The sounds of chainsaws, screams and the laughter of clowns can be heard nightly in a dark group of buildings in Austin. House of Torment is in its 15^th year as Austin’s premier haunted house and the 2017 season (now through November 11) is living up to its scary reputation—with a few new hidden twists and turns in the dark, smoky maze of creepy characters and frights. The haunted house goes all-out with some of the most intense and real-life makeup and screams.

This year, the horror adventure features three different sections, including a haunted penitentiary, a creepy carnival and a ghostly manor. The Frenzy Dark Carnival is new for this year and plays on guests’ five senses with smells of popcorn and disturbing clowns roaming freely and screaming out from unexpected places.

Despite the new carnival-themed attraction, some of the biggest scares may still come from more traditional frights, which were upgraded last year when the House of Torment moved into its new and more permanent location off of Ridgepoint Drive. “In my opinion, the first attraction, Deranged, gets me every time,” said Glenn Lenard, who has been General Manager of the House of Torment for 13 years. “The added scare points and changes from last year are top-notch, proving why House of Torment Austin stands out above the rest.”

For the first time ever, alcohol and snacks are also now an optional part of the experience. Kreepy Kabobs is open outside the House of Torment, serving up drinks and mouth-watering kabobs made of steak or chicken along with sweet treats, including caramel apples and candied bacon.

Guests also have the opportunity to leave with more than just an adrenaline-pumped heart. Souvenirs including t-shirts with “Keep Austin Scary” printed on them are available. Photos are also a popular part of the spooky night out. Dressed-up selfie “Monsters” linger outside the attraction and are available for creepy photos.

As an added bonus, this year some of the House of Torment’s biggest fans got to help out with a partnership with Amazon. The large tech company selected the Austin haunted house out of just six haunted houses in the nation to partner for a special screening of Amazon’s new show, Lore, which is based on a popular podcast. The anthology series presents frightening and often disturbing tales based on real people and events that have led to our modern-day myths and legends. Select guests were invited to the special screening on Friday, October 13, and asked to give feedback on the show.

“House of Torment being selected by Amazon was a huge honor on the national recognition level,” said Lenard. “Every single member of my staff works incredibly hard to bring the best of the industry to Austin, and being recognized shows them that our hard work does pay off.”

House of Torment runs through Nov. 11, 2017. Tickets range from $19.99 to $32.99. Limited wait reservation options are also available, including a “Fast Pass” and a “Skip the Line Pass.” House of Torment is not recommended for children under the age of 12. The haunted house is located near the intersection of 183 and 290. Buy tickets here.