The best season is upon us again- Season of the Witch.  The Haunted Season.  Spooky Time.  Yes, it’s Halloween again, the haunted houses are open and you want to know which ones to visit.  Well, we’ve been there and we know what to expect from all the scariest places around.  Here’s a comprehensive guide to give you all the info you need to choose the most terrifying destination for your weekend.  And we’ve enlisted the help of an expert- Buzzbin’s Haunted House expert is one scary dude.  Micah Townsend acted at and built sets for the Haunted School House and Laboratory for five years, he’s a local horror movie buff and historian and he’s known as “Mickey Tannenbaum” in the Main Event Championship Wrestling (MCW).  Scarier still, he puts up with the hipsters in Highland Square on a daily basis as Head Chef at Mr. Zub’s. Legend of Scare Creek Scarecreekhauntedhouse.com 330-410-4444 Located at Bear Creek Amphitheater- 2526 Downing St. SW, East Sparta 44626 The Legend of Scare Creek in Malvern is one of the longest running NEOhio creepfests.  With four separate haunted features, be sure to bring a second pair of britches with you.  The House of Madness preys on your biggest fears and has been known to drive men mad.  The Forest of Fear is a one of a kind attraction featuring the most wicked of night creatures.  The Haunted Hayride offers both visual and sensory terror. Finally, the Hysteria Haunted House has a high shock/ high gore content that will fuel your nightmares for years to come. Our expert says:  “This place has great actors and is very frightening.  With so much going on there’s almost no wait time.” Hudson Haunted House Hudsonjaycees.com/haunted 877-999-4679 2250 Barlow Rd., Hudson 44236 This Halloween will you “Dare to be scared?”  The Hudson Jaycees has been at this for 38 years so you can expect two things: unimaginable fear and tired feet from waiting to get in.  The place has completely handmade sets and you can tell where they’ve taken someone else’s idea and improved it.  The winding corridors will take you through dozens of scenes including The Black Hole and is a good starter haunted house for younger kids. Our expert says: “Not the scariest but it’s an all around decent haunted house.  This place has some quality workmanship in the scenes- it’s not a pre-fab parking lot haunted house.” Pandora’s Box Pandorasboxinmentor.com 440-255-7911 6091 Heisley Rd., Mentor 44060 Pandora’s Box has two attractions: House of the Dead and the Reaper’s Castle with the second being twice as long as the first.  There are some great animatronic creatures in both and projectors are used to create a more interactive feel.  Some of the highlights include the Voodoo Room and the hospital setting with crazy nurses and patients telling you to stay and play.  Also, both house feature a collapsing tunnel where you’re stuck in the darkness and don’t know if you can escape. Our expert says: “Not for the kiddies.  This house has more to see than others but is a little expensive.” Bloodview Haunted House Bloodview.com 440-526-9148 1010 Towpath Tr., Broadview Hts. 44147 Bloodview may have the most intriguing approach to haunted attractions in the area.  The house is built and staffed by The Legion of Terror, the world’s oldest improvisational horror acting, makeup and special effects organization.  The actors are all volunteers, unpaid, who are performing for the guests.  This means that the monsters are only working for the sick thrill of scaring the $hit out of you.  You start in the Gore House, then follow the cemetery path to the Elder Woods and proceed to the Main House.  Bloodview is considered extremely graphic and interactive.  And your admission is going to charity.  Win! Our expert says: “The monsters at Bloodview actually creep me out.  The makeup is by far the best of any place in the area; it’s to Hollywood specs.” Haunted Schoolhouse & Haunted Laboratory Hshlab.com 330-849-0211 1300 Triplett Blvd., Akron 44306 The legend of these well known Akron haunts was solidified when famous ghosthunter Dr. Von Groddeck disappeared from the location in 1968 while researching the site’s mysterious happenings.  The School House had a history of strange occurrences before it opened as a haunted attraction 37 years ago.  The Laboratory was an old experimental facility before the testing subjects took over 7 years later.  Enjoy the original animal cages, skeletons, the wind tunnel and a real Tesla coil.  Other notable features include Dracula’s Castle and the King’s Dungeon.  Featured on the Travel Channel’s “America Haunts 4” as one of the best haunted houses in America. Our expert says: “Lots of actors.  You’ll get a workout at both attractions, both body and mind, because of all the action.  The wind tunnel is one of a kind- you’re on a catwalk looking four stories down.  