By Thomas MacDonald
Halloween is around the corner but don’t be tricked, ghosts and ghouls are offering treats to lure their next victims at haunted houses across Long Island throughout the month of October.
Destinations range in spookiness from lighthearted child-friendly fun to disturbing venues that could make even the toughest men and women cry like babies—if they dare to enter in the first place.
Be sure to check some of these two dozen haunted houses, spooky trails and related activities on Long Island this month!
Bayville Scream Park
This fun waterfront amusement park reveals its dark side with a half dozen terrifying attractions. The Cage is the parks newest addition this year. Back by popular demand are Evil in the Woods, Temple of Terror, Zombie Pirates, Bloodworth Manor Haunted Mansion and creepy clown-themed Uncle Needle’s Funhouse of Fear, which is in 3D. There will also be a Halloween Pumpkin Bounce, pumpkin patch and treats. Bayville Adventure Park, 8 Bayville Ave., Bayville. bayvillescreampark.com $10.75-$49.75. Open daily in October through Halloween, plus the weekend after.
Chamber of Horrors
This seriously scary haunted house hosts “The Trilogy of Fear” featuring the disturbing Maniac Manor, the nightmare-inducing Murderer’s Row and the terrifying Ward 9. And for the grand finale, on Halloween, those ages 18 and up who sign a waiver can experience the full contact version—meaning the ghouls can reach out and touch those that dare visit. Family days are 1-4 p.m. Oct. 23, 30. Matt Guiliano’s Play Like A Pro, 1745 Express Drive North, Hauppauge. chamberofhorrorsny.com $25-$45. Open 7-11 p.m. weekends and daily Oct. 26-31. “Kill the Lights” version 7-10 p.m. Sundays.
Darkside Haunted House
Set in an open field that adds to visitors’ feeling of dread, this movie-quality haunted house has actually been dubbed “too scary.” The attraction is kid friendly before 5 p.m., but becomes no longer suitable for those under 12 after that.
5184 Route 25A, Calverton. darksideproductions.com $7-$25. Times vary. Open most days through Oct. 31.
Enchanted Forest Trail
This one is for the kids. Those who walk the Enchanted Forest trail are encouraged to dress up for the fun tour on which they’ll meet fun and educational characters to create an amazing childhood memory of Halloween. Quogue Wildlife Refuge, 3 Old Country Rd., Quogue. quoguewildliferefuge.org/events $10. Reservations required. Call 631-653-4771 to RSVP. 12-2:30 p.m. Oct. 16, 23 and 30.
Hempstead House of Horrors
The mysterious ghosts of the former Guggenheim Estate come to life. This year, the frightful show house expands to three floors of the massive 50,000-square-foot mansion, including the subterranean dungeon. Visitors will see horrific, supernatural, spine-chilling scenes! Sands Point Reserve, 127 Middle Neck Rd., Sands Point. thesandspointpreserve.com $20-$30. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 22, 23 and 28-30.
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Haunted Hendrickson’s House of Horror
Prepare to be seriously scared and don’t come alone. Nightmares will follow. Valley Stream Pool Complex, 123 West Merrick Rd., Valley Stream. vsvny.org $10. 7-11 p.m. Oct. 14, 15, 21 and 22.
Haunted Hay Barn
Starring the Headless Horseman, this is a spooky good time for ages 10 and up. There is also a “chicken walk” for the faint of heart 5 p.m. Sunday Oct. 23 and 30. Horseability at SUNY Old Westbury. horseability.org $13. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30.
Haunted Playhouse
The actors of this community theater really get into character when bringing to life this unbelievably spooktacular haunted house. It’s so scary it’s not open to those under age 12 without an adult, but a kid-friendly version is available 12-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Gateway Playhouse, 215 South Country Rd., Bellport. gatewayshauntedplayhouse.com $25-$35. Days and times vary, through Oct. 31.
Haunted Mansion
Enter…if you dare! Deepwells Farm, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James. stjameschamber.org Free. 7-10 p.m. Oct. 22, 28 and 29. 3-5 p.m. Oct. 30.
Haunted Mansion of Melville
This mansion will scare the pants off visitors. The Haunted Mansion of Melville creates an entire world built upon rich and creepy lore involving a once good doctor who went mad but his soul still resides within the mansion. Kid friendly dates available. F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm, 26 Pinelawn Rd., Melville. schmittshaunt.com $12-$32. Weekends and holidays through Oct. 31.
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Haunted Tales and Trails
Details have yet to be announced but expect a thrill ride. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. obvrnassau.com Oct. 21-23, 28-30.
