Cutting Edge Haunted House Voted #1 in America in USA TODAY’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards

Cutting Edge Haunted House voted #1 BEST HAUNTED HOUSE in America!
Cutting Edge Haunted House voted #1 BEST HAUNTED HOUSE in America!

Cutting Edge Haunted House Voted #1 in America in USA TODAY’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards

The votes are in—and America has chosen Cutting Edge!

We’re thrilled to announce that Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth, Texas, has earned the No. 1 spot in the Best Haunted House / Attraction category of USA TODAY’s 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This national recognition celebrates the haunted attractions readers love most, and we’re honored to be at the top of this year’s list.

For everyone who voted, visited, brought friends, or made Cutting Edge part of their Halloween tradition: thank you. You helped bring this award home to Fort Worth.

A National Honor, Chosen by Readers

The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards begin with nominees selected by an expert panel. Readers then cast their votes to determine the winners.

In 2026, Cutting Edge finished first—and was the only Texas attraction to earn a place among the top 10 winners. We’re proud to represent Fort Worth and the Dallas–Fort Worth area on a national stage.

What makes this recognition especially meaningful is the people behind it. Every vote represents someone who believes Cutting Edge deserves a place on America’s Halloween must-visit list.

Step Inside Fort Worth’s Factory of Fear

A great haunted house needs atmosphere, and Cutting Edge has a setting that’s hard to forget.

Inside a century-old former meatpacking plant, our multi-story attraction takes guests through dark corridors, elaborate scenes, and encounters with terrifying live actors. Special effects and chilling details turn the old industrial building into an experience designed to keep you guessing about what waits around the next corner.

With an average walk-through time of approximately 55 minutes, there’s plenty of time for anticipation to build—and for your bravest friend to reconsider volunteering to lead the group.

Come for the scares. Leave with stories your friends will be telling long after Halloween.

Thank You to Our Fans and Crew

This award belongs to an entire community.

To our guests: thank you for sharing your screams, laughter, and Halloween nights with us. Whether you’ve visited for years or recently stepped through our doors for the first time, your support means everything.

To our actors and crew: thank you for the creativity, energy, and hard work you bring to the experience. Behind every memorable scare are people who care about making each visit something special.

And to everyone who took the time to vote: we couldn’t have earned this honor without you.

Experience America’s #1 Haunted Attraction

Ready to see what the excitement is about? Gather your friends and make Cutting Edge Haunted House part of your 2026 Halloween plans.

You’ll find us at 1701 E. Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas, near the intersection of I-30 and I-35W. Visit our Tickets & Schedule page for current opening dates, available time slots, and ticket information.

America voted. Now it’s your turn to step inside.

Get tickets to Cutting Edge Haunted House

 

Cutting Edge Haunted House is officially the ‘scariest in the world’ for 2025 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cutting Edge Haunted House is officially the ‘scariest in the world’ for 2025 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Cutting Edge Haunted House is officially the ‘scariest in the world’ for 2025 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

A Fort Worth haunted house is officially the ‘scariest in the world’ for 2025

By Ella Gonzales
September 29, 2025 5:11 PM, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, FORT WORTH ENTERTAINMENT
View Source Article on Fort Worth Star-Telegram

View this article as a pdf.

A “legendary” haunted house in Fort Worth has been named the No. 1 scariest Halloween attraction — not just in the U.S., but in the world.

HauntWorld, a website with hundreds of reviews and thousands of listings for spooky attractions, considers several factors when producing its annual list of the 13 best haunted houses.

For the 2025 rankings, Cutting Edge Haunted House on East Lancaster Avenue came out on top for its scale, production and “ability to transport guests into a world where imagination takes hold and fear becomes unforgettable.”

Brent James of Mesquite poses at Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth. (Star-Telegram/Khampha Bouaphanh)
Brent James of Mesquite poses at Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth. (Star-Telegram/Khampha Bouaphanh)

What makes Cutting Edge the scariest haunted house in the world?

Cutting Edge is a “legendary Halloween experience” that has grown over the past 35 years, earning accolades that include several world records and national reader choice awards. “A towering force in the haunted attraction industry, Cutting Edge has earned its place at the top by crafting an experience that lingers long after guests exit its shadowy halls,” HauntWorld writes.

“Hidden within the walls of a century-old meatpacking plant, this Fort Worth legend draws guests into a multi-level journey where dim corridors shift, illusions flicker, and the line between reality and nightmare quietly disappears.”

Khampha Bouaphanh, Star-Telegram
Khampha Bouaphanh, Star-Telegram

Cutting Edge trains its actors through a program called “Boo University” where each cast member goes through multiple rounds of auditions, described as similar to a Broadway production. The experience is scary enough to carry a warning and disclaimer.

For those who want to get the spookies scared out of them, here’s how you can get tickets for Cutting Edge, the scariest haunted house in the world.

For those who want a good scare, but not the scariest in the world, we’re also including other haunted house attractions in Fort Worth that are open for Halloween 2025.

Visitors enter the Cutting Edge Haunted House at 1701 E. Lancaster Ave. RODGER MALLISON, STAR-TELEGRAM
Visitors enter the Cutting Edge Haunted House at 1701 E. Lancaster Ave. RODGER MALLISON, STAR-TELEGRAM

How to get tickets for Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth

Tickets for Cutting Edge Haunted House are “extremely limited, so buy early,” suggests its website. Guests must choose a date and time slot online to attend….

Parking is $20, cash only. There are no refunds, unless ticket insurance is purchased for $5. No purses. Children must be at least 42 inches tall.

Cutting Edge Haunted House is located at 1701 E. Lancaster Ave. in Fort Worth.

 

Please note: times, prices and information is subject to change so please check the Cutting Edge Haunted House main web site pages for up-to-date information.

Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth, Texas Voted the #1 Best Haunted Attraction in the country by USA TODAY!

CUTTING EDGE HAUNTED HOUSE VOTED #1 BEST HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY 10 BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS!

No. 1: Cutting Edge Haunted House – Fort Worth, Texas

More than just a haunted house, Cutting Edge Haunted House begins its entertainment the moment guests enter the parking lot. Located in a historic area of Fort Worth, Texas, known as “Hell’s Half Acre,” this 100-year-old abandoned meatpacking plant takes visitors on a 55-minute haunted experience with its twisting corridors and multiple stories of live actors and special effects.

This Halloween season, visit the 10 best haunted houses in the US

“Halloween is about fun costumes, scary movies, and celebrating all things spooky — and that includes having a live haunted experience. These 10 haunted houses / attractions have been voted by our readers as the best in the country for the quality of their actors, set designs, and special effects, as well as value for money.”

Congratulations to all the winning haunted attractions!

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-haunted-house-attraction-2023/

 

Cutting Edge Haunted House – Fort Worth, TX