Best Haunted Houses For Adults In Los Angeles

Though there are nearly 5,000 professional haunted attractions operating nationwide every Halloween, there's never a guarantee when it comes to true, bone-chilling quality. From haunted mansions and abandoned asylums to old prisons or open fields, you want the haunts that'll scare you the most. They provide visitors with a horror experience that just makes you feel like you're in your favorite horror movie. Given its close ties to the entertainment industry, it shouldn't be a surprise that Los Angeles is home to some of the best haunted houses for adults. This Halloween, you'll have plenty of opportunities to face your fears at the five best haunted houses for adults in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride is one of L.A.'s most popular haunted attractions. The adventure begins the moment you step in line, which features a sideshow of entertainment that turns a boring wait in line into a spooky, interactive experience in Purgatory. The scares will come at you from every direction as hay-filled wagons transport you through the woods of what used to be the old Griffith Park Zoo where abandon cages transform into zombie hideouts. This Halloween event also features the In Between maze in which visitors must test their courage while navigating a sea of darkness with nothing but the hands in front of them and a dimly lit lantern to guide them. Participate at your own risk as you will get wet, enough so that you'll really appreciate the provided poncho. Tickets do sell out, so purchase in advance.

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Since its inception, this underground maze has been consistently labeled as one of the best Halloween haunts in Los Angeles. The maze takes place in an old historical basement where the actual remains of at least 36 bodies were found back in 2005. Four years later, Old Town Haunt was born. This year, the maze is longer, scarier and features new attractions, including detailed set designs from Hollywood films and TV shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "House of 1,000 Corpses." As one of the oldest buildings in Pasadena, this place is rich with paranormal activity dating as far back as the late 1800s, which creates an ultra spooky vibe for a truly haunting experience even without all the frills.

If you are a fan of horror films, then you are in luck. The producer of the "Paranormal Activity" franchise and "Insidious" has decided to turn the Variety Arts Theater into a chilling, one-of-a-kind haunted house in downtown Los Angeles. Experience the horror of a possessed theater haunted by a deranged dark art magician whose assistant climbed into a magical box never to be seen again. The theater was shut down immediately in light of her disappearance and has been closed to the public until this year when a horror film production team and Hollywood art director brought it back to life.

Produced by John Braver and Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Haunted Play presents one of the most unique haunted attractions you'll find in Los Angeles. It is the first-ever interactive horror play that takes place in a haunted mansion near downtown Los Angeles. The format of the show includes groups of 10 being guided by mysterious figures every 12 to 15 minutes and includes theatrical lighting, eerie music, strobe lights, fog and stunts. You must be older than 18 to participate and be willing to sign a release of liability because the actors of this horror play are allowed to touch you as part of the interactive experience. Wear comfortable shoes, and expect to get a little dirty for a two- to three-hour experience you will never forget.

Paranoia at Santa Monica Place Mall on the 3rd Street Promenade is one of L.A.'s newest haunted attractions. It is said to rival the likes of Universal Studios and Queen Mary. Santa Monica's first ever haunted attraction features three horrifying mazes including The Infirmary, the Insomniac Clown Playhouse and Granny's Manor of Mayhem. Each maze is eight to 12 minutes in length, depending on whether you are walking or running. After the maze, enjoy nightly food and drink specials at Ozuma Restaurant's "Paranoia Pub" location.

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