If your idea of a perfect fall night involves voluntarily walking into a dark forest, a former asylum, a 112-year-old schoolhouse or a 90,000-pound rotating jail with nothing but a flashlight, you’ve come to the right place.
Haunted house season is officially underway around Omaha, and there are a lot more options than you might realize.
You can spend an entire evening at one of the area’s scream parks, take a haunted hayride through the woods, head across the river for a flashlight tour of an actual historic jail—or hit three completely different haunted attractions with one combo pass.
I’ve pulled together the 2026 dates, prices, discounts and details for some of the best haunted attractions around Omaha, Council Bluffs and eastern Nebraska.
And this year, I also talked with Travis, the owner behind Bloodrush Forest of Terror, Hillside House of Hell and the brand-new Psycho Schoolhouse, to get the inside scoop on what they’ve built, what’s new and when you should go if you’d prefer not to spend two hours standing in line.
Let’s get scared.
Prices, hours and attraction details were checked for the 2026 season but can change. Check directly with each attraction before heading out.
👻 Want to Visit Three of These Haunts for Free?
We’re giving away two Triple Threat Combo Passes, and each pass gets you into Psycho Schoolhouse, Hillside House of Hell AND Bloodrush Forest of Terror.
One winner gets both passes. Use them all in one terrifying night or spread the scares out over different nights.
Entries close at noon Central on October 2.
ENTER TO WIN THE TRIPLE THREAT →
Table of Contents
Bloodrush, Hillside & the Brand-New Psycho Schoolhouse
Bloodrush Forest of Terror was the original attraction, now entering its 12th season. Since then, the operation has expanded to include Hillside House of Hell and, for 2026, the brand-new Psycho Schoolhouse.
And this isn’t a small operation.
Between the three attractions, approximately 150 people work as actors, makeup artists, ticket staff and other employees during the season, along with professional security at every location.
Each haunt has a completely different personality.
Bloodrush Forest of Terror — Elkhorn, Nebraska
If your preferred horror aesthetic is dark woods and things that absolutely should not be waiting for you in them, start here.
Bloodrush is a four-acre outdoor haunted attraction on the outskirts of Elkhorn and is entering its 12th season in 2026.
You’ll encounter large-scale sets throughout the forest, including the Roadyard machine shop, a church façade, Cannibal Cabin and more.
Plan on approximately 20–30 minutes to make your way through the attraction.
Travis describes Bloodrush as having more of an outdoor, hillbilly-horror atmosphere than his other two attractions.
2026 opening: Friday, September 25
Hillside House of Hell — Glenwood, Iowa
Hillside is a completely different experience.
The attraction occupies a 50,000-square-foot former asylum built in 1964 and takes approximately 35–40 minutes to complete.
You only stand in line once, but the walkthrough is divided into four separate experiences.
The Sacrifice takes you through a 1950s-style mansion.
Devil’s Chapel is exactly as wholesome as the name suggests.
Clown Crazy 3D adds 3D glasses and visual effects to the experience.
And finally, Hotel Massacre sends you up an elevator to the top floor, where your job is to find your way back out.
Outside the main attraction, you’ll also find selfie rooms, a monster museum, bonfires, movies and concessions. Party rooms are available on select nights.
Of his three attractions, Travis describes Hillside as the most gruesome—although he was quick to point out that the goal is still for people to have fun.
Psycho Schoolhouse — Pacific Junction, Iowa
This is the big new one for 2026.
Psycho Schoolhouse opens October 2 inside a three-story school built in 1914 in Pacific Junction, Iowa.
Travis and his team purchased the building three years ago and have spent those three years turning it into a haunted attraction packed with special effects, lighting and high-end animatronics.
And a three-story custom slide.
Because apparently stairs weren’t sufficiently terrifying.
The slide was custom-built by a Maryland company that works with adventure and theme parks.
Toward the end of the attraction, you’ll reach Travis’s favorite new scene: a science lab where a scientist is turning kids into aliens.
From there, you’ll eventually take that three-story slide toward the basement, where they’re building a giant sewer scene.
Travis wouldn’t pick a favorite of his three attractions—he compared that to choosing a favorite child—but it’s pretty clear he’s excited to finally let people inside this one after three years of work.
