As many of you know, I hold a role as an expert panelist for the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. It is always a privilege to lend my voice to a platform as massive as USA TODAY, but the absolute best part of this experience is having the opportunity to highlight the unbelievable talent, heart, and artistry within the haunt, paranormal, and immersive entertainment communities.
My love for this industry and the people who build it runs deep. I submitted close to 80 total nominations across the Halloween categories this year, and well over half made the final ballot! Seeing so many deserving spots recognized means the world to me!
Independent haunted houses, escape rooms, and theme park Halloween events take an unimaginable amount of creative vision and grit. The actors, set designers, and builders pour their souls into creating unforgettable scares and immersive worlds.
A truly brilliant ghost tour isn’t about jump scares; it requires endless hours of historical research, community dedication, and masterful storytelling to bring local lore to life.
Haunted locations have been a personal passion of mine for a very long time—I even spent my honeymoon paranormal investigating! Exploring active historical spots and eerie hotels is something I genuinely love, so nominating places that capture that authentic magic comes straight from the heart.
The nomination process is always a balancing act. As panelists, we submit our recommendations based on our personal evaluations, hands-on experiences, and vast knowledge of the field. However space is strictly limited which means there are always so many phenomenal attractions and creators that I would love to see included on the final list that don’t make it. I think you are outstanding and will do my best to support you here on my website and socials where I can post about as many locations as I like without the imposed award limitations.
Now it’s time to VOTE!
The nominations are official, and now it’s up to you to support your favorites!
Voting Details:
Categories: Best Escape Room, Best Ghost Tour, Best Haunted Destination, Best Haunted Hotel, Best Haunted House Attraction, and Best Theme Park Halloween Event. You’ll find around 20 eligible, top-tier options to vote on in each category.
Daily Voting: You can cast one vote per day, in every category.
Voting Deadline: Voting closes on Monday, September 21st at 11:59 AM EDT.
Winners Announced: The Top 10 winners will be revealed on Wednesday, September 30th at 12:00 PM EDT.
These creators, historians, and haunt teams work tirelessly to bring us incredible experiences year after year!
Head over to the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards page, cast your daily votes, and show some support to the attractions that keep the spooky season alive!