An Akron must see.” Factory of Terror Factoryofterror.net 330-455-3327 4125 Mahoning Rd. NE, Canton 44705 Recently officially recorded as the “Longest Walk-Through Horror House in the World” by Guinness, the Factory of Terror is your worst nightmare.  You begin your journey in the Portal to Insanity, a huge mirror-maze that will make you want to tear your face off.  You wander aimlessly this way and that until you finally stumble into the Industrial Nightmare, designed to test “your nerves, guts and instincts.”  Sound and lighting effects test your resolve as you move into the Massacre on the Mahoning, a mansion built by the mad owner in the middle of his factory.  Finally, Judgement in 3D will deliver you to the Mouth of Hell.  Will you survive? Our expert says: “Sweet toys.  Beware of barking dogs and getting caught staring into the factory walls.  Make sure you wear comfortable shoes.” Carnival of Horrors Carnivalofhorrors.com 330-644-4473 At Blossom Music Center- 1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls 44223 To quote Captain Spaulding from The Devils Rejects, “Don’t ya like clowns?  Don’t we make ya laugh? Aren’t we f@ckin’ funny?  You best come up with an answer, cos… if you ain’t got a reason why you hate clowns, I’m gonna kill your whole f@cking family.”  This seems to be the idea behind the entire Carnival of Horrors for the eighth straight season at Blossom.  You’ve got the Insane Asylum, the Fun House, the Freakshow Living 3D Experience and the Wicked Woods to give you plenty of reasons to hate clowns this year.  Better plan an entire evening to enjoy the four attractions and lines as long as Cedar Point on a Saturday night. Our expert says: “I’ve seen scarier clowns at an ICP show.  If not for the special effects the trip would not be worth it at all.  Get coupons and this isn’t a night wasted.” 7 Floors of Hell 7floorsofhell.com 440-243-3327 19191 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Hts. 44130 Seven separate attractions will thrill the whole family at 7 Floors of Hell.  Blood Barn, the Gas Chamber, Camp Nightmare, House of Nightmares, Evil Visions, the Mausoleum and the Mental Ward round out the lineup.  Expect lots of animatronics, strobe lights and fog machines.  Another full evening affair. Our expert says: “7 Floors has a huge variety of venues as a haunted house.  There’s nothing revolutionary about the scares here but it covers all the bases.” Spooky Ranch Spookyranch.com 440-236-5454 At the Rockin’-R-Ranch- 19066 E. River Rd./ SR 252, Columbia Station 44028 Family owned and operated out near Deliverance in Lorain County is how these folks roll and they pride themselves on “extreme gore, blood, guts, frightening scenes and in-your-face acting”.  The Extreme Nightmare haunted house, Crazy Clowns 3D, a haunted hayride and a haunted barn are the main attractions but the Spooky Ranch also has the Funny Fun House, suitable for the whole family. Our expert says: “The hayride is one of the best in the area.  Watch out for and don’t pet the critters.” Lantern Tours of the Ghost 330-874-2646 198 Main St., Zoar 44612 Zoar was founded in 1817 by German immigrants seeking religious freedom.  Although it was considered one of the most successful communal societies in the US, the settlers managed to bring some evil spirits with them from the old country, which might have helped lead to the original settlement’s demise 79 years later.  Join costumed guides for a haunted stroll through the village, learning about the spooky history of the village. Our expert says: N/A Hallowicked Haunted Woods Ohiohauntedwoods.com 419-520-7110 1148 Cairns Rd., Mansfield 44903 Hallowicked has nearly doubled the size of their attractions this year, now offering over a mile of horror.  This year’s haunts include the Cornfields of Hell, the Grim Graveyard, the Circus of Doom and The Butcher Shop.  Hallowicked is also introducing the Buried Alive Entrance, where victims are locked inside a coffin before being released into the Haunted Woods.  It’ll be a scream! Our expert says: N/A Wicked Weekend Hauntedwickedweekends.com 330-854-6691 At Clay’s Park- 13190 Patterson Rd., N. Lawrence 44666 Wicked Weekend offers three haunted attractions this year.  There’s Slaughterville, Uncle Willy’s Traveling Freak Show and the Haunted Hayride.  Visit the Frightening Forest off of 21 and experience the fear. Our expert says: N/A Fear Forest Fearforest.com 330-824-3141 6780 Tod Ave. SW, Lordstown 44481 Just outside of Warren, Fear Forest has a mile long haunted hayride covering 68 acres of your worst nightmares and the Insane-a-tarium haunted house.  Fear Forest promises that this is the NEOhio’s scariest attraction this year.  It’s probably worth the drive east. Our expert says: N/A