He describes Psycho Schoolhouse as completely different from the other two: still scary, but designed to be really, really fun at the same time.
2026 opening: Friday, October 2
Insider Tips for Bloodrush, Hillside & Psycho Schoolhouse
I asked Travis when he’d go if he were the customer.
His advice: Thursday or Sunday.
Saturdays are the busiest, and later in October, waits can reach two hours or more. Arrive early if you can. Fast Pass and Immediate Access options are available if you’d rather spend your night being scared than standing in line waiting to be scared.
Carpooling is also a good idea, particularly at Hillside, where parking is more limited. Bloodrush and Psycho Schoolhouse have much larger parking lots.
And travel light.
Leave valuables locked in the car. Guests are screened before entering, and there are restrictions on bags and prohibited items. Travis recommends bringing only a small clear clutch if you need one.
Professional security is stationed at all three attractions, and apparently people have attempted to bring everything from knives and stun guns to firearms and throwing stars.
Please leave your ninja arsenal at home.
Why These Haunted Houses Keep Changing
One of my favorite things Travis told me had nothing to do with ghosts, monsters or chainsaws.
It was about Vala’s Pumpkin Patch.
He told me he’s watched how Vala’s continually reinvests in the experience. Every year there’s something new, which gives families who have been going for years a reason to come back and see what’s changed.
That’s part of the philosophy behind his attractions, too:
How do we outdo ourselves from last year? How do we make it better?
You can see that philosophy in the three years spent building Psycho Schoolhouse, the custom slide, new sets, animatronics and special events.
So if you’ve been to one of these attractions before, don’t assume you’ve already seen it.
Scary Acres — Omaha, Nebraska
Scary Acres has been part of Omaha’s Halloween season for nearly 30 years, and this is another place where one ticket can turn into an entire evening.
There are three main haunted attractions:
- Master’s Castle
- House on the Hill
- Haunted Woods
Scary Acres says it extensively renovates every attraction each year, so repeat visitors shouldn’t expect exactly the same experience from one season to the next.
Depending on crowds, your walking pace and how much time you spend enjoying the entertainment between attractions, plan on roughly 1 to 3½ hours for the entire experience.
Rain doesn’t necessarily mean Scary Acres closes, either. The outdoor attraction may close if conditions become too muddy, so wear shoes that can handle Nebraska fall weather.
Actors are instructed not to touch guests, and there’s no official minimum age. Scary Acres leaves that decision to parents—but make no mistake, they’re trying to scare you.
There’s also a full concession stand with food, funnel cakes and specialty drinks, plus merchandise and outdoor photo opportunities.
2026 Scary Acres Prices
Master’s Castle: $15
House on the Hill: $15
Haunted Woods: $15
Super Combo — all three attractions: $35
Speed Pass upgrades are available for an additional charge.
If you’re planning to do all three anyway, the Super Combo saves $10 over buying the attractions separately.
Ranch of Terror & DARKNESS — Bellevue Berry Farm
Bellevue Berry Farm is a completely different place after the sun goes down.
The farm has been in the haunted-attraction business for more than 35 years and offers two main nighttime experiences.
Ranch of Terror takes you through a haunted house, ghost town and zombie jail.
DARKNESS: The Ultimate Haunted Hayride Experience is a 30+ minute haunted hayrack ride through more than 20 acres.
Do both and Bellevue Berry Farm says you can spend more than 1½ hours experiencing its nighttime haunts.
There’s also food, concessions and Pirates Pub, along with campfires, small party barns and pavilion spaces available to reserve.
For families with younger kids, it’s important to distinguish between Bellevue Berry Farm’s daytime Halloween activities and what happens after dark.
The farm offers daytime pumpkin picking, regular hayrack rides, face painting, vendors and other family activities.
The nighttime attractions are another story.
Bellevue Berry Farm does not recommend DARKNESS for children under 6 or the Ranch of Terror haunted house for children under 10.
