There’s something delightfully backward about paying good money to be terrified. But every fall, thousands of Kansas Citians line up in the dark, cold air of the West Bottoms to do exactly that. Psychologists chalk it up to “safe fear,” the same rush of adrenaline and cortisol you’d get from a genuine threat, minus the actual danger, all wrapped up in a controlled environment you can walk (or run) out of whenever you like.
Whether it’s the thrill of going through them alongside friends, the bragging rights that come after or the terrifyingly imaginative design that goes into them, it’s no wonder haunted houses have become a KC fall tradition on par with Chiefs tailgates and pumpkin patches. Here’s Kansas City magazine’s guide to where to get spooked this season.
The Beast
Tucked into a century-old warehouse, The Beast has earned a reputation as one of the best haunted attractions in the country. Four stories of open-format scares mean there’s no single path through the darkness, so guests wander at their own risk while werewolves, phantoms and other monsters lie in wait around every blind corner. If four floors of dread aren’t enough, thrill-seekers can pay extra to leap from The Beast’s fourth-story window onto a jump bag below. The house runs Friday and Saturday nights (plus Halloween and the first weekend of November), with tickets running around $35. Make sure to arrive one hour before the scheduled entry time at the Central Waiver Station at 1300 W. 13th. kcbeast.com.
Edge of Hell
A block over, Edge of Hell has been terrifying Kansas Citians since 1975, making it the longest continuously running commercial haunted attraction in the country. The five-story journey is themed as a descent through purgatory and heaven into hell itself, with claustrophobic passageways, a vortex tunnel and a slide that drops you straight into the depths.
Along the way, guests come face to face with live snakes, spiders and even a crocodile, plus longtime cast favorites like Ratman, who’s been letting live rats crawl into his mouth for more than two decades. It’s the kind of theatrical, family-legacy haunt that’s rightfully landed it on national “scariest in America” lists. edgeofhell.com.
Macabre Cinema
Rounding out the trio of West Bottoms sites, Macabre Cinema takes a different approach, building its scares around cinematic horror rather than a single narrative descent. Like The Beast and Edge of Hell, it’s operated by Full Moon Productions, the family business behind Kansas City’s haunted-house empire led by the “Queen of Haunts,” Amber Arnett-Bequeaith. Macabre Cinema opens a bit later in the season than its neighbors, typically starting up in late September. Combo tickets that bundle all three West Bottoms houses are a great way to make a full night of it. macabrecinema.com.
Worlds of Fun Halloween Haunt
For a haunted experience with a theme-park twist, Halloween Haunt transforms Worlds of Fun into a sprawling, multi-scare-zone production on select nights each fall. It takes a small army of around 250 costumed “screamsters” to pull off the haunted mazes and themed zones spread across the park. It’s less claustrophobic haunted house and more immersive horror carnival, which makes it a solid pick for anyone who wants scares mixed with midway rides and snacks. Tickets run separately from general park admission, so check the schedule before you go. worldsoffun.enchantedparks.com.
Exiled: Trail of Terrors
12829 Loring Road, Bonner Springs
This one-mile hike through the woods is “a heart-pounding haunted forest experience that takes you deep into the dark, twisted outdoors.” Perfect for thrill-seekers and horror fans, this terrifying hike combines scares, suspense and sinister fun you won’t forget. exiledkc.com.
Hell’s Gate (Acres of Madness)
Stretching over five football fields in length with 13 themed rooms, Hell’s Gate is part of the larger Acres of Madness complex at Lakeside Speedway. Last year at Acres of Madness, they also offered the “Zombie Purge Bus,” which allowed riders to “hunt real, blood-thirsty zombies with paintball guns” on a 14-foot-tall “Monster Bus.” hellsgatekck.com.
