Kansas City – September 20, 2026 -- America Haunts, the national trade association for haunted attractions, has named its Top 5 Fan Favorite Haunted Attractions for 2026, spotlighting venues in Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Utah and New York that draw repeat visitors year after year.
Five attractions made the 2026 list
The honorees are Cutting Edge Haunted House near Fort Worth, Texas, now in its 37th season; NETHERWORLD Haunted House in the Atlanta metro area, marking 30 years; Beast Haunted Attraction in Kansas City, Missouri, in its 36th season; Nightmare on 13th in Salt Lake City, Utah, also celebrating 37 years; and Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions in Ulster Park, New York, now in its 34th season.
Live performers set the attractions apart from film
Cutting Edge occupies a former meatpacking facility, using its scale and unusual architecture to disorient guests, and features the Cutting Edge Corps, an award-winning drumline that performs in zombie and undertaker costumes. NETHERWORLD was built by film and television professionals and relies on movie-quality special effects and trained actors who interact directly with guests rather than simply populating sets.
Navigation and choice define the Beast experience
At Beast Haunted Attraction in Kansas City, guests must make decisions about where to go as the path unfolds, with effects designed to simulate being waist-deep in a bayou or walking in circles. America Haunts notes the attraction incorporated problem-solving and navigation elements before escape rooms became mainstream entertainment.
Production design turns Salt Lake City haunt into cinematic scenes
Nightmare on 13th is known for its Gothic castle facade and rotating horror themes within a single walkthrough, with each section built as a visually distinct set piece. In Ulster Park, New York, Headless Horseman Hayrides centers on a signature hayride that brings riders face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, supplemented by additional haunted attractions on the same grounds.
What separates a fan favorite from a one-time visit
America Haunts describes a fan favorite as an attraction guests discuss after leaving, recommend to friends, and return to as an annual Halloween tradition. The organization points to a mix of scare intensity, technology, live performance and physical challenge as the draw, distinguishing the format from watching horror films on a screen.