2026 Ranch of Terror Dates & Prices
Season: September 11–November 1
Friday & Saturday: 6:30–11:30 PM
Sunday: 6:30–9:30 PM
Haunted Hayrack OR Haunted House: $22 per person
Combo Pass for both: $32 per person
Dungeon of the Damned — Downtown Omaha
If you’d rather descend into a creepy warehouse than wander through a forest, Dungeon of the Damned is Omaha’s downtown option.
Located under Hollywood Candy, the attraction sends guests through a dark warehouse labyrinth filled with stairwells, rooms and horror scenes.
It’s also one of the more affordable haunted attractions in this guide.
2026 Dungeon of the Damned Dates & Prices
Season: September 25–October 31
Thursday & Sunday: 7–11 PM — $22
Friday & Saturday: 7 PM–midnight — $25
Elite Access: Add $10 to skip the regular line
All-Access Season Pass: $64.99
Groups of 10 or more can get discounted admission, and students receive $3 off general admission every Thursday with a valid student ID.
Military & First Responders Night
On Sunday, October 11, active military and first responders can receive $3 off general admission with valid ID.
If you’re stationed at Offutt or you’re one of the many veterans and first responders in the Omaha area, that’s one worth putting on your calendar.
Madness Haunted House — Council Bluffs, Iowa
Located at Pioneer Trail Orchard on the outskirts of Council Bluffs, Madness leans into psychological and disorienting horror.
Think distorted visuals, strange voices, creepy figures and an experience designed to make you question exactly what you’re looking at.
2026 Madness Dates
September: 25–26
October: 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 22–24, 29–31
Most nights run 7 PM–midnight. October 22 and 29 run 7–10 PM.
2026 Madness Prices
General Admission: $30
Fast Pass: $45
Instant Access: $60
Mad Eagle Combo: $50
The Mad Eagle Combo gets you into both Madness Haunted House and Eagle Hollow Scream Park.
Money-saving tip: Use code FEARTHEMAD to save $5 on an online ticket.
It’s also worth checking Groupon before you buy because Madness frequently offers deals there.
Eagle Hollow Scream Park — Eagle, Nebraska
Eagle Hollow isn’t one haunted house. It’s a full scream park located at Eagle Raceway.
General admission includes three separate haunted attractions:
LUMINON takes the alien/sci-fi route.
NIGHT TERRORS drops you into a twisted childhood-nightmare world.
DARKLANDS plays with the things you can’t quite see waiting for you in the dark.
General admission includes one trip through all three attractions, plus access to the central grounds, fire pits, Scary-oke DJ and concessions.
2026 Eagle Hollow Dates & Prices
September: 25–26
October: 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31
Hours: 7–11 PM
General Admission: $35
Fast Pass: $70
Unlimited Haunted Pass: $80
Gate-Only Admission: $10
Mad Eagle Combo: $50
That $10 gate-only option is particularly useful for parents, designated drivers or anyone whose response to “Would you like to enter three haunted houses?” is an immediate absolutely not.
You can still hang out on the grounds without entering the haunted attractions.
The $50 Mad Eagle Combo includes admission to both Eagle Hollow and Madness.
Use promo code SCARELINCOLN for $5 off an official online ticket. Groupon also frequently offers Eagle Hollow deals, so it’s worth checking there before paying full price.
Want Your Scares With a Side of Actual History?
Squirrel Cage Jail Flashlight Tours — Council Bluffs, Iowa
This one doesn’t need actors jumping out at you.
The Squirrel Cage Jail was built in 1885 and remained in use until 1969. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
But here’s where things get weird.
It was one of only 18 revolving jails ever built.
Three floors of pie-shaped cells were constructed inside a giant rotating cage. The approximately 90,000-pound cell block could be turned by one person using a hand crank, bringing individual cells to the jailer instead of requiring the jailer to walk to each prisoner.
Only three revolving jails survive today.
The one sitting right across the river in Council Bluffs is the only three-story revolving jail ever built.
You can still see signatures and dates prisoners scratched into some of the cell walls.
And in October, they’ll let you tour it after dark with a flashlight.
Because apparently seeing the 90,000-pound rotating jail during normal museum hours wasn’t unsettling enough.
2026 Flashlight Tours
Fridays and Saturdays, October 2–30
8–10:30 PM
$15 per person
Tickets can be purchased at the door.
