Twisted Trails
Staten Island’s walk-through haunted forest. Picked by the FrightMaps community and a panel of four judges as the best home haunt of 2025, and back now for season six: Rise of the Giants.
A note from Mike
Every October I get to see what people build for their neighborhoods, and it still blows me away.
Last year 318 haunts from 45 states went after Haunt of the Year. You cast 2,288 votes, four judges scored the finalists, and Twisted Trails came out on top of all of it.
Here’s why that matters to me. Tim Imbemba is a Staten Island teacher who built a haunted forest for his community. Part of every season goes to St. Jude, the ASPCA and Rocco Strong. And he still made room for the kid who’s too scared to go in, with no-actor nights and a daytime walk.
That’s exactly what this award is for.
If you’re anywhere near New York this October, go. Check in on FrightMaps when you do, and tell Tim we sent you.
Mike KaneFounder, FrightMaps
Why it won
Community votes chose five finalists. Judges Donnie Black, Debbie Rochon, Troy Crivellone and Jeff Robertson ranked them on three things, weighted equally. Twisted Trails finished first with the voters and with the panel.
Creativity
A trail through the woods, split into themed lands from a graveyard to outer space: the CARNEVIL sideshow, a vampire crypt, a UFO landing, and the Corn Stalkers Maze, the scariest scene on the trail.
Community impact
Built by Staten Island teacher Tim Imbemba as a passion project. Tickets stay affordable, the actors are local, and part of every season goes to St. Jude, the ASPCA and Rocco Strong.
Innovation
Made for people who scare easily as well as people who don’t: no-actor nights, a daytime walk, a kids’ scavenger hunt, and a straight answer on which scene to skip.
New for 2026
Four new giant animatronics from Unit 70, plus new characters and upgrades along a trail that now runs to 36 themed lands. It is also number one on our Best Haunted Houses in the New York City area 2026 list.
Photos: Twisted Trails.
2026 dates and prices
Tickets are sold at the gate: cash, Venmo, Zelle or PayPal. Kids 3 and under are free. Entry is first come, first served; a $10 Fast Pass per person skips the line. Weather calls are posted on twistedtrails.nyc, so check before you drive.
Scare easily? Come on a no-actor night (Oct 4 or Oct 29) or to the daytime walk on Oct 24 and see the whole trail with nobody jumping out. At night you can also take the trail and skip the Corn Stalkers Maze.
Getting there
496 Annadale Rd, Staten Island, NY 10312, near the Arden Avenue exit off the Staten Island Expressway and the Korean War Veterans Parkway. From New Jersey it is about seven minutes from the Outerbridge Crossing.
Get directionsKnow before you go
- Stay on the trail. No climbing, jumping or running, even when you are terrified.
- Don’t touch actors or props. The one exception is pulling a switch that sets a prop off.
- The ground is rocky, so mobility devices are parked at the entrance.
- No smoking, alcohol or weapons of any kind.
- Let’s Get Toasted, a s’mores truck, is on site through the season.
Save it in FrightMaps
Open Twisted Trails in the app to save it, get directions and check in when you go. Not near New York? The same map will find you a haunt close to home.
Read the full story · Twisted Trails on FrightMaps · twistedtrails.nyc