You don’t have to go to Salem to find Halloween frights, or wait for the full moon to feel chills running up and down your spine. A variety of local places promise plenty of screams and heart-thumping horror. Whether indoors or out, while walking or bouncing along in a hay wagon, Rhode Island venues have turned up the terror this October. Test how brave you can be when coming face-to-face with werewolves, zombies, chainsaw-wielding brutes and other ghouls. Take a deep breath and check out one or more of these haunted adventures in Rhode Island.
Haunted Hayride in Smithfield
Perhaps the most appealing for younger children and the more squeamish, the Haunted Hayride at Seven Cedars Farm in Smithfield takes you through 21 acres of wooded trails where surprises lurk around every twist and turn. Clowns with machetes? Check. Lumbering dinosaurs? Check. Maniacal butchers? Check.
Other Hunted Attractions Around Rhode Island
A spooky stroll in historic Newport
Take one of a variety of guided tours through the historic streets of Newport and hear spooky stories about the ghosts that lurk in various locations in the City by the Sea, on ghost ships and in graveyard crypts. Haunted sites include the Jailhouse Inn; the Colonial district, dating to the 1630s; the country’s oldest operating tavern, the White Horse Tavern; and Washington Square.
Outdoor terror among movie monsters in Cumberland
Traipse among the villains from some of the scariest movies ever made — plus a few newbies — in this year’s creation by 13th World in Cumberland. Open from dusk until 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the attraction bills itself as the scariest in Rhode Island. This year, true terror-seekers can pay an extra $5 for Touch of Fear, a necklace identifying them as willing to be touched by monsters that roam the grounds.
An old-school haunt in Cranston
Celebrating 36 years as the longest-running haunted house in New England might just mean Cranston’s Haunted Labyrinth knows exactly how to scare you out of your wits. This year, their pirate-themed Isle of Dread transforms the building into a maze of winding corridors past shrieking spooks and blood-drenched monsters.
New ghouls are lurking in Burrillville
If you’ve tried the others, opt for the Haunted Gallows, new this year in Burrillville. It features two themed attractions on a 600-acre farm. The Dark Fair brings you to an abandoned carnival where the games taunt and tease. Bathsheba’s Woods is a frightening-wooded walk exploring the time when even the suspicion of practicing witchcraft could send one to the gallows. And for the younger set, take a free family-friendly stroll through the Boo Patch, decorated with Halloween pumpkins, a good spot for family photos.
Enjoy Haunted Adventures in Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island is home to many different haunted attractions that you can enjoy. If you’re looking for a good scare, then these places are definitely worth checking out. From haunted mansions to spooky forests, there’s something for everyone. So, if you’re feeling brave, be sure to visit one of these eerie locations.