Utah's Most Terrifying Halloween Haunts

Forget the apple cider, hayrides and pumpkin picking; this is your guide to Utah's genuinely spine-chilling haunted attractions and dark history.

Written By Asha Pruitt

Fear Factory | Courtesy of Fear Factory

Who knew Utah was so wild about Halloween? When it comes to spooky season, the Beehive State is regularly ranked one of the most spirited in the nation. But forget about it just being a kid's holiday — Utahns of all ages love to get in on the fun, from rocking incredible yard displays to getting their hearts racing at a world-class haunted attraction. (Read: Get Your Spook On: Northern Utah's Most Haunted Places)

It's no wonder Utah has the Halloween bug — it's a favorite filming location for horror flicks. With classics like "Carnival of Souls" and the “Halloween” franchise, Utah has a truly scary cinematic history.

If you're looking for pumpkin festivals and apple cider, check out our list of fun fall activities for the whole family. But if you're seeking a thrill this fall, come for the breathtaking autumn colors and stay for a good old-fashioned fright. Just be warned, these stops are not for the faint of heart.

Venture into Fear Factory, an abandoned factory with a documented history of deaths, to get a truly epic Halloween scare.

Photo: Courtesy of Fear Factory

Utah’s Horror History

Boasting a variety of unique mountain and desert landscapes that can create chilling atmospheres, Utah has provided eerie backdrops for many horror films over the decades. The Utah Film Commission created an interactive map with more than 100 statewide sites where tourists can visit the real-life settings of their favorite scary movies.

The abandoned Saltair Pavilion on the shores of the Great Salt Lake inspired director Herk Harvey to create the 1962 movie “Carnival of Souls,” a low-budget film shot guerrilla-style which has since accrued a cult following. Today, a rebuilt version of the historical building hosts concerts and other events.

"Carnival of Souls" was filmed along the shores of the Great Salt Lake, inspired by the old Saltair Pavilion.

Photo: Harcourt Productions

“The Car,” in which a possessed 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark III goes on a murderous rampage in a small desert town, was filmed in Southern Utah with scenes in Glen Canyon, Snow Canyon and Zion National Park. Glen Canyon was also used to represent Africa in “Exorcist II: The Heretic,” critically regarded as one of the worst films ever made, but nonetheless an important installment in the famous franchise.

“Troll 2,” also panned by critics yet beloved by many as a hilarious, so-bad-it’s-good watch, was filmed in the small towns of Morgan and Porterville near Ogden, Utah. More recently, Ogden’s snowy mountaintops at Snowbasin Resort provided the terrifying setting for the 2013 film “Frozen,” about three friends stranded on a chairlift.

Award-winning psychological horror director Ari Aster also has a penchant for shooting in Utah, with scenes from both “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” shot in Salt Lake City and Sandy. Three of the “Halloween” slasher movies were shot in Utah as well — the Cottonwood Paper Mill, an abandoned structure at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, was used as Dr. Loomis’ house in “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.”

To further immerse film enthusiasts in the state's cinematic history, the Utah Film Trail invites visitors to experience these iconic landscapes firsthand. Featuring a series of physical markers around the state, the trail guides travelers off the beaten path to discover the real-world locations featured in their favorite films and television shows.

"Hereditary" was filmed in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sandy.

Photo: A24

Salt Lake Film Society Tower of Terror

Pair your visits to these spooky sites with screenings of the corresponding films. Independent film thrives in Utah with the Salt Lake Film Society and their mini-festivals like the Tower of Terror. Every weekend in September and October, the nonprofit organization screens classic Halloween favorites ranging from zombie flicks to slashers at the Broadway Centre Cinemas in downtown Salt Lake. While the selections vary from year to year, the final weekend is always the biggest treat: a screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” featuring a live shadow cast.

Combine your favorite haunted sites with a classic Halloween film screening at the Tower of Terror film festival.

Photo: Rachel Getts

Utah's Haunted House Attractions

Looking for a real scare this halloween? You can find a thrill for any level of thrill-seeker at several of Utah's most haunted houses and attractions. From a massive outdoor "scream park" in a real forest to a haunted hospital with a D.O.A. option for the truly brave, these haunts go beyond jump scares to deliver a truly unforgettable night of terror.

Nightmare on 13th

Salt Lake City, Utah

Nightmare on 13th, Utah’s longest-running indoor haunted house, which is frequently ranked as one of the best in the nation, first opened in 1984 in Salt Lake City. The towering castle on 1300 South is home to not one but two attractions: The first, titled Nightmare Haunted House, features over 45 different rooms and a new theme every year; the second, called the Institute of Terror, is a terrifying haunted hospital which is included with the purchase of Combo or VIP Level tickets.

