17 local haunts ready to scare, including Frightland & Pea Patch's paranormal adventures

One of Delaware's most beloved haunted attractions is open, while another will remain uncharacteristically silent this Halloween season.

Let's start with the good news.

Frightland was the first major First State attraction to open with eight themed areas across 350 acres of farmland that hugs Del. 1 just south of St. Georges.

The chills started at the end of September,  costing $30-$60 depending on how many of the haunts you want to scream in.

The fright fest draws about 50,000 people across its 18 nights and features a revamped hayride this year that Frightland's Kyle McMahon says has been elevated to the next level.

How so?

"I'll put it this way: We actually have a helicopter that's involved," says McMahon, one of 200 staffers who work the event each year.

When visitors arrive this year, they will be met with Frightland's newest mascot of sorts — a two-stories-tall Frankenstein statue modeled after the Paul Bunyan figure seen in the blood-filled 1996 Coen brothers film "Fargo."

Created by Frightland co-owner Phil Miller, his version depicts Frankenstein holding a bloody ax and is named Fright Frank.

And now, the bad news this Halloween season.

Sports at the Beach near Georgetown is not bringing back its popular Screams at the Beach attraction this year.

After seven years, there will be no blood, no plague and no serial killers to make you squirm.

Officials say they didn't have anyone to run the haunt this year but hope to be back in 2019.

Have no fear (or perhaps, you should) because there are plenty other haunted attractions that dot our state and surrounding region.

Whether you're a kid looking for a thrill or a parent in search of a fun family activity, dig into our list of 18 local and regional haunted houses and other frightful activities.

Some sell out in advance each fall, so get a jump on fellow spook-lovers.

• Open now through Nov. 9, Field of Screams, 191 College Ave., near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. fieldofscreams.com. $16-$35. In its 26th year, the attraction has four main themed areas for 2018: Nocturnal Wasteland, Haunted Hayride, Den of Darkness and Frightmare Asylum. In addition, the sixth annual Zombie Fun Run 5K will be held Nov. 10. Other special events include Nov. 9's Extreme Blackout, which sells out each year. It's an "extremely intense version" of the attractions. "The lights will be turned down, and the intensity level will be cranked up!" they warn. You might want to bring an extra pair of undies.

• Open now through Nov. 4, Corn Cob Acres, 191 College Ave., near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. corncobacres.com. $11-$15. Field of Screams' sister site is more for the smaller kids in the family with six distinct sections: Barnyard, Pumpkin Alley, Wild West, Pasture Playland, Farmland and Hidden Acres. In all, there are more than 50 activities for little kids to teens.

• Open now through Nov. 10, Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia. easternstate.org. $19-$50. The Philly prison that held prisoners (including Al Capone and Willie Sutton) through the early '70s is back with its nationally rated haunted attraction. This year's six-cell block haunts include Machine Shop, Lock Down, Breakout!, Infirmary, Quarantine 4D, Blood Yard and the new Infirmary at the registered U.S. National Historic Landmark. "Infirmary takes the fear of hospitals to a whole new level. In this newly revamped and highly interactive attraction, you'll encounter maniacal surgeons, dentists and nurses who are sharpening their scalpels for some unusual, unnatural operations." It sounds like the Cinemax drama "The Knick" come alive ... but scarier.

• Open now through Nov. 3, Frightland. 309 Port Penn Road, Middletown. frightland.com. $30-$60. Upstate Delaware's king of haunts is loaded up with eight haunted themes including a 2-mile haunted hayride and four indoor haunted houses. Spots include The Attic, Idalia Manor, Haunted Barn, Haunted Hayride, Fear, Ghost Town, Zombie Prison and Ravenwood Cemetery. In its 22nd year, Frightland also has a lineup of special group nights scheduled, including First Responder's Appreciation Night (Oct. 25), State Employee Night (Oct. 7), College Night (Oct. 14), High School Night (Oct. 18), Military Appreciation Night (Oct. 21) and Greek Night (Oct. 28).

• Open now through Oct. 27, Pea Patch Paranormal Adventure at Fort Delaware State Park, 45 Clinton St., Delaware City. destateparks.com/History/FortDelaware. $50. Pea Patch's ghost hunts are super popular, and each one usually sells out. This year there are 16 scheduled, including a season-closing five-hour "extended paranormal investigation" on Oct. 27 (9:30 p.m.) costing $110. But that has already sold out. The adventures are led by the Delaware-based Diamond State Ghost Investigators. Check them out at diamondstateghostinvestigators.com.

