FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — To let thrill seekers get a jump start on the horror that is their favorite holiday, the fear-inducing, bone-chilling haunted houses and attractions that comprise America Haunts (www.americahaunts.com) are creaking open their doors for the Halloween season beginning as early as September. A howling good time, the venues annually welcome more than one million fear seekers.

America Haunts members are dedicated to providing the safest, scariest and most fun haunted entertainment in the country. The organization is home to the nation’s most elite tier of haunted houses and fear-inducing attractions, each representing the highest echelon of Halloween entertainment. With daunting criteria for acceptance, America Haunts membership is exclusive and considered one of the greatest recognitions a haunted venue can receive.

Haunts that have been invited to be part of America Haunts feature some of most gruesome, creative and innovative displays to horrify visitors. Each has a commitment to technical excellence with stunning set designs and Hollywood-quality make-up, costumes and actors. Several of the haunts have been in operation for more than 30 years.

The opening dates for 2011 haunts are as follows:

The Beast / The Edge of Hell
Kansas City, MO
September 9

Cutting Edge
Fort Worth, TX
September 10

Dent Schoolhouse
Cincinnati, OH
September 16

Nightmare on 13th
Salt Lake City, UT
September 16

Headless Horseman
Ulster Park, NY
September 17

The 13th Gate
Baton Rouge, LA
September 22

Erebus Haunted Attraction
Pontiac, MI
September 23

House of Torment
Austin, TX
September 23

Netherworld
Atlanta, GA
September 23

The 13th Floor
Denver, CO
September 23

The 13th Floor
Phoenix
September 23

The 13th Floor
San Antonio, CA
September 23

The Haunted Hotel
San Diego, CA
September 23

The ScareHouse
Pittsburgh, PA
September 23

7 Floors of Hell
Cleveland, OH
September 24

Nightmare on the Bayou
Houston, TX
September 29

Bates Motel
Philadelphia, PA
September 30

Dream Reapers
Chicago, IL
September 30

Spookywoods
Greensboro-Winston-Salem, NC
September 30

The Asylum
Denver, CO
September 30

The Darkness
St. Louis, MO
October 1

For more information and a directory of individual haunt and attraction websites, including hours and ticket prices, go to www.AmericaHaunts.com.

With more than 20 hayrides, and attractions in 20 markets across the country, America Haunts delivers fear-based entertainment to more than a million thrill seekers each Halloween season. The attractions within this organization have been featured on Travel Channel and recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records on multiple occasions. The high-tech attractions within this association are committed to providing technical excellence, stunning set design, and Hollywood-quality make-up, costumes and creatures. Members’ enjoy nothing more than delivering a good old-fashioned scare to fright fans of all ages. For more information, visit AmericaHaunts.com.