Halloween 2026 is shaping up nicely for anyone within driving distance of Waxahachie who wants a real scare. A new roundup names twelve haunted attractions across East Texas, spanning Tyler, Longview, Terrell, Kilgore, Canton, Mt. Pleasant, Talco, Big Sandy, Mineola, Hawkins, and Lufkin. Some are classic haunted houses with fog machines and tight hallways. Others are outdoor trails that send you through the woods after dark, which is a much different kind of fear. No walls, no ceilings, just trees and the sound of footsteps that may or may not belong to your group.

One date worth writing down: Haunted Hallows Coopergate Ranch in Mt. Pleasant opens October 16. For folks around Waxahachie, Mt. Pleasant is a haul, but plenty of the other locations are closer and make an easy weekend trip. The original list also mentions a haunted house the writer remembers from years back, the Tyler Jaycees haunt off Highway 155 in Noonday. If that one sticks in someone’s memory decades later, it says something about how these places become part of a town’s story.

The list is still growing, too. If you know of a haunted house or trail that should be included, you can email the details: name, location, and website. East Texas has no shortage of churches, ranches, and families who put on a good scare every October. So weigh your options, check the scare level if you’re bringing kids, and pick your poison. Which haunted attraction are you hitting first this season? Let us know in the comments.