The Ten Craziest Haunted Houses in Denver — 2016 Edition

Things are about to get Hallo-weird. Haunted houses have a cult following in Colorado — and fortunately for fans of big frights, metro Denver has plenty to choose from, including some brand-new sites. This year, for example, Fear Fest (located in an abandoned warehouse behind the National Western complex) and the first-ever "Virtual Reality" haunted house (inside a brewery) have joined the looney lineup.

Here are the ten craziest haunted houses in Denver.
1. 13th Floor
4120 Brighton Boulevard
303-355-3327
Fright fans regard the 13th Floor as one of the best haunted houses in Denver — and on weekends, you can expect a thirty-minute wait.  At the end of the season, the 13th Floor hosts a blackout event that's not for the faint of heart. Find a full schedule of the hours and prices here. 
2. The Asylum
6100 East 39th Avenue
303-355-3327
Fear knows no bounds at the Asylum. New this year is “Ridgegate: The Deranged”; returning is “Primitive Fear," now with "Anarchy.” Be afraid — be very afraid. Find a calendar of prices and hours here. 
3. Budweiser Fear Fest
4375 Brighton Boulevard
303-302-2100
This new, late-night haunted house — an "afterlife after-party" — is located inside an abandoned warehouse behind the National Western complex. It's the twisted brainchild of 13th Floor, Motive and Budweiser, and it's as close to a pop-up haunted house as you're going to find. Entry is free — 21 and up only — but there's no guarantee you'll get out alive. Doors open for the first time at 8 p.m. Friday, October 21; get information on hours and more here.
4. City of the Dead
7007 East 88th Avenue, Henderson
720-692-4059
A personal favorite, City of the Dead is the most expansive haunted house in the area, with a fantastic attention to detail.  Even with your eyes closed, you can tell how much effort and dedication have gone into it. Be prepared to wait — but DJs and interactive lines that include performers make the time go by quickly. Find the schedule of hours here. 5. Elitch Gardens Fright Fest
2000 Elitch Circle
303-595-4386
Although Fright Fest is family-friendly during the day, at night it can be seriously scary, with weekend themes including No Vacancy, Big Top Freaks and Séance. Prepare for a wait, but once you get in, you can wander through the haunted park all by your scared self. Open Fridays 6 to 10 p.m., Saturdays noon to 10 p.m. and Sundays noon to 9 p.m.

Continue reading for five more of the craziest haunted houses in Denver this year.

6. Extinction
4100 Grape Street, Unit A
303-536-1640
At this intense, participatory haunted house, you get a gun, a mask and a full magazine of air-soft ammo with admission (the VIP ticket lets you skip the line and gets you an extra round of ammo). The live-action Extinction will run every weekend leading up to Halloween; see a full schedule and pricing here.

7. The Frightmare Compound
10798 Yukon Street, Westminster
Scaring the shit out of people since 1983, the Frightmare Compound is the oldest haunted-house experience in Denver. Make your way through catacombs to "wet swamp lands where true horror awaits," or try your luck in the Clown House (really scary these days). Find a full schedule here. 
8. Haunted Field of Screams
10270 Riverdale Road, Thornton
720-408-0006
We love zombie mazes so much, we went undercover as a member of the undead. Most of the zombies here are pros, though. Haunted Field of Screams includes both Maize in the City and the Zombie Paintball battle; see a full schedule of times and prices here. 
9. Haunted Junkyard
6530 Brighton Boulevard, Commerce City
303-287-3075
The Haunted Junkyard is open for the first year, and warns that you "enter at your own risk." This is a real working junkyard, which promises to be "real dangerous" and "real scary." To find out how to see it for yourself, visit the Facebook page here.  
10. Virtual Reality Haunted House
Epic Brewing, 3001 Walnut Street 
720-539-7410
The first-ever "virtual reality" haunted house in Denver should be a delicious adventure, because it includes a free Fright Flight of beer from Epic Brewing if you buy tickets online. On this scary virtual tour, you can't cover your eyes with your hands — but, hey, at least you're not actually being touched by anyone. Find out more here.