As Halloween finished out we are sorting through our children’s candy, putting away our costumes wondering if they will be worn another year, and start getting ready for Christmas looming around the corner. Most importantly, I reflect upon all the scare parks I went to and haunted houses I visited and wonder …….. “What one is the best?” and “What one can I not wait for next year?” Based upon my own experience in the locations I visited and observing others going through the locations I have the list of winners I have chosen for the answers to these questions.

For sake of these rankings, I chose to only pay attention to the haunted house offerings, so that rides and show offerings are not influenced in the decisions when comparing a major theme park to a family-owned walk in the woods.

TOP 5 SCARIEST HAUNTED HOUSES

1. Delirium Haunted Trail

This new offering out of Ellenton, Florida takes the cake as the scariest offering I went through this season. They mastered the art of misdirection and tease and managed to really offer something the most stout-hearted of us enjoyed. I really hope you got to experience the walk in the woods this past season. If not, let’s all look forward to next year as they go into their sophomore year in scares.

2. Scream-A-Geddon

This scare park really took my by surprise this year and that was a good thing. It was something new for us in the Tampa Bay market and those of us that dared ….. well, we liked it. They knew what they were doing in setting the houses up and the CEO was very open to suggestions and criticism to help improve their offering for next year. I always look forward to the scare parks and this one I WILL have my eye upon for next year.

3. Howl-O-Scream

Busch Gardens has come a long way in what they offer for Halloween in trying to compete with Horror Nights. Like last year, I firmly believe they surpassed Horror Nights in the Haunted House category. True, I am not a fan of recycling haunted houses year after year, but Howloscream does always manage to be able to change the inside somewhat or find a new hiding spot for the scareactors to surprise you. The theme worked this year, though, and that I did enjoy following. If I was to add anything is somehow crossing over the theme to ALL of the haunted houses they offer.

4. Halloween Horror Nights

Universal is what started it all and they will probably always be on this list. This industry has the money and means to make a great haunted house that is pleasing to the eyes. I really enjoy the visual aspect of the houses that were offered this year, but my concerns were the same as I heard from people in lines also. The big one was, the security and “handlers” of the scareactors within the haunted houses were always visible. It really does take away from the feel of a fright when there is the security guard in every third room. Is there not a way to build a door or a small niche to hide or stand behind. Over two hour waits is another concern. Is too many people being allowed into the park now? For the admission fee for a 6 hour event, I would hope to have the chance to see all shows and all houses that area offered in one night. On a Friday or Saturday that makes it near impossible now.

5. Frightmares Extreme Haunted House

This Sarasota offering makes the list this year. The owner of this offering has a passion and desire to be around and scare the Sarasota locals. From what I observed, he succeeds. The people I saw entering and leaving on the night I visited were genuinely frightened within one of his two houses. The house also boasts, in my opinion, the scariest scareactor I have seen in all of the scare houses I went through this season. Something about a child that brings  my mind back to the first time I ever saw The Exorcist means she would win the award as creepiest and scariest actor in the house. For Sarasota’s sake, I hope this is brought back next year.

BEST NEW DEBUT

I give this award to Scream-A-Geddon this year. So much potential and so much success. I know this will be a major player in the years to come and look forward to growing with them in the coming years as they evolve.

BEST OVERALL HAUNTED HOUSE

The scariest individual haunted house /trail overall would be Pandemic at Scream-A-Geddon. The interactive offering that is part of this house is something the Florida market has never seen and it worked. It turned this into an intimate experience that was well worth the admission price of the park itself.

Thanks for the time in reading my overall reviews of the 2015 offerings of the Tampa Bay scare parks this year. I will be back in 2016 to see who will repeat, take over, or see what newcomer will become a major player.

David “Thrills”
The Thrill Freak @TampaAmazeMe

David “Thrills” is an avid enthusiast of thrill parks and entertainment activities in the Tampa Bay Area. Be sure to follow me on twitter for live tweets or email me at tampathrillme@gmail.com for any questions or concerns.