Halloween in the Poconos

With fall foliage peaking in the weeks leading up to Halloween and a host of seasonal activities available for the whole family to enjoy, there is no better time to visit the Pocono Mountains.

Whether your perfect Northeast autumn includes pumpkins or hayrides, festivals or rich cultural history, spooky ghost tours or zip lining in the dark, you’ll find it in the Poconos. Be sure to add these places and activities to your plans.

Hotel of Horror Featuring Altered Nightmares
Dates: Weekends, Sept. 21-Nov. 2
Location: Lake House Hotel, Saylorsburg, Pa.

Looking for a scare-your-pants-off experience? Horror fans will be delighted and terrified by the truly frightening Hotel of Horror. This award-winning haunted house is filled with monsters, spirits and sights that are the stuff of nightmares.

With incredible set design, sound and lighting, live actors, animatronics and a touch of the paranormal, this is a walk-through haunting you won’t soon forget. Housed in the “abandoned” and genuinely creepy Lake House Hotel, the site is home to almost 200 years of tragic and gruesome real-life history.

The hotel features three attractions under the same roof – Hotel of Horror, Altered Nightmares and Coffin Coach. Tickets can be purchased separately or combined.

halloween in the poconos — (Photo: Pocono Mountains)

The Waldorf Estate of FEAR
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 4-Nov. 2
Location: 6325 Interchange Road, Lehighton, Pa.

Not for little ones or the faint of heart! Test your bravery with four scary attractions. The haunted Waldorf Hotel features live actors that will put you right into the scenes of nightmares and horror films, while Terror in the Corn haunted hayride delivers the scares outdoors. For more heart-racing fun, the estate’s two escape rooms – Apocalypse and Escape a Killer – will challenge your wits and your courage! Advance reservations are recommended for the escape rooms.

Old Jail Ghost Tours
Dates: Saturdays, Oct. 5-26
Location: 128 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, Pa.

Historic Jim Thorpe is home to The Old Jail – an imposing stone fortress complete with a dungeon, which was in use as a jail from 1871 until 1995. Today the site is a museum offering guided tours.

You’ll see the mysterious and enduring handprint of a prisoner who claimed his innocence in the 1870s, and hear the story of the seven condemned coal miners known as the Molly Maguires.

If you’re feeling bold, test your bravery on the Old Jail Ghost Tours, where you’ll hear spine-chilling true stories about the jail’s real hauntings. Be sure to bring your camera to capture photos of the spirits, if you dare.

Spooky Days on the Farm
Dates: Weekend of Oct. 25-27
Location: 347 Quiet Valley Road, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Originally built in the 19th century, Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm is a 114-acre living history museum with the mission of preserving Pennsylvania’s German agricultural heritage.

The farm immerses visitors in the daily farm life of the 1800s through reenactments and demonstrations by interpreters dressed in period clothing. And during the month of October things take a turn for the haunted at this idyllic retreat with Spooky Days on the Farm.

Enjoy games, ghost stories, horse-drawn wagon rides and other family-friendly activities during the day. At night, put on your detective cloak as you help solve a mysterious murder mystery at the farm and confront the creatures of the night.

The Settlers Inn Storytelling Dinner
Dates: Oct. 25-26
Location: 4 Main Ave., Hawley, Pa.

Foodies and storytellers alike will gain nourishment (mind, body, and soul) from the annual Settlers Inn Storytelling Dinner. Live music and glowing pumpkins are just the beginning. Every autumn, The Settlers Inn hosts storytelling dinners with a seasonal menu and live music. Be inspired by the storytelling and sample interesting wines and craft brews from the extensive beverage menu.

Dramatic Reading: An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe
Date: Oct. 26
Location: 122 Old Owego Turnpike, Milford, Pa.

Hosted by the American Readers Theatre, this annual event commemorates the life and works of the master of the macabre. Built by the Pinchot family as a summer retreat in the late 1800s, the Grey Towers National Historic Landmark is the perfect setting for a haunted experience. Come early for a tour of the exquisite grounds and learn about the Pinchot family’s role in conservation and the Forest Service.

Discover more Halloween attractions in the Pocono Mountains.