Halloween is all about pumpkins, candy, and scary fun. Rochester, Minnesota, has several haunted houses and experiences to elevate your Halloween season. Here are our top picks for haunted houses in Rochester.
Rochester Horror Fright at the Farm
Known as the scariest haunted attraction in southern Minnesota, Fright at the Farm is a walk-through event at Willow’s Keep Farm. The 100-year-old farm is transformed yearly into a terrifying maze of haunts. The event takes you through several farm buildings, retired school buses, and a haunted trail. Actors roam throughout the scenes, providing an extra dose of scary fun. Beware of the creepy clowns from the abandoned circus, horrifying creatures in the swamp, and the eerie, fog-filled graveyard.
For an even scarier experience, check out the Blackout event every night from 10-11 p.m. All lights in the attraction are off, leaving you in complete darkness. You are supplied with one LED candle to light your way through the haunted grounds.
Rochester Horror Fright on the Farm is not recommended for kids under 10 due to the intense nature of the scenery and jump scares. Adults must accompany kids between the ages of 10 and 13 on the farm.
Fright at the Farm also has several other attractions to enjoy. Find your way through the Haunted Cannabis Maze, where actors wait to scare and confuse you. Choose the perfect Halloween pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Willow’s Keep Farm offers acres of pumpkins, from tiny Jack-Be-Littles to giant Connecticut Field varieties. All pumpkins are sold by weight. Check out the Gourd Walk, where you’ll find crazy and unique gourd varieties to take home. The Gourd Slings are fun for everyone. Test your aim by using giant slingshots to shoot gourds at the target range. You can shoot eight gourds for $5.
Fright at the Farm is open throughout October from 7-11 p.m. Official dates for 2021 have not yet been released, so be sure to check the website as October approaches. The Haunted Cannabis Maze is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m throughout October.
Willow’s Keep Farm is 26 minutes away from Rochester off Highway 52 in Zumbrota. Tickets are $15 per person. Although the event never sells out, it’s recommended that you buy your Fright at the Farm tickets online. Special ticket packages for groups of 20 are also available for purchase in advance. Fright at the Farm is open rain or shine, so be sure to dress warmly as appropriate for the weather. Parking is free.
Souvenirs and snacks are available for purchase in the old homestead. You can also hire Rochester Horror for themed birthday parties and weddings. You’ll have hearses, lighting, props, and special effects.
Creatures of the Night at Quarry Hill Nature Center
The Creatures of the Night program is perfect for families with small kids. This slightly scary Halloween event takes place in the Prairie House at Quarry Hill Nature Center. Kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy a 20-minute indoor activity featuring costumed creatures of the night, such as deer, coyotes, and spiders. Each creature shares a special story about its night activities. The program also includes a half-mile self-guided hike throughout Nature Center grounds. Kids can look for hidden objects, learn about night creatures, and enjoy some scary scenes along the way. The program concludes with a special take-home treat delivered by a giant spider.
The Creatures of the Night event takes place in early October. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance. Be sure to bring a flashlight for touring after dark.
Haunted Rochester Trolley Tour
Although not your typical haunted house, the Haunted Rochester Trolley Tour is a wickedly fun exploration of the most haunted spots in Rochester. Each Trolley of Doom is driven by a grave-robbing Ghost Host. The tour explores the hidden and horrifying past of Rochester. Stops on the trolley tour include:
- Woodside Nursing Home.
- Phantoms of the Theater.
- Avalon Hotel.
- Hilltop House Mansion.
- Indian Heights Park.
- Rochester State Hospital unmarked cemetery.
- Quarry Hill Park and Dead Man’s Bridge.
- Federal Medical Prison.
- Gravesite of the first slave emancipated by Abraham Lincoln.
- Former state hospital sites.
- Oakwood and Calvary cemeteries.
- Grave of Doc “Moonlight” Graham.
- Mortuary.
- Kahler Grand Hotel and its Haunted Elevator.
- Old hospital morgue’s pedestrian Subway Tunnels.
- Stoppel Farm.
- The “Pill Hill” haunted houses.
The tour lasts approximately three hours and includes an interactive ghost-hunting demonstration. There is some walking involved at trolley stops, so bring along a flashlight or glow stick. The tour is not considered child-friendly due to the nature of the content discussed at each site.
Haunted Rochester trolley tours are every Friday and Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are available online. Private tours are also available for large groups. The Rochester Trolley and Tour Company is on 14th Avenue in downtown Rochester.
Nightmare on First Street
The Nightmare on First Street is a yearly fundraiser for charitable organizations. The Nightmare has been totally “re-haunted” and rebuilt for 2021. Nightmare on First Street has two main attractions, the Field of Screams Haunted Maze and the Haunted Barns. Expect lots of scary scenes, terrifying sounds, actors, jump scares, and more. The theme for Nightmare on First Street changes yearly. Past themes include Alfred Hitchcock, Cursed Carnival, and Twisted Fairy Tales. This year’s theme is Haunted Mansion and Estate and features ghastly servants, an evil butler, a nightmare-inducing torture dungeon, and a labyrinth stairway.
Nightmare on First Street is in Fountain, a 34-minute drive from downtown Rochester. The haunted house is open from 7-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday from Oct.15-31. Admission is $15 per person. Expect to spend 20-30 minutes exploring the maze and barns.
There you have it: Tom Kadlec Kia’s top picks for haunted houses in Rochester. What do you think of our list? If we missed any hidden gems, drop us a line and let us know. We’ll be sure to add it to our list.
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