Get Your Halloween Thrills At These Spooky Salem-Area Events

Whether you want to get lost inside a rotting manor with monsters lurching out at you, hear real-life local ghost stories, or wander through a dark corn maze with the kiddos, these spooktacular attractions offer nail-biting Halloween thrills. Check websites for dates, tickets and age recommendations; some experiences aren’t suitable for kids.

VISIT SALEM’S NIGHTMARE FACTORY, IF YOU DARE

The Nightmare Factory at the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) is the state’s longest-running — and arguably most frightening — walk-through haunted house and the creepy sets, costumes and scares are hand-created and performed by OSD students, staff and volunteers. Dare to wander through the new 3D Funhouse and the skull-filled Catacombs. Hardcore fans can opt for Pitch Black nights and stumble through with only the light from a glowstick.

CHILLING LIVE EVENTS AT ELSINORE THEATRE

In addition to the fact it’s supposedly haunted by real-life ghosts, Salem’s 98-year-old Elsinore Theatre has two October events that will give you chills. Paranormal investigator and star of Ghost Hunters, Amy Bruni will share her tales about hunting ghosts at some of the country’s most haunted locations on October 27. Paranormal investigators Greg and Dana Newkirk from Kindred Spirits will also share their hair-raising tales about haunted objects on October 30.

FOUR ACRES OF TERROR AT FORDYCE FARM’S HAUNTED CORN MAZE

The last three Friday and Saturday nights of October, Salem’s family-owned Fordyce Farm will let the monsters loose in its Haunted Corn Maze. Wander through with the kiddos and you won’t know if the rustles in the stalks are due to the wind blowing or a real-life monster waiting to jump out and scare the pants off you. The monsters take the night off on Thursdays, if you want to bring your wee ones through.

SPOOKY STORIES AWAIT AT THE INDEPENDENCE GHOST TOUR

On select days throughout October, step into the haunted history of Independence, Oregon with a ghost led tour by Marilyn Morton, author of Haunted Independence, Oregon. Book a private, guided tour or join a group of up to 20 to discover this thrilling, family friendly journey that takes you into the town’s eerie past. Over the course of a captivating one-hour tour, you’ll uncover chilling ghost stories that bring the supernatural side of Independence to life.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FRIGHTS AT BAUMAN’S DARK MAZE

Every October, family-owned Bauman Farms in Gervais throws an activity-packed Harvest Festival with giant pumpkin contests, apple cannons, petting zoos — and a Dark Maze that’s low on the yikes factor and great for sensitive and young children. Feel your way through the twists and turns in complete darkness. If your wee ones get freaked out, side exits allow for an easy escape. Reward your brave crew with fresh apple-cider doughnuts afterwards; admission is included with your Festival ticket.

MILBURN’S HAUNTED MANOR IS A CLASSIC HORROR SHOW

Located about 30 minutes north of Salem in a rotting farmhouse near the small town Hubbard, Milburn’s Haunted Manor has been terrifying guests for over 20 years. The attraction is split into two parts: the Dark, a series of chambers guests walk through in complete darkness, hoping to avoid various creeps and monsters, and the Manor, a house supposedly haunted by the ghosts of the family who lived there. Fuel up for the scares at the site’s grill, which offers bacon-infused funnel cakes and apple cider.

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