Des Moines transforms into a spine-chilling destination when autumn arrives, with haunted attractions that promise heart-pounding experiences for brave souls seeking supernatural thrills across central Iowa’s most terrifying landscapes.
From cornfield mazes to abandoned farmsteads, the metro area offers bone-chilling encounters that tap into the region’s rich history of ghostly legends and paranormal mysteries waiting to be explored.
Discover Des Moines’ most terrifying haunted attractions now!
Featured Haunted Houses in Des Moines
- Linn's Haunted House
- Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park
- The Haunted Woods (Carlisle)
- The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
- US Ghost Adventures Des Moines Ghost Tour
Linn's Haunted House
What to Expect
40-year legacy of local haunted house terror
Description
Located in the basement of Linn's Supermarket, this long-running haunted house delivers 20-minute terror through intricately designed indoor spaces. Voted best local haunted attraction by Cityview readers, the experience features immersive live actors who pursue guests through dark, disorienting corridors and themed rooms.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Linn's Haunted House
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park
What to Expect
Multi-zone horror park with interconnected haunted experiences
Description
Iowa's largest haunted scream park features 10+ immersive horror attractions across multiple themed zones. Navigate through terrifying environments like the Castle of Blood, Nightmares Asylum, and Dr. Demonik's sinister laboratory, where live actors and intricate set designs transform each space into a heart-pounding journey through darkness.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park
The Haunted Woods (Carlisle)
What to Expect
Natural forest setting with live scare actors
Description
A terrifying outdoor haunted attraction set in the natural wooded landscape just south of Des Moines. Visitors navigate through dark forest paths where horrifying creatures lurk behind trees, creating an immersive and unpredictable woodland horror experience that leverages the raw, shadowy terrain.
Where: Carlisle | More Info: The Haunted Woods
The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
What to Expect
Industrial warehouse horror environment with mechanized scare elements
Description
Des Moines' intense haunted house transforms an industrial warehouse into a multi-level nightmare landscape. Live actors navigate visitors through graphic horror scenes with unpredictable jump scares and visceral set designs that blur the line between reality and terror. Industrial mechanical elements and realistic gore effects create an immersive psychological horror experience.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
US Ghost Adventures Des Moines Ghost Tour
What to Expect
Haunting local legends about cryptids and lost souls in Des Moines
Description
A 1-hour walking ghost tour through Des Moines' historic district that explores haunting local legends at iconic sites like the Iowa State Capitol, Argonne Armory, and Wooly's. Guides reveal chilling stories of ghostly soldiers, missing paperboys, and spectral spirits that continue to inhabit the city's most mysterious locations.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: US Ghost Adventures Des Moines Ghost Tour
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