1 Land Of The Giants — Ankeny, IA
12 Footers
Live ActorsInteractive ExperienceYard HauntWalk AroundAnimatronicsFree admissionFamily friendlyScare level: Boo-LiteHome hauntMon–Thu 7:00–9:00 PMFri–Sat 7:00–10:00 PMSun 7:00–9:00 PMOct 1–31, 2026
📋 More 2026 Haunt Guides in Iowa →
The 15 Best Haunted Houses in Iowa for 2026
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Iowa runs deep with haunts every October — the home haunts and yard displays neighbors line up for. We pulled every haunt on FrightMaps in Ankeny, Des Moines, West Des Moines and beyond and ranked the 15 worth planning your night around. Each one below links straight to each listing's photos, details and directions.
How we picked
Every haunt here is a live FrightMaps listing in Iowa. We order by fan likes on FrightMaps, then by how much the listing says, then by whether it has a cover photo. Pro status and paid placement never affect the order. Ranks were locked when this list was published and do not move for the rest of the season — a haunt that leaves FrightMaps leaves an empty slot rather than shifting the numbers. The 2027 list rebuilds from scratch, so posting dates and photos now is how you move up.
2 Corner Of Horror — Ankeny, IA
Newly added to and redesigned for this year! An Undead Graveyard, a Witches Coven, a Haunted Cornfield, and an All New CarnEvil! Live actors and fog on Beggars Night!
Free admissionScare level: Creepy ThrillsHome haunt
3 The Afterlife Social Club 🥂💀 — Ankeny, IA
Come and see what Slim Shady and friends are up to! You may even see a mastiff or 2 in the window. Biggie and Smalls (the mastiffs) love welcoming people to thier spooky fun!
Yard HauntFree admissionFamily friendlyScare level: Boo-LiteHome haunt
4 Nw Mils Ct Haunt — Ankeny, IA
12 footers. graveyard. pumpkin patch. puking skelly, projector decor and more. lots more out for beggars night
Photo OpAnimatronicsFree admissionScare level: Creepy ThrillsHome hauntMon–Sun 6:00–11:00 PMOct 1–31, 2026
5 Halloween Hell — Cedar Rapids, IA
1 yrd haunt 5 giants a spider Dolls and much more
Home haunt
6 Waugh Family Graveyard — Ankeny, IA
lots of creativity and love of halloween
Home haunt
7 Screechwood ST — Ankeny, IA
Mr Bones and his buddies guard the graveyard and haunted pumpkin patch. Includes projections, animated singing pumpkins, and fog on Beggars Night
Home haunt
8 The Forgotten Haunt — Des Moines, IA
A witch has brought forth the dead, cursed the land & those who inhabit it. Step into the forgotten land, the guardian might guide you. light/sound 15th 30th 31st. full show 15&31
Scare ZoneYard HauntWalk AroundPhoto OpFree admissionScare level: Creepy ThrillsHome hauntFri 5:00–10:30 PMSat–Sun 5:00–11:00 PMOct 2–4 & 9–11 & 16–18 & 23–25 & 30–31, 2026
9 Sinister On Cedarwood — Ankeny, IA
Yard Display / Where the demented and deranged come to play
Free admissionFamily friendlyScare level: Boo-LiteHome hauntMon–Sun 6:00–10:00 PMOct 1–31, 2026
10 DeadMans Party — Des Moines, IA
We love Halloween and we change our theme every year. feel free to stop and take pics and videos. Just watch your step or we might add you to our display buhahaha. More to come!
11 Michael Myers Of The Quad Cities — Bettendorf, IA
The top non commercial Halloween display in the Quad Cities! We display new items all the way to Halloween, over 40 new animatronics to be displayed on Halloween day
Paid admissionHome hauntMon–Sun 2:00–10:00 PM
12 Arrrrrrrgh — Ankeny, IA
pirates
Home haunt
13 Phil Angies bone yard — West Des Moines, IA
Phil and his pirate crew are having fun and providing spooks while raising money for St. Jude’s children’s hospital
Yard HauntCharity HauntPhoto OpFree admissionFamily friendlyScare level: Boo-LiteHome haunt
14 Halloween Freight — Ankeny, IA
Homemade, iconic characters from some of your favorite Halloween movies and more.
Free admissionHome haunt
15 Little Girl’s Graveyard — Ankeny, IA
A ghostly girl hosts this haunted graveyard…will you come say hello…
Free admissionHome haunt
Run a haunt in Iowa? This list is rebuilt from FrightMaps listings — claim yours and post your 2026 dates and photos.
Claim your listing →Ask FrightMaps in ChatGPT — open the FrightMaps app, or type @FrightMaps in a chat, and ask for haunts near you. Signed-in ChatGPT only.
See every haunt in Iowa
This is our top 15 — but FrightMaps maps every haunt across the state, updated as new ones open.
Browse all Iowa haunts →More haunts in Iowa
Not ranked — these are the other haunts FrightMaps lists here, including the big ticketed attractions.
- Circle of Ash — Central City, IA
- Linn's Haunted House — Des Moines, IA
- Scream Acres Park — Atkins, IA
- The Haunted Woods — Carlisle, IA
- The Slaughterhouse — Des Moines, IA
- Thrashers House of Terror — Mount Pleasant, IA
- Festive Farmstead — Mason City, IA
- Free Haunted Path Of Decorations — Cedar Rapids, IA
- Giant takeover — Altoona, IA
- Halloween On The West — Des Moines, IA
- Haunted Garage — Ankeny, IA
- Johnsons Family Lights — Davenpirt, IA
- Maple St. Cemetery — Ankeny, IA
- Newhell Yard Display — Newhall, IA
- NewHell Yard Display — Newhall, IA
- Nightmare On 90th — West Des Moines, IA
- Old Carroll Hill Cemetary Home Display! — Cedar Rapids, IA
- PocaHAUNTus — Pocahontas, IA
- The Cypress Haunts 🎃👻 — Ankeny, IA
- The Looming Witch's Garden — Des Moines, IA
- The Skeleton estate — Ankeny, IA
- #BloodMoonHollows — Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1016 Halloween Display — Des Moines, IA
- 2600 Hunted Rose — Des Moines, IA
Run one of these? Claim this free listing to add your 2026 dates and photos.