Cities & Towns

Haunted Houses & Spooky Attractions

A guide to some of Orange County's haunted houses and other spooky attractions

From Kimberlee Morrison, former About.com Guide

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If you don’t want to fight the crowds at Disneyland and Knott’s Scary Farm, or you’re looking to escape the deluge of kid-centric Halloween activities, haunted houses, trails, and mazes are a fun and creepy alternative for teens and adults. Here's a guide to spooky attractions in Orange County.

Boot Hill, Irvine

The Legend of Boot Hill is a tale of the town of Bridgewood, a miserly land developer Jebediah Smith, and how he was brought to justice in an old church cemetery. The site has since been leveled and is now the Irvine village of Woodbridge. But legend has it that every year the church and cemetery reappear and the spirit of Jebediah Smith roams the grounds. Boot Hill is open Oct. 22-24 and 27-30 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Halloween, Oct. 31, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are requested and benefit the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Haunted Trails, Laguna Beach

This guided tour through mazes, tents and trails in “a world of mass confusion,” promises to be a terrifying experience. Admission is $10 and the haunted trails in Laguna is not recommended for children under 8. The trails opens Oct. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Oct. 28-29 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visit the website for directions and additional details.

Haunted Campground, Dana Point

The haunted campgrounds at Doheney State Beach in Dana Point is more of a Halloween festival than a spooky spectacle, with educational booths, arts and crafts stations, and other fun activities. The Haunted Campground is open one day, Oct. 22, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission is free, but a non-perishable food donation is requested.

The Empty Grave, Anaheim

This spooky attraction at the Anaheim Garden Walk, promises a frightful and ghoulish experience based on the legend of an old cemetery grounds-keeper who went mad with blood lust. General admission is $13; admission for two is $20. Visit the website for details on other group rates and to read the Empty Grave "Tales of Terror."

Haunted Garden, Fullerton

Every year the Fullerton Arboretum transforms its garden into a haunted “haven for all that goes bump in the night.” Visitors are taken on a guided tour through a dark forest and creepy garden paths, populated with ghost, vampires and other ghoulish characters. Tours take place on Oct. 28 and 29, with the first tour starting at 6:30 and the last tour leaves at 8:30 p.m. For kids six and under, there will be a costume parade, crafts and games on Saturday, Oct 29. Pre-sale admission is $10 for adults and teens, $6 for kids 12 and under; $12 and $8 respectively at the gate.

The Haunt at Heritage Hill

On Friday, Oct. 21, the city of Lake Forrest hosts “The Haunt” at Heritage Hill Historic Park. Attendees are invited to walk through Ma and Pa’s backyard, tour the haunted schoolhouse and brave the maze. Other activities include a dance floor with live D.J., a screening of “Wolf Man,” and meet-and-greet with the Chaney family. Admission is $5 at the gate.