October means spooky season, and that usually means braving the different haunted houses, haunted corn mazes, and haunted hayrides in the area. We’ve created a guide on what haunted experiences are a must-visit this season in the Northern New Jersey area. Read on for a list of haunted attractions in New Jersey — from Farm of Horrors in Flemington to Pantophobia in Mahwah.
13th Hour Haunted House | 105 West Dewey Avenue Suite 5, Wharton
A real haunted trio, whether you’re looking for a haunted house, escape room, or haunted hatchet throw (with glow-in-the-dark hatchets and targets, yes) — 13th Hour has you covered. Ranked as one of the best haunted attractions in the country, this scare zone is open Tuesday through Sunday. Secure your tickets here.
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Brighton Asylum | 2 Brighton Avenue #20, Passaic
Featured on The Today Show, Cake Boss, Buzzfeed, and visited by actor James Franco — the Brighton Asylum is one of the scariest and most interactive haunted houses in the country. It has escape rooms, axe throwing, and ghost tours. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday all October. From the main Brighton Asylum to Sub CULTure and The Bleeding Grounds, there are plenty of freaky things to do here. To purchase your tickets, head to the website.
Farm of Horrors | 1051 County Road 523, Flemington
Four different horrifying attractions are located right in Flemington: Hayride of Horror, Trail of Terror, Massacre Maze, and Carnevil of Chaos. Farm of Horrors opened for the season in September and will run through October 27th. The attractions are spread out over 200+ acres on the farm, so there’s plenty of room to run away from whatever terror finds you. Make sure to grab your tickets here.
Nightmare at Gravity Hill | 1005 Farmingdale Road, Jackson
This is your destination for fear and a haunted farm experience. Terror waits in the five-acre walkable trail at “Nightmare on Gravity Hill.” Visitors will find themselves wondering if the frights they’re experiencing are real, or only a nightmare. Tickets can only be purchased on-site at the ticket booth, and ticket sales are cash-only. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays throughout October, and tickets are $35 for general admission or $50 for express admission to skip the line.
Oasis Island of Terror | 3 Circle Drive, Robbinsville
Oasis Island of Terror has two distinct attractions: The Woods Have Eyes and Blackout, or a combo pass that gets you into both. The Woods Have Eyes is a haunted trail that is one mile long. Activities are self-guided here and are meant to be super scary — so much so that children under 12 are not advised to attend. Tickets are only available on-site.
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Pantophobia | 600 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah
Entirely outdoors and entirely spooky, Pantophobia recently moved locations and tells the story of “The Revenge of Cyrus Grain.” This haunted wagon takes about 25 to 30 minutes, and it passes through greenhouses, open fields, and past the creepy Grain family home. You can purchase your tickets for Pantophobia in advance here — it is open on select days through October. This attraction is great for children and is one of the less terrifying options on the list. It’s entirely outdoors, so be sure to dress in warm clothes. You can see the dates and times when this attraction is open here.
Gyro World: Caldwell’s Newest Greek Spot
A taste of Greece has recently made its way to Caldwell. Gyro World, located at 353 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell, opened in spring 2024 and is serving authentic Greek cuisine in western Essex County. From souvlaki to pita sandwiches and spanakopita, this welcoming gyro spot has something for all Greek and Mediterranean cuisine lovers. Read on to learn about Gyro World of Caldwell, one of the newest additions to North Jersey’s Greek gastronomy scene.
About Gyro World
The Gyro World concept got its start as a push cart in 1991 in the busy streets of Manhattan. In 2005, a brick-and-mortar location opened in Flushing. In spring 2024, Gyro World made it across the Hudson to the Garden State. Open daily, this tasty spot emphasizes freshness and simplicity. On weekdays, it is open from 11AM to 9PM and from 12PM to 9PM on weekends. Owner Yanni Arvanitopoulos and Gyro World have recently won two Suburban Essex awards, the “Best New Restaurant” and “Best Mediterranean Restaurant” and were featured on CBS New York in a Small Business Saturday segment.
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The Location
Located at 353 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell, Gyro World is in a prime downtown location. For history lovers, it is a short walk to historic landmarks like Grover Cleveland’s Birthplace and First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell Graveyard. It’s even a short distance to Grover Cleveland Park, with its playground, tennis courts, and walking paths.
The restaurant's inviting interior provides a tiny bit of Greece in the Garden State. Diners can expect a multitude of indoor seating with a few outdoor tables too. The staff here is extremely helpful, and friendly, and provides warm Greek hospitality. Gyro World has three other spots in New York City located at 194-21 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, 36-02 30th Avenue, Astoria, and 66-57 Fresh Pond Road, Ridgewood.
The Menu
The menu features the flavors and spices of authentic Greek food made with fresh ingredients. Starters, soups, salads, and spreads include chicken fingers, fried calamari, spinach pie, avgolemono, Caesar salad, taramosalata, and tirokafteri. Pita lovers can choose between nine different fillings for sandwiches featuring meat and vegetarian options. Of course, Gyro World also serves up pita wraps, platters, and even some burgers. Extras and sides here include homemade fries, rice, lemon potatoes, olives, and onion rings.
If there is still room after trying these delicious dishes, dessert is the next best thing. Chocolate kormo slices, baklava, rice pudding, and a few other sweets are available. Gyro World has a variety of retail items for purchase like candy, cookies, nougat, wafer, pasta, crackers, herbs, honey, and tea.
Here at MG, we suggest ordering the fried calamari and anything with halloumi. This is a cheese, typically made from a mixture of goat and sheep’s milk. The pita sandwich with halloumi, paired with lemon potatoes can make a tasty lunch. For dessert, the rice pudding, made using Gyro World's recipe, is a must. See the dine-in and take-out menu here.
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Catering
From an office party to an at-home celebration, Gyro World can help with a multitude of events. The catering menu includes meats, salads, sides, desserts, and drinks. Options are plentiful and Gyro World can provide chicken or pork souvlaki, chicken bifteki, rice, fava, pita bread, Greek salad, spanakopita, tyropita, baklava, and more. Click here to see the entire catering menu.
