Halloween season at Hersheypark means the return of Dark Nights, presented by Reese’s and Kit Kat®. The event fills the park with screams, fog, and movie-quality haunted attractions that easily rank among the best Halloween experiences in the region.
Running through November 2, 2025, Dark Nights features five haunted houses and multiple scare zones, all included with a Hersheypark Halloween ticket or Season Pass. After making it through the frights, here are the Top 3 Haunted Houses plus one bonus pick you will want to experience first.
1. Estate of Evil
Location: Tidal Force Catering area, across from Tidal Force and beside the Fallout Zone portal
Official Theme: Guests explore 13 eerie rooms in this grand mansion where charm hides a much darker secret. The new sauna will make you sweat, but the last guests who lingered are still feeling the heat.
Our Take:
Estate of Evil is the signature experience of Dark Nights 2025. The gothic design, lighting, and scent work completely immerse you in the story. Each room feels unique, with careful transitions that use curtains instead of plastic dividers, giving the house a theatrical feel.
Fog, sound, and lighting effects build tension throughout, while the actors maintain a consistent intensity that keeps guests guessing. Two scenes, the wine room and coffin finale, could use additional performers, but the overall production is still the best of the event.
2. Kill ‘N Fill Garage (New for 2025)
Location: Midway America near Shaq-A-Licious Laff Trakk and Wild Mouse
Official Theme: Killers have taken over the abandoned Kill ‘N Fill Garage, and what goes on behind the rusted fence will make your heart race. Visitors navigate through the mechanic’s bay, body shop, and a blood-soaked car wash where the engines never stop screaming.
Our Take:
This new addition to Dark Nights is an immediate standout. Kill ‘N Fill Garage has incredible set detail and a gritty design that feels both industrial and cinematic. About 95 percent of it is indoors, but the outdoor tire yard section at the end looks best once the sun goes down.
Each space inside offers something different, from the car wash area filled with lights and mist to a gas station storefront that feels like it came straight from a horror film. Every scene smells, sounds, and looks distinct, creating a strong sense of place and atmosphere.
3. Twisted Carnevil
Location: Midway America near Shaq-A-Licious Laff Trakk and Wild Mouse
Official Theme: The big top is alive with new acts and terrifying performers. Under the carnival tent, the laughs are loud and the scares even louder, but some acts will leave a lasting impression that you will not forget.
Our Take:
Twisted Carnevil remains one of the most entertaining and colorful haunts at Hersheypark. The vibrant lighting, makeup, and clown performances create a wild, unpredictable environment. The Human Cannonball scare might be the single best jump moment in the entire park.
A few spaces feel a little open and could use more actors, and the mirrors in the funhouse area could use a light cleaning. Still, the energy, creativity, and visual design make it a fan favorite for those who like their scares with a bit of fun.
4. Haunted Coal Mine (Bonus Pick)
Location: Trailblazer Catering area near Spring Creek Smokehouse
Official Theme: Venture deep underground where time slows down and the air runs thin. Something lurks in the darkness of the mine, and not everything that breathes is human.
Our Take:
Haunted Coal Mine is an intense and moody experience built around dark, confined spaces and suspenseful pacing. The elevator moment creates a believable illusion of descent and sets the tone for what follows.
The laser fog tunnel is one of the most impressive visuals in the entire event, and the finale featuring a roaring chainsaw attack delivers the perfect ending. It is one of the most atmospheric houses at Dark Nights and well worth the wait.
Honorable Mention: Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir
Location: Next to Music Express and Shaq-A-Licious Laff Trakk in the Midway America region
Official Theme: Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir has added a new packing room to its tour. Her nephew has stepped up his game, and his twisted cousin is helping to keep the family business running no matter what, or who, comes through the door.
Our Take:
Even from the outside, Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir stands out as one of Dark Nights’ most sinister haunts. With its meat-packing theme and family-run horror concept, it promises a visceral experience filled with detailed sets, heavy atmosphere, and relentless energy. Guests looking for a more blood-soaked and sensory-driven attraction will likely find this one unforgettable. Oink oink.
Final Thoughts
Every haunted house at Hersheypark Dark Nights 2025 feels carefully crafted, each offering a different mix of storytelling and spectacle. Estate of Evil stands out for its elegance, Kill ‘N Fill Garage for its energy, Twisted Carnevil for its style, and Haunted Coal Mine for its immersive realism.
If you plan to attend, start in Midway America to experience Kill ‘N Fill Garage after sunset, then make your way toward Tidal Force for the haunting finale inside Estate of Evil. And if you have time left, step into Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir for a bloody bonus round you will not forget.
Editor-in-Chief | Owner
I’m a dedicated aficionado of all things movies, pop culture, and entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and a love for the silver screen, I’m constantly immersed in the world of cinema, exploring new releases, classics, and hidden gems alike. As a fervent advocate for the power of film to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and recommendations with fellow enthusiasts.