City Cast Pittsburgh logo
September 27, 2023

It’s Scare Season! Where to Go for the Best Fall Frights

City Cast Pittsburgh

It’s Scare Season! Where to Go for the Best Fall Frights

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

The nights are longer and there’s a chill in the air… it’s almost Halloween!! And that means scare season for local haunt actors Stacey Federoff and Dave Archer. They’re sharing their love of the holiday, which area haunts are worth a day trip from Pittsburgh, and how you and your friends can safely (and creepily?!) experience the frights and delights of their favorite “haunted” attractions.

This is episode is the second in a three-part series on the best fall getaways in our region.

For hard-core horror lovers:

  • Chippewa Lake — east of Akron, Ohio (former slaughterhouse)
  • Field of Screams — outside of Lancaster, PA, near Hershey
  • Crawford School of Terror — Connellsville, PA

Less scary, still fun:

  • Rich’s Fright Farm — Smithfield PA in Fayette County
  • Factory of Terror — Canton, Ohio (excellent themed haunts like Friday 13th/Valentine’s Day/St. Patrick’s Day, and there are bars inside the haunt)

Quikiest:

  • Hopewell Windmill — Beaver County, PA (mini golf and ice cream)
  • Freddy’s Haunt — Beaver County, PA (Stacey’s favorite for 90s feel)

Kid-friendly:

  • Haunted Hills Hayride — North Versailles, PA
  • Castle Blood — Monessen, PA (theatrical vignettes in a former funeral home)
  • Hobgoblin Hikes — Westmoreland County Parks
  • Hallowboo at Idlewild — Ligonier, PA
  • Kennywood Fall Fest — West Mifflin, PA
  • ZooBoo at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium — Highland Park
  • Boo Barn at Triple B Farms — Monongahela, PA

Best destination haunts:

  • Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — Weston, WV
  • The Dungeon in West Virginia Penitentiary — Moundsville, WV
  • Eastern State Penitentiary — Philadelphia, PA
  • Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios — Orlando, Fla., or Hollywood, CA (as Dave says, the grand-daddy of all haunts)
  • Knott’s (Scary) Berry Farm — Buena Park, CA

Want some more Pittsburgh news? 

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation. Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on social.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
November 12

Your Guide to a Pittsburgh Staycation

Who says you have to leave town to get away? From grand historic hotels and quirky neighborhood Airbnbs to cozy cabins and airport-adjace...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 11

Pgh Restaurants Are Getting Pricier. Who’s Profiting?

Remember when dining out didn’t feel quite so expensive? Post-Gazette dining critic and City Cast contributor Hal B. Klein has the litera...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 10

Pgh’s (Very) Tight Budget, Bad Driver Roundup & Homegrown Art

Mayor Corey O’Connor just proposed his budget for 2027. The good news: more funding for parks and rec centers. The bad news: our city is...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 9

Snail Mail Group, Silent Book Club & More Cozy Pittsburgh Activities

The days are shorter, temperatures are dropping, and Pittsburgh’s gray skies will soon be making their comeback. But instead of dreading...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 8

‘Your City Could Be Better’: A ‘Rage Room’ That’s Saving a City — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

It’s fall in Pittsburgh, but just this week, cities across the country experienced record-high heat. In Somerville, MA, the city governme...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 6

Fetterman-Proof Senate, Fish Nor Fowl Closure & Page's Ice Cream Truck Crash

The dust has settled after Election Day, and there’s a lot to unpack! Democrats’ big wins have changed the political landscape but nation...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 5

Pittsburgh's Best Thanksgiving Takeout in 2026

Whether you’re hosting a small group, need some backup for a big family, or just want to grab an impressive dish to contribute to the Tha...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 4

Did PA Dems Win a Trifecta?

Pennsylvania Democrats have declared a trifecta, saying they've taken full control of the state House, state Senate, and governor's offic...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 3

What Could Democrats Do With More Control?

It's Election Day, and Pennsylvania Democrats are hoping to win a trifecta for the first time in decades: controlling the state Senate, H...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
November 2

A Procrastinator's Guide to the 2026 PA Election

Tomorrow is Election Day! If you haven't done your homework yet, host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk are here to guide...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art