SHAUN TREAT
The Park After Dark program at the historic Bayless-Selby House is fun for the family… The Addams Family, that is! More info here. Illustration by "Quick Draw" Joe Duncan.
Looking for some spooky Halloween scares but just a bit more frightened by the prospect of having to travel too far down the Mad Max heckscape that is I-35? Look no further, we’ve put together a quick guide to Denton’s best Haunted Halloween Attractions that pairs & scares quite nicely with last week’s Top 5 Haunted Places!
DAN’S HAUNTED HOUSE just down the road in Lake Dallas is proof that a few motivated locals and their superfreak friends can put fear in everything. Not only is their attention to costuming truly impressive as the nation’s only Japanese-themed haunted attraction, but this creepy walk through the woods plays with your imagination as much as it goes for the jump-out-boo tactics. Dan Baker’s group of ghouls delivers the scares, as evidenced this past weekend when paramedics had to treat one seriously-freaked-out panic attack victim. Leave grandma at home for this one, folks!
Zoinks!! Trust us, these ghouls from Dan’s Haunted House are a lot scarier in the dark. Photo from Dan's Haunted House.
The Dark Path Haunt explores the legendary haunted woods around the Old Alton Bridge. Photo courtesy of their Facebook page.
Down by the legendary Goatman’s Bridge south of town, THE DARK PATH HAUNT offers another outdoor walk-through stroll of terror. This twisted group of frighteners draw upon numerous whispered rumors surrounding their locale to deliver an entertainingly creepy experience. Dress for the weather and take cash if you dare to wander these bonafide haunted woods!
The Denton County Office of History & Culture is once again putting on its PARK AFTER DARK event on Saturday October 22, but with a new twist. This year, they’ll be offering a re-enactment of the murderous events that some think are related to the ghost purported to haunt the historic site. Free tours of the restored Victorian home will be given throughout the evening, along with other activities and goodies.
THE PARKER HOUSE is another Denton institution that scares for charity, perfect for watching teenagers jump and scream as they have the holy bejeepers scared out of ‘em. Located 2 miles out West on University Drive past I-35 and Rayzor Ranch, The Parker House tells the story of a funeral home and mortuary where horrifying happenings from a grizzly past are re-lived every Halloween season!
GHOSTS OF DENTON is a year-round walking tour with “The Ghost Lady” that scoops our local haunted history.
Another Lake Dallas site for fright is the THEATER OF CARNAGE, or you could jump the A-Train to check out the GATEWAY GHOST TOURS in Old Town Lewisville.
The Greater Denton Arts Council’s Day of the Dead: Una Exhibición is also not to be missed, nor is the TWU BOO AT THE U all-ages carnival that will attract more than 3,000 locals on Thursday October 20.
You can also hear about the real-life ghost investigations of the Emily Fowler Public Library at NERD NITE DENTON on Tuesday October 25.
The fifth annual SPIDERWEB SALON MASQUERADE at Dan’s Silverleaf on Friday October 28 promises an evening of poetry, performance, music & mystery to kick-off the Halloween weekend.
Of course we love our Denton Day of the Dead Festival celebration with Coffin Races and Cirque du Horror shows, a favorite all-day celebration on Saturday October 29.
There’s also a HALLOWEEN PSYCHOS COMEDY SHOW at Killer Tacos on 10/29 if’n you like some laughs with your scares.
The UNT Concert Orchestra is putting on a HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR on Monday October 31 with amazing music and special guests Le Ballet de Dracula!
If you have kids in tow, then you know the Denton Trunk-or-Treat is a good bet for carnival games, food trucks, face painting, balloon animals, costume contests & giveaways plus LOTS of candy! The Golden Triangle Mall-O-Ween is another solid stop, and the DRC has a handy guide to fun for the little ghouls to help plan your calendar.
Are there any other events we missed? Give a shout-out in the comments with your favorite local haunts to explore, and be sure to tag your Twitter or Instagram pics with #WDDI so we can share your hot tips for adventure!
Shaun Treat is a former professor at the University of North Texas and founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Doc has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, and is forever indebted to the great work of our local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Denton’s intriguing past. Be sure to check out our local museums curated by the fine folks at the Denton County Office of History & Culture, and follow @Dentonaut on Twitter for local happenings.