Scary Tales Tours

This isn't your typical haunted house. No chainsaws. No jump scares. No one is chasing you through the dark. Instead, you'll experience something far more unexpected.

Each year, we invite regional writers to craft original stories inspired by rooms inside the historic Alex Crawford Hoyt Period House. Five winning tales are pulled off the pages to create immersive scenes in the century-old home.  As darkness falls, guests explore the dimly lit chambers by flashlight with a guide who brings each story to life.

Rich in storytelling and atmospheric detail, Scary Tales delivers chills that linger long after the tour ends. It's part theater, part history, part literary adventure - and unlike anything else you'll do this Halloween season.

Whether you're planning a date night, looking for a memorable evening with friends, or diversifying your haunted attractions, Scary Tales offers a new way to celebrate what goes bump in the night.

This year’s tales include:

- Thirteen by  Courtney McNamara

A dying man becomes unnerved when thirteen crows gather outside his window. But when one refuses to leave, it seems the past he buried in the garden has finally come back for him.

- The Family by Paige Kleinfelder

A lonely boy’s beloved companion seems harmless enough—until his parents begin to fear her, and a deadly “accident” reveals exactly what Lily is capable of.

- Dear Frances by Alessandra Matteo

A sick woman becomes convinced her husband’s dead first wife is haunting her mirror—until she shatters the glass and discovers the ghost may not be the one who’s trapped.

- Just a Crack by ghostwriter Gabrielle Maple

A grieving mother refuses to open the window to release her dead baby’s soul. But when he begins returning to her fever dreams, she discovers something else is waiting in the darkness to take him…or her.

- The Light in the Kitchen by Marilyn Klemens

A mysterious girl appears at the kitchen door seeking shelter. But when she vanishes as suddenly as she arrived, the servants learn the rain may have brought back something from the past.

A word of caution before entering: Scary Tales explores dark and sometimes disturbing themes, including death, grief, illness and violence. Some stories may be unsettling or triggering for some guests. Please use your best judgment when deciding whether the experience is right for you or members of your party—and enter with caution.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, guests can also purchase Frank and Steins for an additional cost, adding a seasonal bite to their night at the Hoyt.