Photos: Top Ten Haunted Houses in the U.S.A., Including a Terrifying Denver Attraction

Count down all ten below, featuring images and text from each of the attractions -- and be sure to click on the links to learn more about the scares offered up at each.

See also: Photos: Top Ten "Haunted" Places to Visit on Halloween

Enter our attraction along a dark, winding, dirt road, surrounded by haunted woods. If you are brave, roll down your windows to take in the night's stale air... but Beware! From the moment you arrive on Kersey Valley property you are fair game to each and every haunted creature residing here. You will encounter special effects of light, sound, smell, claustrophobia, dense atmosphere, air pressure and may come in contact with liquid substances. Leave your best pair of sneaks at home, but bring a extra pair of undies!

Terror Behind the Walls consists of six haunted attractions that create a seamless experience for visitors. All six attractions are included in one admission price. As they enter Terror Behind the Walls, visitors will be confronted with a critical decision: should they explore the prison and watch the action, or should they mark themselves to truly interact with the denizens of the cellblocks? Those who opt in for true interactivity may be grabbed, held back, sent into hidden passageways, removed from their group, and even occasionally incorporated into the show. They will deal with the consequences of their decision through six long attractions.

Kansas City has long been a capital of haunted houses from its height of thirteen- plus haunted houses in the 1980's and through its transition to fewer yet more sophisticated haunted houses today, said Amber Arnett-Bequeaith "Queen of Screams" operating the West Bottom Haunted Houses. "The survivors must be suited for the ever-discriminating thrill-seeking visitor that witnesses extremes on video games and movies." Fewer houses are also a fact that seasonal business can be a frightful venture with so many potential catastrophic events that can kill a business that only has weeks to recover. The West Bottoms, just west of Downtown Kansas City off the 12th Street Bridge, has defied the downturn in haunt offerings and reigns as the Haunted House epicenter with four large haunted houses in this one historic community. The houses are located in large multi-storied commercial buildings built around 1900 and each has something unique that makes it a must-see horror attraction.

Arx Mortis is NOT your mom and dad's haunted house!

From our name, Arx Mortis from the latin meaning "The Castle of Death!" to the professional animatronics, actors, make-up and sets we have made every effort to bring you the best haunted entertainment possible. We like to think of it as more of a haunted experience than just an attraction. So every year we change large portions of the haunt to give you, our victim...sorry I mean guest a new experience. And to this end we have resurrected DOCTOR GRAYSTONE!! That's right Doctor Graystone is back and up to his evil ways. Long thought dead and destroyed the doctor has risen and has brought his special brand of medicine to the halls of Covington Clinic. Also back, because the doctor said he could not practice his unique take on medicine without it...the old mortuary and funeral home.

Sir Cecil being a consummate showman knew just what type of entertainment a gentleman such as the doctor would enjoy and through his underground connections has expanded his world famous big top show. Putting together a collection of terrifying oddities and freaks sure to satisfy even the most twisted and discerning of palates

All in all the Legion has been devoting special attention, time and resources to making sure 2014 is the best and most horrific year yet!

Explore History & Haunting at the Ohio State Reformatory

The cornerstone laid on November 4, 1886 evolved into this magnificent Chateauesque structure. Cleveland architect Levi T. Scofield designed the Ohio State Reformatory using a combination of three architectural styles; Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne. This was done to encourage inmates back to a "rebirth" of their spiritual lives. The architecture itself inspired them to turn away from their sinful lifestyle, and toward repentance

The Reformatory doors were opened to its first 150 young offenders in September 1896. After housing over 155,000 men in its lifetime, the doors to the prison closed December 31, 1990.

Today the Ohio State Reformatory Historic Site receives visitors from all over the world. Every year tourists, movie buffs, thrill seekers and paranormal investigators walk through the halls of this majestic structure.

