Halloween season is almost here, and one of the most intense haunted attractions near Washington, D.C., is getting ready to welcome visitors back for another year of screams.
Bennett’s Curse Haunted House in Dundalk, Maryland, opens for the 2026 season on September 26, bringing four different horror attractions together for one continuous experience.
And this year, the longtime Maryland haunt has an especially notable distinction: Bennett’s Curse is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in USA TODAY’s 10Best Best Haunted House/Attraction readers’ choice voting.
When and where is Bennett’s Curse Haunted House happening?
Bennett’s Curse Haunted House is located at the Eastpoint Mall in Dundalk, Maryland, just about an hour from the District. The attraction is entirely indoors, meaning the scares can continue regardless of what the October weather has in store.
The 2026 season officially begins on Saturday, September 26th, giving Halloween fans an early opportunity to experience one of Maryland’s most established haunted attractions.
Bennett’s Curse has been frightening visitors for more than 25 years, and its current location brings all four of its major attractions together under one roof. The experience is designed to take visitors through the attractions back-to-back, rather than requiring separate admission for each one.
That means one visit includes Halloween 3D, The Crypts, House of the Demons, and Ravenbrook Asylum, making for more than 30 minutes of continuous horror.
What to expect if you’re thinking about going
If you’re looking for a haunted house that leans heavily into disturbing imagery and intense scares, Bennett’s Curse is specifically designed to deliver exactly that. The attraction describes itself as an intentionally intense experience, and visitors should be prepared for gruesome scenes, disturbing imagery, frightening characters and psychological horror.
The four themed attractions each offer a different style of terror:
- Ravenbrook Asylum takes visitors into a nightmarish psychiatric facility filled with deranged doctors, twisted nurses and dangerous inmates.
- House of the Demons transports visitors into a gothic world of demons and vampyres, complete with elaborate sets and monstrous characters.
- The Crypts sends guests through a dark labyrinth filled with tombs, skeletal remains and restless spirits.
- Halloween 3D uses 3D glasses, fluorescent visuals and disorienting effects to create a psychedelic horror experience.
Bennett’s Curse does not recommend the attraction for children, given the intensity and graphic nature of the experience, although the decision ultimately remains at the discretion of each parent or guardian. In other words, this is an attraction aimed at people who genuinely want to be scared — not a toned-down Halloween experience for younger children.
How much are Bennett’s Curse tickets?
Bennett’s Curse offers both General Admission timed-entry tickets and VIP tickets, with each ticket providing access to all four of the attraction’s haunted experiences.
General Admission: Starting at $19.99 plus fees
VIP Admission: Starting at $39.99 plus fees
The VIP option is designed for visitors who want priority entry and shorter waits, making it particularly appealing on the busiest nights of the season. Both ticket types are date- and time-specific, so visitors need to choose their preferred night and entry window when purchasing.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the box office at the venue. However, buying online ahead of time is the safer option if you have a specific night in mind, particularly as Halloween approaches and the most popular dates can sell out.
With Bennett’s Curse currently sitting at #1 in the USA TODAY 10Best voting, demand could be especially high this season. So if you already know when you want to go, it makes sense to lock in your tickets before your preferred date and time disappear.
