16 Terrifying Haunted Houses and Ghost Tours in the Bay Area
Secret San Francisco September 15, 2023
Secret San Francisco September 15, 2023
The SF Ghost Hunt is an essential ghost tour experience in San Francisco. Learn about the haunted Victorian homes of Pacific Heights and the neighborhood spirits. You’ll see the haunted trees of abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant, learn about the Chambers Mansion poltergeists, and more. This special Halloween version led by Christian Cagigal will take you looking for ghosts yourself!
Price: $30 for standard tour, $100 for special Halloween tour with VIP experience on Oct. 28, 29, 30, and 31, 2023
Dates: Now through Halloween
Location: Meet in front of Healing Arts center, 1801 Bush St, San Francisco
Find two excellent haunted houses at this award-winning Newark location. “Happy Days Asylum” will take you through a twisted asylum from the point of view of a patient surrounded by hair-raising whispers. The other experience is “House of Phobia: Rise of Monsters,” in which you’ll enter the sinister house where guests entered and never returned. Get ready to scream, because these are widely considered to be the best haunted houses in the Bay!
Price: $19.99-32.99
Dates: Sept. 23 – Nov. 5, 2023
Location: 2086 Newpark Mall, Newark
This family-friendly ghost tour takes you through the mysterious streets of SF’s Chinatown armed with ghost-hunting tools like EMF meters and dowsing rods. The tour includes breathtaking spooky tales about hidden graves, buried ships, and a closing ceremony to honor the local spirits you encounter.
Price: Starting at $49
Dates: Daily
Location: Meet near Transamerica Pyramid
This popular spot in Oakland has 2 haunted house options. You can do the “less scary” version for kids and scaredy-cat adults, where they’ll turn on the lights and shut off the creatures. Or you can try the scary version, in which something dark lurks around every corner…
Price: $8 per person
Location: 4414 Piedmont Ave, Oakland
Winchester Mystery House
The famous Winchester Mystery House is stepping it up a notch for the fall season! Unhinged: Housewarming brings a new chapter to their seasonal haunted house. Guests can wander the halls of the mansion for an immersive and spine-chilling haunted experience, brave the outdoor scare zone, and then decompress at the Lavish Garden Party with fun themed cocktails and food.
Price: $65-70
Dates: Sept. 22 – Oct. 31, 2023
Location: 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose
This blood-curdling house is haunted by 3 terrible witches, who have cursed all who dare cross the threshold. The experience is not for the faint of heart, so come prepared for a terrifying time!
Price: $25-35
Dates: Oct.13-31, 2023
Location: 98 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa
A family-friendly Halloween event with two themed sides: Tricks and Treats. The Land of Tricks is filled with all things slimy, creepy, and spooky, including a zombie cover band and a silent disco. The Land of Treats capitalizes on the coziness of fall and Halloween nostalgia, with pumpkin decorating, a candy witch, seasonal craft beers and cocktails, and endless fall-themed food. Tricks and Treats is the perfect option for those who aren’t up for a haunted house but still want to lean into their spooky side.
Price: Starting at $39.99
Dates: Sept. 22 – Oct. 28, 2023
Location: 4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara
This walk-through haunted theme park has four different haunted houses across six acres of the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. The immersive themed sets are designed to place you in the center of the action, with a spooky pirate theme and lots of practical effects including fire. Make sure to buy timed-entry tickets in advance because they sell out quickly!
Price: $40-80
Dates: Sept. 29 – Oct. 31, 2023
Location: Eastern end of Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
This haunted house in San Jose is part labyrinth, part haunted house, and part escape room. Take your friends on a wild family-friendly journey through twists and turns of a haunted maze, where you can either get stuck in a dead end or unlock a secret path. The bravest among you can take a stab at the much scarier Oubliette dungeon after-hours, where you’ll have to find your way out of a locked space while angry spirits wreak havoc around you.
Price: $12
Dates: Oct. 13-31, 2023
Location: Easterbrook Discovery School, 4835 Doyle Road, San Jose
Make a day of it at this family-friendly farm with a pumpkin patch, pony rides, train rides, a petting zoo, and this year-round haunted house. There’s a non-scary version for younger kids and a scary version for older kids.
Price: $12-30 (includes access to other attractions)
Dates: Year-round, Wednesday-Saturday
Location: 12320 San Mateo Rd, Half Moon Bay
San Francisco’s Haas-Lilienthal mansion in Pac Heights will be transformed into the ultimate haunted mansion in this guided tour experience. Learn all about the famous building in a special Halloween-themed tour, but be wary of what lurks around each corner! Guests can then enjoy the 21+ Spookeasy in the house’s Ballroom saloon.
Price: TBA, tickets on sale October 1
Dates: TBA
Location: 2007 Franklin St, San Francisco
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is gearing up for Fright Fest, a special park experience where guests can enjoy haunted rides and attractions, scare zones, spooky shows and performances, and ghoulish themed food and drinks.
Price: starting at $70, general admission park tickets sold separately
Dates: Select dates, September 23-October 29
Location: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 1001 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo
Test your bravery in this 45,000 square foot warehouse with enormous lofted ceilings and roll-up doors for an open-air haunted house feeling. There’s a less-scary version with no animatronics or scare actors from 5-6pm, but starting at 6:30pm the scares are in full effect. There’s also a Halloween market with local vendors selling all your spooky necessities.
Price: $20-30
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October, plus Monday, Oct. 31, 2023
Location: 1080 Nimitz Ave, Vallejo
The San Francisco Mint is one of the city’s oldest buildings, and every year it transforms into the ultimate immersive haunted show. This year’s theme is “INsight,” in which a paranormal cult opens your eyes to “true consciousness,” showing the horrors lurking in our dark world. They’re also bringing back the ’80s Fang Bang Vampire Bar, which serves Halloween-themed cocktails and snacks.
Dates: Sept 29-Oct 31, 2023
Price: $55-75
Location: 88 5th St, San Francisco
San Jose’s popular haunted house presents NIGHTMARES, an open-air scare zone with plenty of room to run from monsters. They’re also stepping up the scares in the “Midway of Terror,” which presents a detailed pre-show to keep you on your toes while you’re waiting your turn.
Dates: Oct 6-31, 2023
Price: $20-30
Location: 2501 Tully Rd. at East Capitol Expressway, San Jose
This beloved haunted house in Scotts Valley has been bringing the frights for 20 years. This year’s theme and details are still TBA, but you can bet on a spine-chilling outdoor walking tour along with a more lighthearted entertainment zone.
Dates: TBA
Price: TBA
Location: 555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley
*Source: “16 Terrifying Haunted Houses And Ghost Tours In The Bay Area” written by Secret San Francisco on 9/15/23
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