• Open now through Oct. 31, Nightmare's Haunted House, 10912 County Seat Road, Laurel. nightmareshauntedhouse.info. $13. This haunt is open only nine nights — every Friday and Saturday in October with a Halloween night closing scare. Funds raised each year are donated to local causes. In the past, they have included the American Cancer Society, Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club as well as the Delmar and Laurel fire departments.

• Open now through Oct. 27, Slaughter House Farm, 32076 Gordy Road, Laurel. slaughterhousefarm.org. $13. At this nonprofit attraction, a band of volunteers works so all proceeds can go to Maryland-based Operation We Care, a nonprofit that sends care packages to military members and first responders. Laurel Fire Department is also a beneficiary.

• Open now through Oct. 27, Wicked Woods, 2621 Sandy Bend Road, Wyoming. facebook.com/Wicked-R-Western-Productions-Inc-256317854410065. $15. For scares, Wicked Woods' haunted trail is open every Friday and Saturday in October from 7 to 11 p.m. It's not recommended for children under the age of 7.

• Open now through Oct. 27, Fright Night, Brecknock County Park, 80 Old Camden Road, Camden. $8. co.kent.de.us/parks-recreation. The Kent County Parks & Recreation-run haunt, whose tagline is "Darkness Changes Everything," is designed for adults and older children with no strollers or pets allowed into Halloween Park. It runs from 7 to 10 p.m. during its six sessions.

• Open now through Oct. 27, Cemetery House, Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, 205 W. 10th St., Laurel. cemeteryhouse.com. $10 or $9 with a canned good. This long-running attraction starts with a haunted hayride from the fire department before things really get scary.

• Oct. 20, Ghosts in the Graveyard, Old Swedes Church, 606 Church St., Wilmington. $6-$10. Reservations required via (302) 652-5629 oroldswedes.org. Tickets are also sold online. Is the graveyard haunted? Why is that bell ringing late at night? If you want to be the one to solve the churchyard mystery, Ghosts in the Graveyard's hourlong tours are for you. Tours start at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

• Oct. 19 and 20, Boo at the Zoo, Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington. $5. brandywinezoo.org. Free for members. This one won't scare anyone, and that's by design. Kids of all ages can trick-or-treat at the zoo in their costumes. It runs from 5 to 7 p.m. 

• Oct. 19-Nov. 4, Hersheypark in the Dark, Hersheypark, 100 W. Hersheypark Dr.,
Hershey, Pennsylvania. hersheypark.com. $29.95-$70.50. Across three weekends, Hersheypark gets in the spirit with rides, a glow party and candy, of course. Fifty-five rides will be up and running with the lights turned off on its three wooden roller coasters during the last hour of each night. The indoor Laff Trakk coaster will be dark throughout all operations. There are also 13 candy locations on the Trick-or-Treat Trail. Children ages 12 and younger should dress in costume for free treat bags and candy at each stop.

• Oct. 20-28, Hockessin Haunted House, 19 Nathalie Drive, Hockessin. hockessinhauntedhouse.org. $5. This haunted home first opened in 2002 and has been run as a nonprofit since 2008 with funds raised going to charity each year. Landenberg, Pennsylvania's CompAnimals Pet Rescue has been the most recent beneficiary.

• Oct. 27-29, Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers' Festival, downtown Rehoboth Beach. beach-fun.com. Free. The largest Delaware Halloween event of them all enters its 29th year. And judging by its 48-page program packed with parades, bonfires, beach games, hayrides and trick-or-treat trips, it will hold onto its title. Most activities across the three days are free. Try everything from a broom-throwing competition and escape room to a beach horse show and pony rides. Check out that aforementioned program to plot and plan your weekend.

• Oct. 27, Pipe Organ Spooktacular, All Saints' Church & St. George's Chapel, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach. allsaintsandstgeorges.org. Spooky pipe organ music, movie and TV-themed trivia and more at this annual event held in conjunction with Sea Witch Festival. It starts at 3 p.m. for all ages, and costumes are encouraged.

• Oct. 31, Haunted Library, Selbyville Public Library, 11 S. Main St., Selbyville. selbyvillelibrary.org. Free, with donations accepted. Screaming replaces shushing in this 16th annual event running from 6 to 8 p.m. About 500 people attended last year, and the library will close Oct. 29 and 30 to get it ready. Best for ages 7 and up, but all ages are welcome.

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).