HAUNTED HSV: How to celebrate spooky season in the Rocket City

Reviewed by: Amelia Pilgrim

Reading time: 6 minutes

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Spooky season in Huntsville, haunted places, haunted houses, Halloween
Fall is finally here! (Cliff Martin / Hville Blast)

October is officially here, which means spooky season is upon us! Whether you’re looking for a paranormal experience or just a good scare, there are tons of things in North Alabama that are sure to give you a fright!

Keep reading to learn more about scare attractions, haunted buildings and other spooky activities happening in and around the Rocket City this October👇

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Paranormal places in Huntsville

spooky
The Dead Children’s Playground is said to be haunted by the souls of children buried nearby, but accounts as to why this is are contested among locals. (Hville Blast)

If you’re new around town, you may not know about the extensive list of places in Huntsville that are largely believed to be haunted.

Cedarhurst Mansion (the Sally Carter House)

Located just off of Drake Avenue, this house is home to one of Huntsville’s most iconic ghosts. What is now a gated community clubhouse is believed to be haunted by someone named Sally Carter, a girl who died in the house in 1837. Legend has it residents can still hear her roaming the halls; some even believe her casket was found to be empty.

Though this spot is tricky to visit without permission from someone in the gated community, it is one of the city’s most iconic and eerie buildings.

Dead Children’s Playground

In the middle of Maple Hill Cemetery (the largest and oldest cemetery in the state) sits a quiet playground with an interesting history. Allegedly, in the 1960’s multiple children were mysteriously abducted around the city, and bodies were recovered at the site of this very playground. Legend has it, while visiting the playground at night you can still hear sounds of children giggling and playing, and the swings appear to move on their own.

If you’re into paranormal activities and unsettling lore, this spot is sure to check your boxes.

Historic Huntsville Depot

The oldest surviving train depot in Alabama sits Downtown at the Historic Huntsville Depot. Built in 1860, this longstanding building is said to have been infested with the souls of Civil War soldiers. As of now the site serves as a historic museum and still showcases graffiti left by said soldiers, but many believe art is not the only thing they left behind.

The museum is open to the public, however they are not currently offering tours.

Haunted House attractions in North Alabama

If you prefer a jump-scare over an unsettling feeling and chills down your spine, don’t worry. North Alabama is home to some of the highest-rated haunted houses in the state, for good reason. With immersive sets and convincing actors, these spots are sure to give you quite the scare.

Arx Mortis

Located about an hour and a half from Huntsville is the iconic “Arx Mortis” haunted house. With terrifying actors, spooky outdoor trails, haunting animatronics and more, this spot is known for being one of Alabama’s best. Bring a friend for this one—you do not want to try it alone.

Arx Mortis is rated PG13, meaning it may be too intense for younger children. It is known for intense realism and gore, so keep that in mind when planning a trip.

Doomsday Haunted Attraction

If you didn’t know, Athens is home to one of the most elaborate haunted outdoor trails in North Alabama. The Doomsday Haunted Attraction is a “hybrid immersive haunt” that takes you on a trip through a post-nuclear-apocalyptic world. Live actors, detailed sets and twisty trails make this attraction the perfect mix of terrifying and fun. You must be at least 10 years old to visit the attraction, and adult supervision is required.

PV Slaughterhouse Haunted Attraction

PV Slaughterhouse is about an hour and 15 minutes from Huntsville, and is known to be the most intense horror attraction in northeastern Alabama. Featuring a unique storyline in which animals “get their revenge,” this spot has both indoor and outdoor scares. In case you were wondering, yes, PV Slaughterhouse is named after its original purpose: an abandoned meat packing plant. Can it get more spooky than that?

Lowkey spooky activities in and around Huntsville

the haunted Historic Lowry house in Huntsville, Halloween
Huntsville’s historic Lowry House is allegedly haunted 👻 (Historic Lowry House via Facebook)

If visiting the home of a ghost or an immersive thriller attraction is too much for you this spooky season, there are still plenty of fun activities to get you into the Halloween spirit. For younger kids, a haunted hayride or ghost walk may be more enjoyable.

Huntsville Ghost Walk

Even if you don’t fully believe these spots are haunted, the Huntsville Ghost Walk is still a fun experience full of interesting stories. Every Friday and Saturday, groups meet at the Harrison Brothers Hardware store in Downtown Huntsville to take a guided tour of the city’s oldest and most haunted buildings. There are three guided tour options you can choose from, each through different districts Downtown.

Haunted Hayride

If you don’t mind driving a little bit over an hour, there is a family-friendly hayride in Leighton, Alabama. The experience tells stories about the folklore of LaGrange Mountain, and has traditional Halloween spooky stories. This attraction is the best for younger kids, as guests say it is a fun learning experience with plenty of photo-ops.

Haunting on Holt Road

Located in Athens, this all-outdoor trail is spooky fun for the whole family. The staff is known to be very friendly, and you can choose your own “scare level.”

Where to find the spookiest spots in North Alabama

Looking for the perfect spooky season activity near you? Check out the map below👇

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Lauren Denman
Lauren Denman
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