Haunted Trail Nights
Explore hauntingly historical buildings, creepy and ghoulishly grassy fields and the meadow of mayhem. Are you brave to take on the horrors that await you? “Not-So-Spooky Trail,” 5 p.m. Oct. 23 and the 30. Manor Farm, 210 Manor Rd., Huntington. manorfarmhauntedtrailnights.webs.com $5. Teams of 8 $10 per person. 7-10 p.m. Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29.
Haunted Trail of Horrors
This haunted trail will make visitors run for the hills. Kid friendly version 2-4 p.m. Oct. 29. Middle Island Fire Department, 31 Arnold Dr., Middle Island. middleislandfd.org $10, kids under 5 free. 7:30-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29.
Haunted Tunnel
This family-friendly Halloween attraction welcomes young children since it’s more fun than scary. Woodside Nursery & Garden Center, 134 E Woodside Ave., North Patchogue. woodsidenurseryandgarden.com Prices vary. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.
Nature’s Halloween Trail
Mashomack’s band of costumed characters changes every year, and this year is no exception. What kinds of creatures of the night await you in the woods? Bring a flashlight. Mashomack Preserve, 47 South Fourth Ferry Rd., Shelter Island. nature.org $5. 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 29.
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Otto the Ghost
See the animated children’s story of Otto the Ghost, who’s sort of like Long Island’s Casper the Friendly Ghost. Admission is free but donations of non-perishable food for Long Island Cares are encouraged. Hicks Nursery, 100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury. hicksnurseries.com Free. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through Nov. 1.
Restless Souls Haunted House Complex
A new attraction for this season, this Hollywood-quality venue features the maniacal Shack of Screams, a spine-shivering attraction dubbed The Dark Colony and scariest of all, Dr. Bane’s Klownitorium in 3D. 301 West Hills Rd., Huntington Station. restlesssoulsli.com $5-$17 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, 5-9 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30.
Rise of The Jack O’ Lanterns
Thousands of professionally hand crafted Jack O’ Lanterns arranged in Halloween displays throughout a scenic trail. These Jack O’ Lanterns are so good they’re scary! Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. therise.org Prices vary. Advanced tickets required. Weekends through Oct. 30.
Spooky Fest
The Center for Science Teaching and Learning is hosting Spooky Fest, which offers Halloween fun for the whole family. Tanglewood Preserve, 1 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre. cstl.org $10-$15 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 21-23 and 28-30.
Spooky Walk at Camp Paquatuck
This year’s walk continues to generous cause and tradition of creating a 45-minute spook fest. Starting in 1989, it’s considered the longest running such event on Long Island. Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, 2 Chet Swezey Rd., Center Moriches. spookywalk.com $15-$20. 7-9 p.m. Oct. 21,22, 28, and 29.
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Spooky Walk
The Zombie apocalypse has officially kicked off, the infection is spreading quick and everyone needs to run and hide! This spooky live action trail includes live music, food and more than 100 live actors. It may not be suitable for all ages. Minors are required to be accompanied by an adult but people of all ages are invited to check out the not-so-spooky walk 12-4 p.m. Oct. 30. Clark Botanic Garden, 193 I.U. Willets Rd., Albertson. clarkbotanic.org $5. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 28, 29.
Survival Horror Experiences
Instead of just walking through a haunted house unarmed, this interactive zombie-themed fictional prison gives those brave enough to enter a laser tag gun for protection from the rampaging hoard of flesh-hungry undead. Theme nights offer various iterations from creepy clowns to “dead silence” or regular old zombie apocalypse, among others. They’re also open year-round. NYZ Apocalypse, 450 Commack Rd., Deer Park. nyzapocalypse.com $34-$40. Open weekends, times vary.
The Franklin Square Horror
This one-night-only haunted house is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. The theme this year is a haunted funeral home. Upon entering the house visitors will enter the reception, then journey into the morgue where they will have to make their way through hanging dead bodies before entering the autopsy/embalming room and crematorium. The most
terrifying moment is upon entering the “wake” room with the open casket filled with haunted mourners. 1148 Norbay Street, Franklin Square. joea65.wix.com. Donations go to Autism and Cerebral Palsy Associations. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 31.
Yaphank Trail of Terror
Every year this terrifying haunted trail gets scarier. Each night the organizers will screen a different Halloween-themed movie at 8 p.m. They also have a bounce house and a human hamster ball track. Yaphank Presbyterian Church 65 Main St., Yaphank. yaphanktrail.wixsite.com $10. 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29.
