Illegal haunted house shuttered in Queens is trying to reopen

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – New York City officials shut down a haunted house, complete with blood-stained walls and a maze, built inside a Queens home, but the owners are trying to reopen it.

The owners of “A Haunting in Hollis” – once visited by Nick Cannon and facing multiple lawsuits – are hoping to reopen by Oct. 18, just over a week after being shut down, according to a statement posted to the attraction’s Instagram.

“We truly love our community and realize that our Family Owned Haunted House is a staple here,” the owners said on Instagram. “We are expeditiously working on meeting the safety requirements of the Department of Buildings and FDNY.”

What inspectors found at the home was “a real horror show,” according to the city’s Department of Buildings. The owners had illegally constructed three staircases, removed fireproofing material and blocked exit routes, according to the DOB. The department issued a full vacate order and issued violations.

The haunted house’s website says the attraction is “coming soon” and advertises events like a $30 30-minute tour, an hour-long escape room, and an overnight stay. Attendees are expected to sign a waiver before entry.

All guests who had purchased tickets before the shutdown were promised refunds, according to the haunted house.

The haunted house is facing multiple lawsuits, one of which was filed this month, over alleged injuries sustained at the attraction. Many locals reacted to its closing on Instagram, some sharing horror stories and others lamenting the shutdown.

“We attended last year, and it was an incredible experience — the best haunted house I’ve been to since I was a kid,” wrote one patron on Instagram.

The owners apologized to their fans.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused,” owners said on Instagram.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here .

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