ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y. (October 13, 2021) – As Halloween creeps near, fun and fright await all in Orange County, N.Y., with haunted houses and hayrides, a scavenger “haunt” and treats galore. The county’s eerie yet inviting attractions include the Guinness World Record holder for the longest haunted attraction, and a kid-friendly spook-tacular setup in the Northeast’s newest amusement park, LEGOLAND® New York.
“There’s a chill in the air, and it’s not just from the changing season,” said Amanda Dana, Director of Orange County Tourism & Film. “Our Halloween attractions are the spookiest you’ll find anywhere, and enough to bring a shiver to the bravest soul. They’re also so much fun it’s scary – alluring enough to draw haunt hunters from as far away as Boston and Philadelphia. Just 90 minutes from New York City, you’ll find a realm of the strange, the weird, the fun and the unforgettable that you’ll want to return to again and again – if you can escape.”
Top Halloween season attractions include:
- Pure Terror Scream Park, Museum Village, 299 Museum Village Road, Monroe:Featuring 10 haunted walk-through attractions, Pure Terror has held the Guinness World Record for the longest haunted attraction since 2015. Visit and brave Resurrection Cemetery, The Coven, Terror Under the Big Top, and the newest feature, Woods of the Dead. A huge Halloween monster-themed midway also offers great food, music and photo opportunities at every turn. Among the scariest haunted attractions anywhere, Pure Terror immerses you in a world of movie-quality sets and Hollywood-grade props and costumes. Recommended for ages 12 and up, Pure Terror is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 31. Gates open 6:45 p.m.; the haunting begins 7 p.m. Details at www.pureterror.com
- Brick-or-Treat, LEGOLAND® New York, 1 LEGOLAND® Way, Goshen: Enjoy the Halloween spectacular built especially for kids at the Northeast’s newest amusement park. They’ll love the live entertainment and shows! Also meet LEGO® Halloween characters and face off in a costume contest. Loads of treats will be there for the taking at six trick-or-treat stations. Every Saturday and Sunday in October from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Visitors on Thursdays and Fridays throughout October also can join in Halloween fun. Search and find Trick or Treaters and Ghosts in MINILAND, meet LEGOLAND® Halloween characters. Join the costume parade, take photos in the Pumpkin Patch and challenge yourself to three hay mazes. https://www.legoland.com/new-york/things-to-do/seasonal-events/brick-or-treat/
- Prison of Horror/The Lockdown Experience, Hudson Sports Complex, 122 State School Road, Warwick: In an abandoned prison, you’ll find experiences for only the bravest souls, presented by the Hudson Sports Complex. The fright-filled site was featured recently on the Travel Channel’s Ghost Nation. In Prison of Horror, explore the former prison and its grounds – if you’re not too afraid to discover what lies beneath. Fridays and Saturdays through October. See website for times. https://www.hudsonsportscomplex.com/prison-of-horrors
The Lockdown Experience is a 90-minute live-action horror game. You might be among the hunted trying to solve the crime before it’s too late. Or you might be the killer eliminating your fellow players one by one. Either way, be prepared to be terrified! Through Saturday, Nov. 6. See the website for available days and times. https://www.hudsonsportscomplex.com/lockdown-experience
- No Scare Halloween, Museum Village, 1010 Route 17M, Monroe: All the fun with none of the fright makes this a perfect Halloween celebration for the little ones. Come in costume and enjoy a costume parade, scavenger hunts, games and, of course, candy! Saturday, October 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. https://museumvillage.org/
- The Haunted Funhouse, Newburgh Mall, 1401 Route 300 Newburgh: Studio 845 presents its annual haunted house attraction, eagerly preparing frights and surprises for each victim – er, visitor. Candy for all! Text @ifyoudare to 81010 to join the reservation list. Friday Oct. 29, Saturday Oct. 30, and Sunday Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. https://www.newburghmall.com/event/THE-HAUNTED-FUNHOUSE/2145554305/
- Boo Arrow Farm, Blue Arrow Farm, 86 Glenwood Rd, Pine Island: It’s your choice; enjoy the “Not So Spooky” family-friendly train ride from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., before the ghouls, demon creatures, undead, and evil spirits awaken from their slumber. Or hop on from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., when passengers won’t be so lucky! They’ll brave the “Frightfully Spooky” hayride that’s especially “for those who love being scared out of their skin.” Stick around after the hayride for treats from vendors, music – both live and not-so-live – plus face painting and other Halloween fun. https://bluearrowfarm.com/
- I SPY Halloween Scavenger Haunt, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Outdoor Discovery Center, 20 Muser Drive Cornwall: Ghosts and ghouls are invited to celebrate Halloween along the I Spy Halloween Trail. Find all the items hidden along the I SPY trail and a treat will be waiting upon your return! This self-guided activity is a great way for families to celebrate Halloween with COVID-19 precautions in place. Costumes encouraged! Saturday, Oct. 30. You must begin during the half-hour window on your paid, timed ticket, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. https://www.hhnm.org/special-events-1
Find more spooky attractions on the Orange County Tourism website, www.OrangeTourism.org, where you can also search a full list of lodging, activities and other attractions. Orange County Tourism’s Facebook page: Orange County Tourism NY is a fabulous guide to up-to-the-minute postings of area events and activities, great times, and memorable experiences available to visitors.
About Orange County Tourism & Film
Orange County Tourism & Film, based in Goshen, N.Y., is the county’s tourism headquarters and a participant in the I LOVE NY program. A comprehensive listing of area attractions, lodging, and events can be found at www.OrangeTourism.org. Additionally, a fun, free, 56-page travel guide is available for digital download at orangetourism.org/travel-guide/.
