Well it’s early September so of course it’s time to start talking about haunted houses.

That’s correct, spooky season is here. 

And some popular metro Denver area haunted houses are set to open this month, starting this weekend.

So let’s take this moment and dissect a few metro Denver haunted houses to look forward to this year.

13th Floor

Among its many nationwide locations, the 13th Floor haunted house is, arguably, one of the scariest and more popular haunted attractions in metro Denver.

In its 18th season, Denver’s 13th Floor location kicks off on Saturday, debuting new attractions in the process. The haunted house is located at 3400 E 52nd Ave. in northeast Denver.

New 13th Floor attractions include a “Trick ‘r Treat” movie immersive experience, plus new midway games including escape games, axe throwing, themed bars and “RIP cabanas.”

13th Floor officials said this year’s main attractions include three terrifying experiences including Legend of the 13th Floor, Twilight of the Damned and The Blood Shed.

“We’re introducing some terrifying variations to our classic iconic characters as well as adding brand-new characters to go along with our new attraction themes this year,” 13th Floor General Manager Bryan Kopp said in a statement.

“We’ve added some jaw-dropping new scenes to our two indoor attractions that I can’t wait for guests to experience,” he said, “but I’m even more excited for everyone to visit our two brand new, massive experiences we’ve added to the midway.”

Denver's 13th Floor expanding business beyond haunted house

Frightmare Compound

This nightmare of a compound has haunted Westminster for more than 40 years.

Beginning on Sept. 12, the Frightmare Compound opens to the public, offering a haunted house walkthrough experience, escape rooms, a coffin simulator ride and a “monster museum.”

The haunted house is located at 10798 Yukon St. in Westminster.

“As one of the oldest horror houses for the Denver community, the terror may follow you home, returning in your dreams,” Frightmare Compound officials said on its website.

A “lights out” event is scheduled at the compound Nov. 7-8.

“It’s been said that the founder of this haunted attraction had his final resting place deep on the property and haunts anyone who enters,” haunted house officials said. “As fear courses through your veins, you’ll be confronted with eerie creatures beyond your wildest dreams.”

Denver Gazette staff braves popular metro Denver haunted attractions

The Ritual

This family-owned haunted house experience is one that brings a story to life.

And it might be its last year in Englewood.

The Ritual Haunted House, located at 301 Englewood Parkway, is gearing up for a Sept. 26 opening. It’ll be the sixth operating year for The Ritual and its fourth year operating in Englewood.

Owned by local metro Denver residents Dave and Brittani Allen, the husband and wife combo brings together local scare actors to tell the story of a ritual sacrifice.

The Ritual begins inside a rickety shack, where participants are asked to take part in a ritual ceremony. Through the journey, participants are continually followed by merchants of the ritual. The dark, mysterious hallways lead into rooms of the ritual, where the monsters and ghouls are waiting.

In one room, those submitting to the sacrifice will cross “the swamp” to the other side.

The Ritual, on its website, shared it might be its last year in Englewood due to future development, requiring them to move to a new location.

“Building something to share with people is one of the coolest things,” Dave Allen said last year of operating a haunted house.

“I love seeing people come out at the end of the haunted house, happy, excited, like watching the cameras,” he said. “That’s what I enjoy, honestly, being able to build this for people to share with others.”

The Ritual: A family's own 'haunted world' rooted in metro Denver

Three Denver Gazette reporters last year shared first hand their experiences at these three metro Denver haunted houses shown in this article.