SILVER POINT, Tenn. — Starting Saturday, Sept. 26, terror will once again descend on the Cookeville area as Halloween Hollow Haunted House (Halloween Hollow) resurrects for its fifth season. More Local Living News
Open weekends through Nov. 1, this year’s iteration of Halloween Hollow will bring an expanded lineup of attractions, interactive entertainment and unique Halloween experiences to Middle Tennessee.
“Middle Tennessee has several traditional haunted houses,” says co-owner Erica McElroy. “But many of these places stay the same from year-to-year. We’re not just a haunted attraction. We’re a destination that offers considerably more for
those willing to make the trip.”
Touting another year of growth, the outdoor attraction is preparing to offer guests an estimated two to three hours of entertainment while they explore Halloween Hollow. The overall experience includes four haunted houses, scare zones, games, live entertainment and even some family-friendly experiences.
At the center of the 2026 season are four haunted houses: Dark Raven: Whispers of the Dead; Video Slashback: Midnight Movie Massacre; Meltdown: Nuclear Nightmare; and Dark Acres. Of particular note, Video Slashback has received an overhaul of its interior theming for the new season, while Dark Raven has also been significantly redesigned for 2026.
Beyond the haunted houses, visitors can encounter Madame Bastet, the Feline Fortune Teller; the Slimer Hunt interactive ghost-shooting game; the Ghost Lab Escape Game; the Not So Scary Corn Maze; the newly redesigned Slaughter Circus Fear Zone; and the Inferno Freak Show.
Speaking to the central mission of Halloween Hollow, co-owner Carroll Moore adds, “Our goal is to create Tennessee’s own ‘Halloween Town.’ The shared vision with the team is an immersive environment built around that retro, old-school Halloween aesthetic so many of us grew up with.”
Built around actor-driven scares and sets resembling those found in Hollywood studios, the experience begins on the drive up to Halloween Hollow through its signature 25-foot-tall Pumpkin Portal. Upon entering, guests are greeted with thrilling music, fog and a sense of uncertainty over what they might encounter next.
“That feeling that anything could happen is central to what we’re going for. We’re going for retro and real here with everything we do,” Erica says.
Although Halloween Hollow operates publicly for only part of the year, creating the attraction is a year-round undertaking. Approximately 100 employees work across acting, event operations, makeup, costumes, retail, parking and management, while the creative team spends the offseason designing scares, building sets and props, remodeling attractions and preparing for the next season.
A forthcoming documentary—Michael Tanner Flynn’s “Saved by the Hell Week”—will offer an inside look at that process and the thousands of hours required to bring Halloween Hollow to life.
New for 2026, the Creepy Cabana VIP experience offers groups a private fire pit and restrooms, complimentary sodas and bottled water, a s’mores kit, and RIP tickets providing priority access to attractions.
Halloween Hollow is also introducing Dark Weddings, allowing couples to hold wedding ceremonies beneath the Pumpkin Portal or on the steps of Dark Raven. Packages are designed for everything from intimate elopements to gothic celebrations and other unconventional ceremonies.
Beyond the haunt, Halloween Hollow provides seasonal employment, hosts an annual free Easter egg hunt, and also supports other community activities.
Halloween Hollow also works with the American Red Cross on The Blood Oath, an annual blood drive held around Halloween. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 30 at DelMonaco Winery. Blood donors receive a free Halloween Hollow ticket valid that night or weekend.
Halloween Hollow opens Saturday, Sept. 26, and operates every weekend through Sunday, Nov. 1. For further information, including hours of operation, pricing and accommodations, visit Halloween Hollow Haunted House’s website and social media.
Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
