The Best Haunted Houses in Indianapolis

Each year, as fall chills the air and Halloween approaches, many of us find ourselves pondering topics somewhat more macabre than weekend football games. We plan our costumes and buy goodies for trick-or-treat and, yes, do our best to avoid black cats, lest some bad luck or lurking goblin befall us. During this time of year, we like to be afraid, and Indianapolis obliges by offering up some truly frightening haunted houses. Though not truly bewitched, these festive Halloween attractions are sure to scare you silly.

Necropolis: City of Perpetual Darkness
Since 1991, Necropolis has provided a unique haunting experience for Indianapolis' Halloween connosieurs. Sporting an impressive 30,000 square feet of fright, Necropolis is true to its name and presents a city theme. Among the attractions at Necropolis' Shadeland Avenue location are the Zombie Inn, which is a horrifying hotel experience, and Dark Terrors, sporting an abandoned factory motif. This terrifying town invites visitors starting on the night of October 1.

The Asylum House
The aptly named Asylum lies in wait just south of the I-465 beltway on Meridian Street. With six main attractions, Asylum will scare you for as long as you can handle. Grown women have been seen leaving in tears, accompanied by their sheet-white boyfriends. Around every turn you can expect the unexpected, and you just might be hurried along your path by a chainsaw crazy. Try to keep it together when you visit the Asylum starting October 1.

Fright Manor
Located not far from Asylum, Fright Manor lies just inside the beltway on the city's south side. The Manor's dark nooks and crannies hide all sorts of spooky sights and sounds, and, like its neighbor, provides the opportunity to explore your fear of chainsaws. Perpetually voted one of Indy's scariest haunted houses, Fright Manor opens for guests on October 1.

SlaughterHaus Haunted House
A new attraction on Indy's haunted landscape, the Slaughter Haus promises to honor its name with plenty of gore. Located at the Post Road Recreation Center, Slaughter Haus is next door to the Haunted Woods. Get your first double-dose on October 1.

Children's Museum Guild's Haunted House
Open during the last half of October, the Children's Museum Guild's Haunted House is the perfect accessory to a standard museum visit in the autumn. While offering "friendly" hours that exposes its attractions with a scaled-down fear factor to appease younger children, the full-blown haunted house is always surprisingly spooky. Check it out at the museum on North Meridian Street.

If you like to be chilled and thrilled and can stand the jolt, head out into the crisp October air this year and follow the screams to these haunted houses. Your heart may pound, and your palms may sweat, but you can enjoy the grand entertainment that these attractions offer, safe in the knowledge that they're not really haunted. Or are they?