If haunted-house actors aren’t your thing but creepy history absolutely is, put this one on the list.
Free Halloween Fun: Omaha Yard Haunts
Not every great Halloween display charges admission.
The Omaha Halloween Yard Haunts community puts together a map and scavenger hunt featuring elaborate home displays throughout the metro.
Some are cute. Some are creepy. And some will make you wonder exactly how much garage space your neighbor has dedicated to skeleton storage.
This is a great option if you want Halloween atmosphere without dropping $30–$60 per person on tickets—or if you just want to see what your fellow Omaha-area Halloween fanatics have created this year.
Not Done With Halloween Yet?
I’ve been putting together guides to fall and Halloween around Omaha all season, so if you’ve still got room on your calendar, keep going:
🎃 Best Pumpkin Patches & Apple Orchards Around Omaha
🍬 Where to Trick-or-Treat Around Omaha
👻 Omaha Ghost Tours & Haunted History
🍂 The Ultimate Omaha Fall Guide
And if you’re the sort of person who reads an entire guide to haunted houses and thinks, You know what would make this better? Free tickets…
Keep an eye on 402 Connect.
I might have something for you. 👻
Frequently Asked Questions About Haunted Houses in Omaha
How much do haunted houses around Omaha cost in 2026?
Most of the major attractions in this guide run roughly $15–$35 for standard admission, although Fast Passes, Instant Access upgrades and multi-attraction packages can cost considerably more.
Several attractions offer combo tickets that can save money if you want to visit more than one haunt.
What’s the best night to visit an Omaha haunted house?
Generally, avoid Saturday if shorter lines matter to you.
Travis, owner of Bloodrush, Hillside and Psycho Schoolhouse, specifically recommends Thursday or Sunday for his attractions. Later-season Saturday waits at popular haunts can reach two hours or more.
Going earlier in the season can also mean smaller crowds than waiting until the final weekend before Halloween.
Are Omaha haunted houses appropriate for kids?
It depends heavily on both the attraction and the child.
Some attractions have no official minimum age and leave the decision to parents.
Bellevue Berry Farm specifically does not recommend its nighttime haunted hayride for children under 6 or its haunted house for children under 10.
Check the individual attraction’s policies before bringing younger children—and remember that “no age restriction” does not necessarily mean “designed for little kids.”
Do haunted-house actors touch you?
Policies vary by attraction.
Scary Acres specifically says its actors and staff are instructed not to touch guests, although accidental contact can happen in dark, crowded environments.
If physical interaction is a concern, check the rules for the particular attraction you’re visiting before buying tickets.
What should I wear to an Omaha haunted house?
Comfortable shoes are a very good idea.
Several attractions involve substantial walking, outdoor trails, uneven surfaces or potentially muddy conditions. Scary Acres specifically recommends appropriate footwear when Nebraska weather makes the grounds wet.
This may not be the evening for your good shoes.
Can I bring a purse or bag?
Don’t assume you can.
Several attractions restrict bags, and security screenings are increasingly common. Bloodrush, Hillside and Psycho Schoolhouse recommend leaving valuables behind and bringing only a small clear clutch if you need one.
Check the current rules for your attraction before leaving home.
Are there military or first-responder discounts?
Yes, although some are limited to specific dates.
Dungeon of the Damned has a Military & First Responders Night on October 11, 2026, offering $3 off general admission with valid ID.
Bellevue Berry Farm also held a Military & First Responder Weekend earlier in September with half-price regular admission for eligible guests plus one child.
Because discounts and special events can change throughout the season, check individual attraction websites before buying tickets.
Whether you want a giant scream park, an outdoor trek through the woods, a three-story slide through a haunted school, a hayride in the dark or a flashlight tour through an actual 1885 jail, there are plenty of ways to scare yourself around Omaha this fall.
Personally, I think the hardest part might be deciding which one to try first.
Although if someone hands me a flashlight and points toward a rotating jail after dark, I reserve the right to reconsider all of my life choices.
Happy haunting. 👻
Ready to test your courage? Enter to win two Triple Threat Combo Passes before noon on October 2nd.
