Due to the large number of ghosts they can hold, haunted hotels are consistently scarier than cursed sleeping bags, possessed lean-tos, and ectoplasmic studio apartments. Check into intentionally scary lodgings with today's Groupon: for $7, you get a front-of-the-line VIP pass to Haunted Hotel-13th Floor in Huntington (a $15 value). The event is open Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7 p.m.–11 p.m., Thursdays (except for Oct. 7) from 7 p.m.–10 p.m., and on Halloween from 7 p.m.–10 p.m. This Groupon must be redeemed by October 31, 2010.

Receiving a score of eight out of 10 ghosts in the Haunted House Ratings directory, the Haunted Hotel-13th Floor chills thrill-seekers every weekend in October. The VIP pass allows visitors to bypass the line, which can run up to two hours due to the haunt's popularity, and head straight for the scares. To ensure an ultimate fright factor, the talented cast of undead actors is trained in the art of the scream-eliciting startle, unlike the Halloween actors of yesteryear who relied mostly on the got-your-nose gag. Haunted Hotel guests check in at the ticket trailer before they journey through the fictional Warwick Hotel, which befell a tragic fate in 1904 under the ownership of its eerie, potentially devil-worshiping manager. Now, the souls of those who perished are trapped on the infamous 13th floor, seeking release and revenge through the innocent visitors.

While many haunted houses include three-dimensional elements as part of their allure, Haunted Hotel has one-upped the competition by adding smell to the experience. The surprising aromas, 3-D, and UV visuals are designed to catch guests off guard, thereby causing them to release their own fear smell, which attracts hostile spirits with its vague tinge of ranch dressing.