Haunted House in Rye, NY
New York’s iconic haunted house
For over 25 years, Scared by the Sound has haunted the shores of the Long Island Sound with over 12,000 square feet of immersive sets and live actors. Open select nights in October.
As Seen On
What makes us New York’s best haunted house?
Scared by the Sound is back for our 25th Halloween season at Rye Playland and we’re preparing a haunt experience that’s bigger, darker, and more terrifying than ever before! At our iconic location along the Long Island Sound, we’re building out over 12,000 square feet of pure nightmare fuel.
With Hollywood-style sets, professional-grade makeup and costumes, cutting-edge sound and lighting effects, and a cast of ghouls around every corner, this is not your average haunted house.
For our 25th year, we’ve created some all new scenes, characters and surprises sure to creep you out and entertain even the most jaded haunt fan. Be prepared to enter the Wolves Den, His Masters Quarters and Cell Block C-D just to name a few new areas of the haunt. You may never leave… The Haunt is not recommended for persons under the age of 12 although younger persons are allowed to enter with an adult.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time victim, come see why Scared by the Sound at Rye Playland is one of New York’s must-see Halloween attractions.
Dates & times
Closing time represents when available Box Office tickets will stop being sold. Box Office tickets are not always available and NOT guaranteed. For guaranteed admission, buy your tickets online. Anyone in line with a ticket will be granted admission.
- Fridays and Saturdays 7–11 PM October 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th, 31st
- Thursdays and Sundays 7–10 PM October 11th, 18th, 25th, 29th
- Kids afternoon matinee 12–4 PM October 24th, 25th The lights come up and the monsters tone it down, with face painting, treats and local vendors on the grounds. Strollers welcome. Learn more
Ticket info
Time slots sell out in advance. We limit the number of tickets per time slot to reduce wait times. Buy online for guaranteed admission. All tickets are date and time specific. There are no refunds. Parking is $10 per car, set and collected by Westchester County.
- Timed ticketing
- General Admission tickets are specific to a time window, and that window is when you may enter the queue line. All times are approximate. Please arrive no more than 15 minutes before your time slot. We cannot accommodate arrivals more than 20 minutes past their time slot.
- Nightly capacity
- Some time slots and nights sell out in advance, and you may be grouped with others. Tickets may sell out if we reach capacity, so there is no guarantee of admission on-site.
- Group sales
- Parties of 16 or more are eligible for discount tickets. Please email scaredbythesound@gmail.com to arrange group tickets.
General Admission
Admits one person to the queue line at the time selected when purchased. Wait times vary each night.
From $29 per guest
Buy NowSpeed Pass
Bypass the general queue line and enter the Speed Pass queue at your selected time.
From $40 per guest
Buy NowFamily 4 Pack
Save $8 by purchasing four general admission tickets on one order.
From $27 per guest
Buy NowHardly Haunted Matinee
A family friendly afternoon at Playland, 12–4 PM on October 24th and 25th. Admission is a kid friendly version of Scared by the Sound, with the lights up and the monsters toned down, plus face painting, cotton candy, Halloween treats, and spooky balloons and gifts.
- Tickets are required for ages 3 and up. Children 2 and under are free.
- Local vendors on the grounds: Cre8 Balloon Studio, Bellas Sweet Treats, One Crafty Mama, Jacki’s Gifts and more.
- Strollers are welcome.
Location
The haunt is built inside Rye Playland, an amusement park on the Long Island Sound built in 1928. The back half of the attraction runs along the open waterfront. A short drive from New York City, Long Island and Connecticut, with easy access from major highways and parking on site.
Rye Playland
1 Playland Pkwy
Rye, NY 10580
Access and drop off are at the Fountain Plaza entrance of Rye Playland. Parking is in the main Playland lot, $10 per car, set and collected by Westchester County.
Frequently asked questions
What is a walkthrough haunted house?
A walkthrough haunted house is a guided path through a series of immersive, Halloween-themed scenes designed to confront you with your deepest fears and phobias. At Scared by the Sound, you’ll journey through 12,000 square feet of horrifying detail — from crypts and morgues to tunnels and cellars — partially under open-air pavilions and partially along the Long Island Sound waterfront. Open rain or shine, it’s a unique and atmospheric haunt unlike anything else in New York.
How old do you have to be?
There is no minimum age, but we don’t recommend the haunt for anyone under 12. Younger children are welcome to come through with an adult — a parent knows their own kid better than we do. Be warned that it is dark, loud and intense from the first room to the last. If you want the fun without the fear, the Hardly Haunted Matinee on October 24th and 25th is the same attraction with the lights up and the monsters toned down.
How long does the experience take?
The haunted attraction itself lasts approximately 25–30 minutes, depending on your pace and how often you scream. Timed ticketing helps reduce overall wait times, but lines may still be longer on peak nights (Fridays and Saturdays near Halloween). For the shortest wait times, we recommend visiting earlier in the season. A Speed Pass is available in limited quantities for expedited entry.
How many people enter at a time?
Guests with General Admission tickets are grouped into minimum parties of 4 and may be paired with others. Speed Pass ticket holders may enter in groups of 1–7 people, provided each guest holds a valid Speed Pass.
What is the Speed Pass and how does it work?
For an additional fee, Speed Pass holders gain access to a dedicated queue that significantly reduces wait times. Speed Pass groups can enter together (1–7 guests), and are not required to be combined with other parties. Note: Speed Passes are limited and may sell out.
Is parking available?
Yes — parking is available in the main lot of Playland Amusement Park. A fee of $10 per car is set and collected by Westchester County.
Guest drop offs can be made at the fountain plaza.
Rye Playland and county does not pay any part of collected parking fees to Scared by the Sound or affiliates.
Is food or drink available?
Some limited food options are available on most nights with select food trucks providing light fare that may include tacos and donuts.
What if I get too scared?
Notify any staff member and you will be escorted out through a designated emergency exit. Once you exit, re-entry is not permitted and no refunds will be issued. You may wait outside to reunite with your group.
Will anyone touch me?
No. Scared by the Sound is a no-contact haunt. Actors will not touch you, and guests are expected to follow the same rule. Any intentional touching, aggressive behavior, or disruption may result in removal from the event without refund.
Can I take pictures or video inside?
No photography or video recording is allowed inside the attraction. This includes cameras, phones, flashlights, and glow sticks. However, free photo ops with our monsters are sometimes available in the queue area — keep your camera ready there!
Can I go through more than once?
Each ticket is valid for one entry only. You are welcome to purchase another ticket (subject to availability) for a second run, but same-night reentry is not guaranteed.
Is the attraction wheelchair accessible?
Scared by the Sound is partially accessible for guests using small, self-propelled wheelchairs. However, please note that some sections are outdoors on uneven gravel. Motorized or oversized mobility devices may not be able to safely navigate the attraction.
What happens if it rains?
The show goes on — Scared by the Sound is open rain or shine. Portions of the haunt are covered, but plan accordingly.
Are you hiring?
Yes! We’re always looking for energetic, Halloween-loving individuals to join our cast and crew. If you think you have what it takes to scare the Sound out of people, reach out to: carolinaSBTS@gmail.com
Are you ready to scream?
Get your tickets now and see why Scared by the Sound has been a local Halloween tradition for over two decades.
Buy Tickets