One Upstate Challenger May Dethrone NY’s Haunted Attraction King

For decades, Headless Horseman in Ulster Park has been considered the very best haunted attraction in New York state. To celebrate their 30^th anniversary, their new attraction for 2022, The Horseman’s Night of the Shadows, has made numerous top lists of haunted attractions in both New York and the US.

The attraction’s ten on-site attractions and more than 300 cast and crew members bring Upstate New York plenty of scares each year. Thrill seekers from the region, NYC, and surrounding states make the trip every year because Headless Horseman is just that good. But on the opposite end of Upstate, a new challenger has risen up that could just take the New York crown away from the Horseman.

The Horseman's Head Start

Headless Horseman just placed 4^th in USA Today’s reader-chosen 10Best Haunted Attractions in America. The paper cites the, “Unusual monsters, amazing illusions, costumes, makeup, animatronics and frightening detail” that separates them from the pack.

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Also for 2022, Headless Horseman placed 9^th on Hauntworld Magazine’s Top 13 Scariest Haunted Houses. Hauntworld bills itself as “the world’s largest directory of haunted houses and horror attractions.” But if you thought the contest was over, like every great horror flick, you’ve got one final twist coming.

The HAA Is No Laughing Matter

It’s one thing to be awarded by travel sites and tourists, it’s another to be recognized in your own industry by your peers. For years, Headless Horseman was the only haunted attraction in the state of New York to be recognized as a Top Haunt by The Haunted Attraction Association, or HAA, the only official haunt industry association.

To be certified, attractions must be a member of HAA and meet a list of 10 criteria relating back to the mission of HAA – to protect customers, promote haunted attractions, and educate industry professionals. To be included is a massive honor and shows you truly are dedicated to the horror craft.

The Fightin' Frightmare

This year, Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park in Palermo, New York joins Headless Horseman on the list. Open since 2012, they’ve quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the state’s top scarers. This year features four main attractions: The Haunted Estate, Twisted Labyrinth, Condemned Mine Trail, and Frightmare Forest Hayride. They're even the first haunted attraction in the world to be Certified Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity.

To have another Upstate haunted attraction make the HAA Top Haunts list means some real competition. So which attraction is #1? You’ll just have to decide for yourself. Frightmare Farms is open weekends through the 29^th. Headless Horseman is open weekends through the 30^th.