Best Kid-Friendly Haunted Houses Near Detroit

Haunted houses are a Detroit tradition – the scarier the better. Many Detroit haunted houses are unsuitable for children, but some locations strive for a family-friendly experience. Families with young children can visit these haunted attractions for a spooky, not scary, Halloween.

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Children's Spooky Barn
Erwin Orchards
61475 Silver Lake Drive
South Lyon, MI 48178
(248) 437-0150
www.erwinorchards.comDates: Saturdays and Sundays now through October 28, 2012

The Spooky Barn at Erwin Orchards was created specifically for young children. Animated smiling skeletons and mummies are interspersed with colorful creatures for a Halloween feel without the fright. Older kids and teens can visit the Barn of Horrors, a haunted spot with animatronics and robotics. Admission is $5 per person and the barn is recommended for ages 12 and up. Erwin also offers a hay maze for young kids and a daytime corn maze for older kids or families.

Pumpkin Fest Haunted Barn
Wilson Barn
29350 West Chicago
Livonia, MI  48154
(734) 427-4311
www.wilsonbarn.usDates: Saturdays and Sundays from October 13-28, 2012

The Haunted Barn at Wilson Barn's Pumpkin Fest is designed for children 12 and under. Uniquely, scare level is set individually based on age and request. Pumpkin Fest also includes a craft show, hayrides and pony rides. Enjoy fresh apple cider and donuts while the kids run through the Haunted Barn, then pick a pumpkin or two for jack-o-lanterns or homemade pumpkin pie.

Spook-Free Moonlight Maze
Corn Fun Family Farm
9391 Lindsey Lane
Casco, MI 48064
(586) 365-9401
www.cornfun.comDates: Weekends through October, 2012

A true family-fun destination, the Corn Fun Family Farm offers 13 acres of attractions and entertainment for all ages. Two nighttime corn mazes provide just the right amount of spookiness for young kids without the monsters and scares of the haunted maze that older kids and teens will enjoy. The farm also offers a petting zoo, pumpkin patch and bounce house for kids, as well as evening bonfires and hayrides for the whole family to enjoy.

Related: Halloween Safety Tips for Kids

Tunnel of Terror
Rochester Municipal Park
608 7th St.
Rochester, MI 48307
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays in October

The Rochester-area Jaycees' Tunnel of Terror has been an annual attraction for over 40 years. The tunnel itself is a true fright-mare providing a dark maze with horrors at every twist and turn. For young kids or the easily scared, the Jaycees also hold a Friendly Monster Food Drive for $2 or two non-perishable food items per child (parents are free). A friendly monster gives a guided tour of the well-lit tunnel. Entertainment and face painting are available on site and all proceeds from the food drive go to local food banks.

Zoo Boo is a family-friendly event, classified by Detroit Zoo as a "merry-not-scary" celebration. Kids can trick-or-treat through the park, play in the Ghouly Games tent and enjoy the entertainment in the Zoo Boo Review tent. The Haunted Reptile House provides a spooky setting for ghosts and goblins and the Zombie Zone features activities and games for the brave at heart.

Related: Best Parks For Kids In Detroit

Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer living in Detroit. She earned her Bachelor's degree in animal science from Michigan State University. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.