Have an older kid or teen who's ready to trade the not-so-scary Halloween fun for something a little more... terrifying? Finding something for the older kids and teens (and even parents!) who actually want to be scared can be few and far between.
Here's a round up of haunted attractions in the Athens area, one some that are nearby and worth the 1-hour drive.
Gauge how scary each attraction is with this ghost key:
👻 = Spooky
👻👻 = Pretty scary
👻👻👻 = Seriously scary
Parents: Some of these attractions include live scare actors, darkness, loud noises, flashes, gore and other intense effects that are best suited for older audiences.
Haunted Attractions In & Around Athens |
Zombie Farms | Winterville, GA
Scare Level: 👻👻
If your kid is asking for a real haunted attraction, Zombie Farms is a great place to start!
Visitors make their way through an approximately 3/4-mile outdoor haunted trail filled with detailed sets, creepy characters, and plenty of surprises along the way. 75+ scare actors are scattered throughout the trail to help tell a story that unfolds as you make your way through the trail.
📍 568 Smithsonia Rd Winterville, GA
📅 Select Friday & Saturday nights, Oct. 3 - Nov. 7
🎟️ $33+/person
Zombie Farms also hosts its extra-scary Dead in the Dark nights Nov. 6 - 7. These nights are specifically not recommended for anyone under age 16.
Scare Level for Dead in the Dark: 👻👻👻
ACCPD Haunted House at Georgia Square Mall | Athens, GA
Scare Level: 👻👻
This annual pop-up haunted house plans to be "scarier than ever" with new animatronics, flashing lights, and real costumed creeps in all corners. October 24 is a designated kid-friendly haunted house, suitable for ages 10 and under. The remaining dates are spooky and are best suited for ages 12+.
📍 3700 Atlanta Hwy Athens, GA
📅 October 24 - 31
🎟️ Free!
For younger ages, visit on October 24 between 4:00 PM and 7:00PM for smaller spooks!
Scare Level for Oct 24 Haunted House: 👻
Clarke County Sheriff's Office Haunted House | Athens, GA
Scare Level: 👻👻
The annual CCSO's haunted house is hosing two nights of scary sights, creepy characters, unexpected surprises and plenty of screams during their Fall Festival. Thursday night brings the bigger scares and is intended for ages 12+. Friday offers a toned-down experience for younger visitors.
📍 2900 County Farm Rd Athens, GA
📅 October 23 & 24 only
🎟️ Free!
If you have children who like gentle spooks, hop on the Haunted Hayride for less scares and the same fun!
Scare Level for Haunted Hayride: 👻
Spirits + Superstitions at Eagle Tavern Museum | Watkinsville, GA
Scare Level: 👻
Step into the past and learn about 1800s mourning traditions, death customs, and the ghosts that may still linger today. Ghost hunter Paul Johns will be on-site investigating the unexplained.
📍 26 N Main St Watkinsville, GA
📅 October 22 + 27
🎟️ Free for ages 18+
Athens Haunted History Walking Tours | Athens, GA
Scare Level: 👻
A spooky option without committing to a full-blown haunted house!
Explore the creepier side of Athens with an evening walking tour through downtown. These tours combine local history with ghost stories, legends, and tales of paranormal activity connected to our Athens locations. Great pick for older kids and teens who love ghost stories but aren't quite ready for actors jumping out of the darkness.
📍 Downtown Athens, GA
📅 Select days, year-round
🎟️ $24/person for ages 10+
Watkinsville Haunted History Walking Tours | Watkinsville, GA
Scare Level: 👻
Another good option for kids who like ghost stories, but don't want jump scares.
Led by local historian and storyteller Jeff Clarke, the Watkinsville Haunted History Walking Tour takes guests through downtown while sharing local history, legends, and stories of paranormal activity throughout Downtown.
📍 Downtown Watkinsville, GA
📅 10/3, 10/13, & 11/5
🎟️ $24/person, 4-person minimum
1 Hour from Athens, GA |
Watson Mill Bridge State Park | Comer, GA
🚗45 minutes from Athens
Scare Level4: 👻👻
The annual Watson Mill Haunted Hayride returns for its 13th year with two nights of Halloween scares and fun. Hayride ticket sales begin at 6 PM and end at 9:30 PM. Tickets are just $5 per person, plus the required $10/vehicle park pass. Cash only.
📍 650 Watson Mill Comer, GA
📅 October 16 & 17 only
🎟️ 5/person + $10/vehicle park pass
Parent Note: This hayride takes place after dark and includes live and animated scares along with lighting effects and more. Live actors will not reach inside the trailers, but can be intense.
Fearopolis | Commerce, GA
🚗 1 Hour from Athens
Scare Level: 👻👻
Fearopolis, hosted by Funopolis, features a walk-through haunted house with 20+ themed rooms and live scares, plus a Zombie Battle Bus where guests can take aim at zombies with mounted paintball guns! The haunted house is recommended for ages 10+.
📍 40155 US-441 Commerce, GA
📅 Friday & Saturdays nights through 10/31
🎟️ $25+/person
ScreamZone Haunted Forest | Buford, GA
🚗 1 Hour From Athens
Scare Level: 👻👻
The Scream Zone Haunted Forest at Buford Corn Maze transforms into "The 13th Row" for 2026, an immersive outdoor haunt filled with eerie scenes, live scares, illusions, and 3-D effects as visitors make their way through the forest. Expect live scares, creepy scenes along your walk.
📍 4470 Bennett Rd, Buford, GA
📅 Select nights through 10/31
🎟️ $18.52+/person
Trail of Terror | Buford, GA
🚗 1 Hour from Athens
Scare Level: 👻👻👻
Think your teen can handle something a little more intense? Returning for 2026 in a brand-new location, Trail of Terror takes visitors through a dark outdoor trail filled with live actors, sudden scares, fog, strobe lighting, confined spaces, and plenty of creepy surprises inspired by Lake Lanier lore. This one is designed to push your fear tolerance, so parents will definitely want to review the attraction details before bringing younger teens.
📍 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA
📅 Select nights throughout 10/31
🎟️ $34.99+/person
Looking for more to do in Athens, GA?
