Bat City Scaregrounds, the 15-acre Halloween complex just outside Buda, closes its 2026 season Friday and Saturday. The weekend is the final chance to visit this year, whether guests want to explore the haunted attractions or take in the midway; the park also offers a look at the artists who help create its roaming characters.
A recent KEYE / CBS Austin segment on We Are Austin, hosted by Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner, featured Scarah, who performs as the Damsel of the Doomed at Bat City Scaregrounds. Scarah described her character’s place on Witch Mountain and her candy-giving role, and said she enjoys scaring people despite not loving being scared herself. The segment reported that six makeup artists prepare multiple performers each night the park is open.
From Blank Canvas to Ghoul in Ten Minutes
According to the We Are Austin segment, makeup times range from about 10 minutes for simpler transformations to about 30 minutes for more detailed designs. Scarah said artist Kelsey averages roughly ten performers' makeups in a single night.
The segment also showed Kelsey Anne using airbrush techniques to transform model and Bat City participant Brenna into a spooky ghoul. Kelsey Anne has been with Bat City Scaregrounds since it opened six years ago and performs as a roaming character after her makeup is done. House managers work with the makeup team on character looks, and each haunted attraction on the property has its own theme.
Three Haunts Across 15 Acres, Plus a Free Midway
Bat City Scaregrounds markets itself as a fully immersive, multi-acre complex dedicated to all things Halloween, according to its official about page, and its ticketing listing on Tixr confirms the 15-acre footprint. One ticket covers three haunted attractions; CultureMap names them Ritual, Castle Orlock and Slaughter Mall 3D, the last described as a 3D haunt with vibrant blacklight-reactive effects. KXAN, however, has reported the lineup as Castle Orlock, Ancient Evil and Clownocalypse 3D, so visitors should check closer to a visit to confirm which attractions are running.
Guests who skip the haunted houses altogether can still wander the midway without buying an attraction ticket, per the park's official location page, which also notes that the complex has both indoor and outdoor attraction areas, with some scenes including stairs or spaces that are not wheelchair accessible. Beyond the three haunts, creepy characters roam the grounds to entertain guests, and food vendors and local artists give visitors more ways to enjoy the experience.
Fire Safety at Haunted Attractions
Temporary operation does not exempt a haunted house from fire-safety requirements, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. For visitors, the department recommends looking for automatic sprinklers, smoke alarms, floor exit marks and maximum-occupancy signs at haunted houses, as outlined in its visitor safety guidance.
Season Dates, Hours and Ticket Prices
The 2026 season ran on select nights from September 26 through October 31, according to the official site, with Thursday and Sunday hours of 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday hours of 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. CultureMap lists ticket prices starting at $27.81 on Thursdays and Sundays, $33.37 on Fridays, and $38.93 on Saturdays and Halloween night. Tixr's ticketing page states that all sales are final.
The park has said it was developed as an Austin sister park to Nightmare on 19th Street in Lubbock, with work on the concept beginning in 2016, according to KXAN. The outlet also reported that the complex's artwork and art production are handled entirely by local Austin artists. Separately, Texas State Multimedia has reported that Bat City Scaregrounds sees nights with upwards of 1,000 visitors. Full ticket information, hours and additional details are posted on the park's own website.
