The fall season brings excitement for pumpkin patches and Halloween for some, but those with a craving of fear eerily await their fix from haunted attractions. Luckily for those in the Cedar Rapids area, we have three closely located haunted houses with shrieks and thrills, not for the faint-hearted.
The 5th Realm
Located: Inside Lindale Mall
Dates: Open every Friday & Saturday all October from 7 pm-12 am. Bonus, it is open Thursday the 22 & 29 from 7pm-10pm, as well as Sunday the 18 & 25 from 7pm-10pm.
Featuring: The Facility, The Asylum, Escape the 5th Realm, and The 5th Realm Hellevator
Tickets: Online tickets available with required time slots. You can pick through packages offering some or all of the attractions.
Covid: face coverings are required, tickets purchased with a blocked time slot ensure social distancing protocols.
The 5th Realm has been named “ONE OF THE NATION’S SCARIEST HAUNTED HOUSES” by scaryoverload.com and one of Iowa’s “MUST SEE HAUNTS” by thescarefactor.com. With two haunted attractions, a mini escape room, and a thrilling elevator ride you are sure to run screaming!
Circle of Ash
Located: Central City
Dates: Every Friday and Saturday from 8 pm-12 pm through Halloween
Featuring: Circle of Ash, Frightmare Forest, and Socko’s “FUN” House
Tickets: Offering Virtual Queue Lines. Staff will scan your online ticket from your car at the gate and you will be prompted to check in. Once you check in you will receive a confirmation text securing your spot in line, and finally, you will get a second text when it’s your turn to enter the attraction-if you dare! Tickets will still be sold at the gate, but online tickets are highly preferred.
Covid: face coverings are required, using the Virtual Queue Lines ensures proper social distancing and limited exposure.
The Circle of Ash has fright packed into 3 attractions; you will creep your way through a haunted house, ward of zombies in the forest, and hopefully not get lost in a maze of clowns!
Scream Acres
Located: Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins
Dates: Friday and Saturdays in October starting the 16th from 6:30 pm-10 pm
Featuring: Cell Block Z, 3D Sinister Silo, and The Slaughterhouse
Tickets: Tickets are sold online and at the gate
Covid: face coverings are required
Scream Acres will live true to its name when you fight your way through a zombie apocalypse, a carnival of nightmares, and a prison for all who enter. Scream Acres also features a beer garden for guests 21+ who can grab an ice-cold drink and play yard games while you wait for the horror to begin!
Do you dare?
You might have to pay for your ticket, but rest assured screams come for free at these 3 local haunted attractions! If you have been brave enough to go through one of these attractions before we would love to hear your favorite! Or if you are excited to try one out, which one are you going to?!
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Any tips on which ones are “medium scary?” I have some 13 year olds with minimal ability to be freaked out!
I would say Circle of Ash is typically more toned down in the scare factor versus the others!