An attraction-blessed city like Las Vegas should, by rights, have the greatest Halloween experiences in the country. And this year’s circuit of terrors certainly makes the case for that—though, it should be acknowledged that we’re missing a perennial heavyweight: Fright Dome, which vanished from the Adventuredome calendar after 15 years of never-ending maze queues. Until Circus Circus re-enters the wildly lucrative Halloween overlay sweepstakes, these six Valley haunts are ably qualified to scare the bejeebers out of you.
FREAKLING BROS. HORROR SHOWS There’s one scare scene that isn’t going away anytime soon. Well into its third decade, the Freakling Brothers’ three macabre mazes still draw long lines of antsy teenagers and game adults, all nervously wondering what’s compelling each group to run screaming from the exit. Answer: the Brothers’ signature scare trick we wouldn’t dare spoil here. October 12-31, doors at 7 p.m., closing times vary; $15-$39; 4245 S. Grand Canyon Drive, freaklingbros.com.
THE VOID You’ve been denying your inner 10-year-old if you haven’t battled Imperial forces at the Void’s Star Wars attraction, hands down the best virtual reality attraction in Las Vegas. The Venetian tech fantasia has recently introduced two new experiences perfect for the witching season: the more kid-friendly Ghostbusters: Dimension and the darker Nicodemus: Demon of Envanishment, both looking to accomplish through digital and sound effects what real-life haunts can’t. Daily through October 31, hours & dates vary per experience, $33-$37; the Venetian, thevoid.com/locations/lasvegas.
ASYLUM AND HOTEL FEAR Your standard mall parking-lot haunts, once the sets for the 2015 horror movie Rust and now in their 20th year. Thursday-Sunday October 30-31, doors at 6:30 p.m., closing times vary, $15-$35; 4300 Meadows Lane; lasvegashaunts.com.
VEGAS FRIGHT NIGHTS Opportunity Village’s HallOVeen overlay at the nonprofit’s Magical Village gains two mazes geared toward the bigger kids: Clown Invasion 3D and Nightmare Manor. The most fearless of guests can also opt to take the Last Ride—a claustrophobic (and appropriately odorous) simulation of being buried alive. October 12-October 31, doors at 5:30 p.m., dates & closing times vary; $10-$22; 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., opportunityvillage.org.
DEAD CITY VEGASApocalypse Vegas’ new seasonal offering permits guests to do the one thing teenagers have been clamoring to do since they tiptoed through their first haunt: retaliate against the scare actors. Thursday-Sunday, doors at 7 p.m., closing hours vary, $30; 4375 S. Valley View Blvd. #G, deadcityvegas.com.
BONNIE SCREAMS During last year’s edition, Bonnie Screams staff warned guests that the longtime attraction would end permanently after Halloween. Thankfully, it lives to see another season, with the usual array of mazes, the infamous haunted trail and train ride and the Zombie Paintball add-on. Through October 31, days vary, 6:30 p.m.-midnight, $30; Bonnie Springs Ranch, wickedhaunts.com.
