion)- This haunt is located in the historic Palace Theatre in Marion. During Halloween season, the Palace is transformed into a haunted attraction. Visitors journey through the backstage corridors of the theatre to experience all the thrills and frights this attraction has to offer.

The House of Nightmares (Columbus)- This haunt used to be located in Mt. Vernon. However, now it is located in Columbus in the same building the Bloody Brewery used to be located in. The building is actually an old factory that is said to be haunted. The haunt is not recommended for children ten and under. However, there is a matinee with a special kid friendly version. Children who wear costumes get free candy. I went to The House of Nightmares when it was in Mt. Vernon and it was awesome. However, I definitely want to attend the haunt in Columbus as well. Assuming it is as good if not better than it used to be, I highly recommend this attraction.

Undead Haunted Experience (Ontario)- This haunt is located in the Richland Mall, inside the Old Lazarus store. It is a rather new attraction. It is ran by the same people who design and operate the Haunted Prison Experience just down the road. It is said to be an interactive trip through terror. Although I have never been to this attraction, I definitely want to attend because it is in my neck of the woods.