Halloween-Themed Attractions at Amusement Parks

Eighty-one percent of amusement parks will hold Halloween or fall-themed events this year, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

But fewer than half of them offered Halloween attractions 15 years ago, illustrating the tremendous growth in recreation related to the holiday, according to an informal survey conducted by IAAPA among more than 100 park managers.

Some parks offer haunted walks and other fun for thrill-seekers, complete with zombies and bloody axemen. Other places are geared for kiddies, with pumpkin-decorating and hay rides. And some cities have haunted houses created from abandoned prisons and other creepy places using Hollywood-style special effects.

Here is information on some of these attractions, compiled by the IAAPA. Check with destinations for exact times and dates; many are only open Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday through Halloween.

—Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., "Hall of Terror" and "Haunted River Ride," http://www.adventurelanding.com/jaxbeach

—Boo Crew Haunted House in Rochester, Ill., "Dr. Griswold's Experimentorium," http://www.boocrew.com

—Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Fla., and Williamsburg, Va., "Howl-O-Scream," http://www.howloscream.com/

—Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, "HalloWeekends," http://www.halloweekends.com

—Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C., "SCarowinds," http://www.scarowinds.com

—Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, Darien Center, N.Y., "FrightFest 2009," http://www.GoDarienLake.com

—Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., "Halloween Time," http://www.disneylandnews.com