Get your freak on at Dallas-Fort Worth haunted houses

by Sarah Blaskovich

Photo by Lena Dirbashi

In for a good scare? Our reporters and editors combed the long list of Dallas-Fort Worth's haunted houses and sneaked through several of them for your delight. Crisman whimpered through The Parker House in Lewisville with spooky group Spooky Folk, and we even sent a pretty tough intern to Slaughter House – and he was rightfully scared. We also treat you to a Blair Witchy glimpse of the eerie insides of several of the haunted houses.

We think you'll find a bunch of tricks and a few treats in these fine haunts.

Video: Slaughter House in Dallas delivers classic haunted house experience

Haunts and highlights: Jake was instructed to follow some excitable crowds through Slaughter House to get the ultimate experience. He found teenage hipsters who were too cool for school until they were chased by a guy with a chainsaw inside a room with mutilated patients. Their terrified response? “I don't know where to go! JUST TELL ME WHICH WAY TO GO!” This could be you.

You should know: Slaughter House is encased in a parking garage, but it isn't very big. If you're a whimp, this haunted house will get you in and out pretty quickly.

Slaughter House haunted attraction

Haunted house review: Reindeer Manor in Red Oak

Photo by Alex Bentley

Meanwhile, the entrance to Reindeer Manor shows nothing, perhaps portending what was to come.

Haunts and highlights: A tractor-pulled trailer chugs you onto the Reindeer Manor grounds, and we're still not sure what's hiding in those tall bushes. The experience takes you to three haunts: 13th Street Morgue, Dungeon of Doom, and Reindeer Manor. You'll again encounter a chainsaw-wielding man, which Alex says brings a healthy fear factor.

You should know: There was a 10-year-old boy in Reindeer Manor when Alex visited, running around among clowns. Now that's creepy. But even scarier might have been all the leg grabbing at the end of the chaotic tour.

Video: SCREAMS in Waxahachie is ultimate haunted house(s) experience

Haunts and highlights: More chainsaws. (Are you catching a theme here?) Lena describes this haunted house as an awfully forlorn experience, since the maze of SCREAMS – the largest Halloween theme park in the world – is easy to get lost in. And we're not guessing the clown-faced goldilocks midget (yes, she's lurking) is going to point you in the right direction.

You should know: This haunted house – campus, actually – allows you to customize your own Halloween experience. Lena describes it as family friendly: You can head on to the scary stuff, later grabbing a bite to eat and visiting a fortune teller. I'd want to get the heck out of there.

Screams

Video: Spooky Folk spooks Parker House in Lewisville for The Sarah Crisman Show

Haunts and highlights: Spooky Folk was a natural pick to tour a haunted house. Add in some of that hair-raising fiddle playing and they're a walking spookfest. We hate to ruin the surprise, but Parker House in Lewisville features yet another chainsaw. Crisman's adolescent trauma came rushing back as they raced away from bloodied teenagers.

You should know: The cellar is terrifying. Let the nightmares begin.