Buford Trail of Terror Scares Up a New Opening Date and Extended Hours for Spooky Season 2026

Something wicked this way comes, Atlanta! In the days following the announcement that the Buford Trail of Terror had found a devilish detour along Lake Lanier’s spooky shoreline, Southern horror fans made clear they wanted the hauntings to begin as soon as possible. What was originally planned as a soft launch will now serve as opening day for the haunted house SLASH open-air experience on Friday, September 25. In addition to moving its Grand Opening up in answer to demand, the Buford Trail of Terror has extended its hours on several nights. To ramp up the fear factor, it has also added several skeletons from its own closet, along with familiar faces from classic horror films and entirely original creatures based on lake lore. Fun and fear seekers will be scared stiff by the creepy cast of characters they meet as they brave the Trail’s 13 spine-tingling scenes. Hosted at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, the Buford Trail of Terror will run rampant on select nights through November 7.

The winner of several Haunt Junkies’ Golden Ghost Awards, visitors to the Buford Trail of Terror should be 16 or older, unless accompanied by an adult. As they brave Margaritaville at Lanier Islands’ moonlit landscape, guests should expect to traverse a variety of surfaces, including walking on sand. Additional disclaimers for the Trail can be found at BufordTrailofTerror.com. For guests who purchase their tickets online, the Lanier Islands Resort gate fee will be included in the ticket price. Those who wait to purchase tickets at the door will be subject to the $20 gate fee/vehicle. Regular admission to the Buford Trail of Terror is $34.99 for individuals and $24.99/person for groups of 15 or more. For those who wish to purchase a fast pass, admission is $64.99 for individuals and $49.99/person for groups of 15 or more.

The Buford Trail of Terror will be open:

• Friday, September 25 and October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 8 p.m. to midnight
• Saturday, September 26 and October 3 and 10 from 8 p.m. to midnight
• Saturday, October 17 from 6 p.m. to midnight
• Saturday, October 24 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Sunday, October 25 from 8 p.m. to midnight
• Saturday, October 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Sunday, November 1 and Saturday, November 7 from 7 to 11 p.m.

The Buford Trail of Terror adds fireworks to the mix on October 24 and on Halloween, October 31, it’s the only night when guests are allowed to wear costumes – for which the best costume will be awarded. On select evenings during the season, kids can enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour and meet the monsters between 6-8 p.m., and on “Glow Nights,” the lights go off, and the blue lights go up for a supercharged scary experience. Live entertainment will vary each night from tunes spun by DJ Smiles to a performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller to a monster mosh pit with a metal rock band. To learn more, meet some of the creatures, and purchase advance tickets, prospective guests of the 2026 Buford Trail of Terror are encouraged to visit www.BufordTrailofTerror.com. Margaritaville at Lanier Islands is located at 7650 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, GA.