Staten Island Haunted Houses: Making Staten Island NYC’s Halloween Destination
Looking for the ultimate haunts and spooky experiences this Halloween season? Staten Island Haunted Houses has you covered with an array of haunted houses all around Staten Island, New Jersey, and more. Now in its fourth season, Staten Island Haunted Houses is a group of Halloween lovers dedicated to delivering and providing all things spooky to the public.
In a recent article, the New York Post recognized Staten Island as NYC’s unofficial capital of creepy, highlighting the borough’s growing reputation as a Halloween destination. We’re proud that Staten Island Haunted Houses have helped bring attention to the incredible creativity, dedication, and community spirit behind our local Halloween displays.
Psssttt… Check Out: Staten Island Zoo’s Annual Spooktacular Returns
Origin of the Staten Island Haunted Houses Hub
Staten Island Haunted Houses grew out of a small, close-knit group of Halloween enthusiasts who first connected in a Facebook group. What began as exchanging phone numbers and starting a simple text chat quickly evolved into a real-time hub for sharing tips such as where to find props, which stores had sales, and how to make displays stand out. During the Halloween season, those conversations expanded into something bigger: guiding families to each other’s displays. What started as coordination soon became friendship, and the group’s shared passion for Halloween turned into a mission.
In the winter of 2022, the group decided to establish itself as an independent organization. One of their key challenges was that display lists were confined to a private Facebook group, restricting public visibility. To connect with a wider audience, the group developed a website, created lawn signs featuring QR codes that linked to a customized Google map, and expanded their presence on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—making sure that Staten Island’s Halloween festivities could be celebrated across various platforms.
A Growing Halloween Phenomenon
The group’s growth has been both rapid and steady, transforming from a small network of Halloween enthusiasts into a community-wide movement. In 2023, it began with just 15 displays and ended the season with 40. By 2024, the network had expanded to 65 displays, reaching beyond Staten Island into Brooklyn and New Jersey. During that year, the group also promoted several causes, including children’s cancer awareness, partnered with local businesses for cross-promotion, and introduced an online photo gallery that allowed Halloween enthusiasts to preview displays before planning their visits. Now, in 2025, the group is taking another step forward by introducing events to its Facebook group and website, while continuing to expand the display list. What started as a small idea has grown into a tradition that brings families together, celebrates creativity, and ensures that the magic and chills of Halloween are easy to find.
A Growing Spooky Community
Last year, Staten Island Haunted Houses received tremendous media exposure from Staten Island Parent, the Staten Island Advance, the New York Post, 1010 WINS, ABC7, CBS New York, and PIX11.
The group consists of a community of spooky-loving, passionate, and driven homeowners. They dedicate their time, creativity, and resources to transforming their properties. Whether it’s elaborate yard displays, walk-through experiences, or haunted shows, these homeowners help create unforgettable Halloween memories for families throughout the borough.
“We encourage everyone to get out, explore the borough, support these homeowners, and experience as many displays as possible… Our mission at Staten Island Haunted Houses: to encourage people to explore the borough, visit local displays, and discover why Staten Island is becoming known as NYC’s Halloween destination.” – Michael LaPayower, Staten Island Haunted Houses Co-Founder
Dedicated to Finding Halloween Haunts
Staten Island Haunted Houses has always been committed to being a go-to destination for family fun, creativity, inspiration, and trustworthy information. Each display listed has been verified, whether through on-site visits or FaceTime calls with the display owners. The organization always secures permission before sharing any addresses or promoting paid haunts. This commitment to transparency has become a cornerstone of the organization, and families eagerly anticipate joining the list. One of the first questions many ask is: “When do I get my yard sign?” These signs have become a badge of pride and a connecting display for owners to each other. The submission form can be found here.
Spooks Supporting Causes
One of the most meaningful aspects of their Halloween community is the number of displays that use their decorations to support important causes. Several families go beyond creating spooky attractions by raising awareness and funds for organizations and families facing difficult times.
Here are some of the displays on their list that are making a difference and raising money for various causes:
Huguenot Nightmare Factory
374 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island
Huguenot Nightmare Factory advocates for Rocco Strong, using its Halloween display to help bring attention to the cause.
Twisted Trails
496 Annadale Rd. Staten Island
Twisted Trails is a fully immersive walkthrough that features one-of-a-kind scares filled with jaw-dropping decor and animatronics. Twisted Trails donates to three different charities including, St. Jude, ASPCA, and Rocco Strong – Fighting Childhood Cancer.
The Darlington Scare
623 Darlington Avenue, Staten Island
The Darlington Scare supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping raise awareness for an organization dedicated to treating and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
R&V Haunted Manor
39 Hawthorne Avenue, Staten Island
R&V Haunted Manor raises funds for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in honor of their son, Roman. Their display combines a love of Halloween with a meaningful effort to support children’s healthcare.
Santacroce Sanitarium
254 Nippon Avenue.
Fundraiser event on October 17th! An annual fundraiser that provides a college scholarship to a student at Tottenville High School.
Hunter’s Horror House
54 Renee Place, Staten Island
Hunter’s Horror House is an especially moving example of how Halloween can bring people together for a cause. For the third season, this family has used its Halloween display to advocate for children battling pediatric cancer. Hunter’s grandparents decorate their front and side yards in support of their grandson, Hunter, a cancer survivor whose love of Halloween inspired the display.
The tradition began while Hunter was in the hospital receiving treatment. His family wasn’t sure whether he would be home in time for Halloween, so his grandparents created something special for him to look forward to. What began as an act of love has grown into a community effort to support other families facing similar challenges.
According to Hunter’s mother, Karrisa Dobson, the family has helped raise more than $10,000 over the past two years for ECHO and Kids Against Cancer, organizations that help families affected by pediatric cancer. This year, the family has dedicated its fundraising efforts to another young cancer warrior, Mikey.
Karrisa shared that the family met Mikey and his loved ones through a holiday event at a clinic last year and continued following his journey. After learning about the challenges he was facing, the family decided to dedicate this year’s efforts to helping him and his family directly.
The family was especially happy to see Mikey visit their tent recently while feeling well after radiation treatment. Karrisa explained why the cause means so much to them: “These kids go through hell, and Halloween can be scary, but it’s nothing compared to watching the horrors that they endure when they shouldn’t even know what cancer is at their age.” Their story is a powerful reminder that behind many Halloween displays are families, personal experiences, and causes that deserve our support.
For additional information about this year’s fundraising efforts and the flyers associated with Mikey’s cause, please follow up with Karrisa Dobson. Cell – 347-695-7754 and
kdobson524@gmail.com
How To Find Staten Island Haunted Houses
Looking for a spook near you?
Website: www.sihauntedhouses.com
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok & YouTube
The list of haunts goes beyond just Staten Island! With displays in Brooklyn and New Jersey, helping connect Halloween enthusiasts with even more spooky experiences.
Admin Members
Joseph Cafarelli
John Dimiceli – Huguenot Nightmare Factory
John Bogan
Michael LaPayower—Edgegrove Villains Cemetery
Please note that all photo galleries and displays will be updated during the 2026 season.
Psssttt… Check Out: Where To Go Pumpkin Picking In Staten Island & NJ