For the scaredy-cats in your group, Nightmare on 13th also offers a family-friendly Day Haunt experience with full show lighting and without any actors or jump scares. And though the attraction is only open in September, October and November, their 1,600 square foot event space and venue is available for year-round bookings.

Fear Factory

Salt Lake City, Utah

Located at 666 West 800 South in Salt Lake City, Fear Factory resides in an abandoned cement factory constructed in 1800 and formerly known as Portland Cement Works. The haunted factory's dark lore tells a grim tale of 11 documented deaths. This chilling history, plus reports of paranormal activity on the premises, is one of the reasons Fear Factory was featured on an episode of the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” show.

Nowadays, a demonic caretaker will guide visitors through the building’s six stories and two underground passages. Enhance your experience by visiting on a special Lights Out night, by taking the free Zombie Bus from The Gateway, or by attending a public or private paranormal history tour with Grimm Ghost Tours.

Castle of Chaos

Midvale, Utah

The only underground haunted house in Utah — Castle of Chaos in Midvale — offers five levels of haunts: At Level 1, attendees are provided a glow wand to ward off monsters; at Level 4, brave 16+ visitors may be touched, moved or restrained. The most extreme experience is Level 5 aka Krusebel Extreme Haunt, an immersive overnight experience that tests endurance and pushes psychological limits. With different levels of immersion, Krusebel is not for the faint of heart.

If you don’t visit during Halloween season, the Castle of Chaos escape rooms are open year-round, providing thrilling one-hour challenges for up to 16 guests. Themes include Paranormal, Lockdown, Asylum, Serial Killer and Dragon’s Quest.

Asylum 49

Tooele, Utah

The story of Asylum 49 began in 1873, when the building was constructed as a private residence by Samuel F. Lee. When his family vacated, it functioned as a county poorhouse for the elderly for 40 years before transforming into a public hospital in 1953. Due to poor funding and limited resources, the deceased often did not receive the respect they deserved. Today, the grounds are said to be haunted by numerous ghosts including the original owner Lee and his son Thomas, a nurse named Maria, an elderly man named Wes and a mysterious man in black.

Asylum 49 provides no contact, light contact and full contact options; the most extreme is titled D.O.A. or Dead on Arrival. Don't miss the Museum of Unseen Horrors, where you can explore a unique collection that delves into historical medical oddities, forgotten artifacts and curiosities from the early 1900s.

Haunted Forest

American Fork, Utah

One of the largest haunted attractions in the U.S., the Haunted Forest in American Fork boasts over one million square feet of pure adrenaline in a real wooded park next to Utah Lake. The idea was born in the summer of 1990, when the now-owners rode horses back to camp through the mountains of Utah County in the dark.

With hundreds of trees and real swamps, mine shafts and dungeons, a slasher-style farmhouse and a vampire castle plus dozens of other themed areas, there’s a scare for every phobia. Live actors and animatronics hide at every turn along the twisted trail, as visitors crawl through tight spaces, navigate mazes and slip down slides. The legend of Cletus Snodgrass — a supposed moonshiner, homesteader and murderer — ties the whole story together.

Halloween in Utah

With just as many terrifying haunts for adults as there are family-friendly options for kids, Halloween season in Utah is an unforgettable affair. Whether you’re a horror film aficionado or a thrill-seeking adventurer, these haunted spots — both real and man-made — will send a shiver down your spine. September, October and November is a great time to visit and dive into the spookier side of Utah culture.

Ready for a break from the scares? Grab a drink with the monsters at Fear Factory's Dark Spirits Bar.

Photo: Courtesy of Fear Factory

Utah's only underground haunted house — Castle of Chaos in Midvale offers five levels of haunts.

Photo: Courtesy of Castle of Chaos

Nightmare on 13th, Utah’s longest-running indoor haunted house, is frequently ranked as one of the best in the nation.

Photo: Courtesy of Nightmare on 13th

Utah's Haunted Attractions

About the Author – Asha Pruitt

As the Managing Editor at SLUG Magazine, Asha Pruitt is proud to lead a local arts and music publication with roots in the ‘90s Utah punk scene. Having graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Global Studies, her work spans from in-depth reporting and podcast production to research on international politics. Asha is passionate about multimedia storytelling and amplifying Salt Lake City’s many vibrant communities. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s crocheting, bouldering or going to a show at Kilby Court.