Happy spooky season. Here’s your survival guide to Kansas City’s haunted houses
Spooky season is taking over Kansas City. A bunch of haunted houses are open around the metro, and Halloween is creeping up.
If you’re a regular or a first-timer, here are a few things you should look out for before you head into a Kansas City haunted house.
Brian McGannon with Worlds of Fun said that along with plenty of terror, you should be prepared for:
Flashing lights
Horrifying imagery
Intense sounds
Blind corners
Suffocating corridors
Amber Arnett-Bequeath, the West Bottoms district spokesperson, said that you should dress comfortably if you visit a haunted house. You’ve seen plenty of horror movies where the character killed is running slow because of the shoes or clothes they’re wearing.
She also warns that if you have a medical condition — such as asthma or heart problems — or if you’re claustrophobic, you should enter haunted houses with caution.
The West Bottoms has EMTs on standby if something goes wrong, and each employee with The Beast, The Edge of Hell and The Macabre has a button to signal for help from security personnel.
Arnett-Bequeath suggested that you go early in the day to see it without people screaming, but if you like people-watching and seeing others get scared, wait until the line picks up later in the night.
You should put away your cell phones to get the full experience. The lights can also be distracting to other visitors inside the house at the same time that you are.
“(Cellphones) ruin it for everyone,” Arnett-Bequeath said. “Just because you’re a chicken doesn’t mean the guy behind you wants to be a chicken.”
WHERE ARE THE HAUNTED HOUSES?
Attractions are spread throughout Kansas City. Check out a few of them below, and if we’re missing your favorite, let us know at kcq@kcstar.com
THE BEAST - 1401 W 13th St., Suite B
Named one of the best haunted attractions in the United States, this West Bottoms house is four floors of scares, shocks and horrors. The immersive nightmare is open format, meaning visitors can lose their way as alligators, werewolves, phantoms and monsters lurk in the dark.
A single ticket to The Beast costs $35 after fees. Get your tickets here. You can also buy a ticket to jump from the four-story Beast window onto a jump bag, which costs $15 after fees.
The house is open at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday from now until the first weekend in November. It’ll be open at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and on Nov. 4 and 5. Closing times vary, so you’ll want to get there early.
THE EDGE OF HELL - 1300 W. 12th St.
The oldest commercial haunted attraction in the United States is right around the corner from The Beast. If you’re not scared enough, just walk down the street and wait in line for a five-story fright fest.
Rat men, vampires and Satan himself are on hand to take you down below.
One ticket to The Edge of Hell costs $35 after fees. Get your tickets here.
The venue opens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday from now until the first weekend in November, when it will be open at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 and 5. Closing times vary, so you’ll want to arrive early.
THE MACABRE - 1222 W. 12th St., Suite A
A nod to Hollywood, this haunted movie theater plays classic scenes from horror movies while clowns, zombies and ghouls taunt and chase you across four floors.
Check your surroundings, as they’ll be hiding in the real movie set pieces from “The Mummy,” “Hellraiser,” “Killer Clowns from Outer Space,” and more.
Tickets to The Macabre cost $35 fees. Get your tickets here. The venue opens at 8 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday from now until Halloween weekend, when it will be open at 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 31. Closing times vary, so you’ll want to show up early so you won’t miss out.
HALLOWEEN HAUNT - 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave.
Six mazes at Worlds of Fun bring the thrills. Each maze has its own theme and unique story, which McGannon said is their priority.
Halloween Haunt has mazes that are themed for zombies, vampires, murderous farmers stalking you through a corn maze, demonic clowns and an incredible cast of characters everywhere in the park to aid the atmosphere.
The mazes are:
The rest of the theme park will also be open, but it turns into Halloween Haunt starting at 6 p.m. and closing at:
11 p.m. on Thursday
Midnight on Friday and Saturday
11 p.m. on Sunday. The park closes at 7 p.m. on Oct. 2.
Check out this map to find where the haunted houses are. They’re open every Thursday through Saturday until Oct. 30.
Daily tickets start at $34.99 and you can buy them here. If you have a Gold or Platinum pass, you can bring a friend their ticket will cost $19.99.
