Where’s the first spot you think of when planning out a spooky-centric trip in time for Halloween? For most of us, it’s going to be Salem, Massachusetts, made famous for its 1692 witch trials—but movie buffs might want to consider heading a little further south. To Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Bowling Green is just about an hour’s drive from Nashville and is well worth making a detour to if you appreciate Halloween and all things spooky as much as we do. Bowling Green happens to be the hometown of John Carpenter, the mind behind the cult horror film ‘Halloween’ and as such has a penchant for horror that comes alive in October.
The Kentucky town dedicates the weeks leading up to Halloween to its own “Master of Horror” and as such offers a myriad of spooky events suitable for horror lovers and movie buffs alike. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best spooky walking tours and attractions that are sure to scare even the most hardened of horror fans. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Skeleton’s Lair Scream Park
Every Friday and Saturday leading up until Halloween, the Skeleton’s Lair Scream Park is packed with things to see and do for all levels of horror and Halloween fans. Rated the “scariest haunted attraction in Kentucky,” by Fodor’s Travel, this is a must visit if you’re in town. Start with the Haunted Woods and make your way through the old City Ghost Ride haunted hayride, Skeletal Visions 3D Zone, and the Doomsday Doll Factory Haunted House. Guests will also have the chance to meet Bob Elmore, the actor who played ‘Leatherface’ in the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2’, on October 22 and October 23.
Reel Sites, Real Scary: A John Carpenter Driving Tour
Bowling Green couldn’t do justice to its “Master of Horror” without a comprehensive John Carpenter driving tour. This local tour takes visitors through the streets and locations mentioned in Carpenter’s films. The included brochure also notes the exact time a Bowling Green reference is made and in which film—just in case you feel the need to binge Carpenter’s best films leading up to Halloween (we’re guilty!).
Unseen BG Haunted History Walking Tour
Every weekend, guests and locals can head to downtown Bowling Green to experience the spooky Unseen Haunted History tour. This guided walking tour shows off the most dark and haunting parts of the city, including a visit to the town’s spookiest cemetery, and a secret haunted location that has been closed to the public for nearly 100 years. Note that a more family-friendly tour is available for those with little ones.