Cautiously enter into the Chamber of Horrors as it has new twists and turns. Patients are living inside and waiting for new subjects to enter. The good doctor is always looking for new test subjects. Some patients have escaped never to be seen again, but their tortured souls are still here. DO YOU HEAR THAT!, the voices, DO YOU SEE THEIR SHADOWS? Take a plunge into the Chamber of Horrors and hope to survive!

Starting out in 1990 as The Institute of Terror Haunted House, Nightmare on 13th has since grown into one of the industry's most successful haunted attractions (Haunted Attraction Magazine), one of America's scariest attractions (The Travel Channel), and one of America's best haunted houses (USA Today). It is no wonder that the Nightmare on 13th has become a Halloween-time household name, and you can bet that we aim to live up to these honorable recognitions. Raising the bar on ourselves as each season passes, each year we present three brand new, never-before-seen Nightmares (themes). Nightmare on 13th also features 36,000 square-feet of room for haunting our customers; professionally trained actors; professionally crafted costumes, masks, and makeup; and cutting edge animatronics and audio/lighting effects. It's all in the name of frightful fun. And because of this, there will always be a new reason to visit Nightmare on 13th, and a guaranteed evening full of new ways to get scared and to scream your lungs out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Haunted Mayfield Manor really haunted? A: Mayfield Manor is a scary attraction. We have experienced some unexplainable occurrences during the construction of the Manor and we welcome any paranormal investigators who are interested in conducting an investigation to contact us.

Can Your Actors touch me? A: Mayfield Manor has a No Touch Policy. We train our actors to never place hands on any patron. In return we expect the same respect from our guest on not touching our actors.

Is there an age requirement for admittance? A: Anyone under the age of 13 should be accompanied by an adult. We prefer no one under the age of 11 go inside the haunt due to the mature content of our production.

Is it scary? A: Isn't that the point?

The Darkness haunted house located in downtown St. Louis has been one of the most reviewed haunts in America. Everyone from National Geographic Channel to NFL Films has filmed The Darkness for Haunted House footage. Creepyworld our other event has also been named one of the best events in the Nation. Read more articles on our attractions below. Creepyworld was featured on Travel Channel as one of America's Scariest Haunted Houses in 2008. Creepyworld will be featured on a national TV show called America Haunts in 2009. The Abyss of Lemp Brewery is considered one of the scariest REAL haunted houses in America. WHY DO THE NATIONAL MEDIA FILM AND DO STORIES ON OUR HAUNTED HOUSES YEAR AFTER YEAR? BECAUSE OUR HAUNTS ARE CUTTING EDGE, EACH YEAR THEY ARE A HEAD OF THE CURVE, LATEST SPECIAL FX, EXTREMELY PHOTOGENIC, AND THREE DIFFERENT STYLES OF HAUNTS ALL IN ONE CITY FROM THE BEST SPECIAL FX STYLE HAUNT IN THE DARKNESS, THE SCARIEST LOCATION FOR A HAUNTED IN THE HAUNTING OF LEMP, AND THE WORLDS LARGEST OUTDOOR EVENT IN CREEPYWORLD SCREAMPARK.

An age old question that remains unanswered- Where is the 13th Floor, and why is it absent in so many buildings?

Come with us, as we explain and explore the legend of the 13th floor, and introduce you to Denver's most horrifying haunted experience, the 13th Floor Haunted House.

The levels of a multi-story building are frequently numbered sequentially, from "basement", "lobby", "ground", "one", or "1" upwards or occasionally downwards. In some countries, as it is here in the United States, the number 13 is considered unlucky and building owners will sometimes purposefully omit a floor numbered 13. Hence, the 13th floor is sometimes given the number 14.

Even building owners who are not themselves superstitious realize that the desirability of units on a floor 13 might be compromised because of superstitious tenants, or commercial tenants who worry about losing superstitious customers.

An interesting fact: based on an internal review of records, the Otis Elevators company estimates that 85% of the buildings with their elevators do not have a named 13th floor....

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.