Field of Screams Maryland, one of the region’s most established haunted attractions, has announced it will not operate in 2025 as it undergoes a full renovation, with a reopening planned for September 2026. The hiatus will allow for updates to its trail, haunted house, and other features, while continuing its role as a fundraiser for the Olney Boys & Girls Club.
The event, held at 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Rd. in Olney, has been known for its large-scale production, trained actors, and detailed sets and props. Field of Screams Maryland was voted the number one spot in USA Today’s 10 Best Haunted Attractions in the country in 2022 and has earned multiple top rankings in previous seasons. Its main feature, the one-hour Super Screams Haunted Trail, combined the Haunted Trail and Trail of Terror and included 55 themed areas such as Chainsaw Hill, the City Morgue, the Catacombs, Laser Alley, and a final section designed for high-intensity scares. The production also received national attention in 2018 when its creators won A&E’s Haunted House Design/Build Competition.
“For 23 years, Field of Screams Maryland has thrived thanks to our incredible staff and scare actors, our valued community partners—especially the Olney Boys & Girls Club—and, most importantly, our loyal fans who have helped make us the nation’s top haunt,” said John Dixon, FOSMD Director of Operations. “Now, we’re granting our creative team a long sought after request to pause the event for a season so they can lay the foundation and build a haunt experience that’s second to none. Field of Screams Maryland 2026 will include the most cutting-edge scares and unforgettable frights for years to come.”
Field of Screams Maryland has been the single largest fundraiser for the Olney Boy’s and Girl’s Club for 23 years, helping ensure that children have a financially accessible and safe place to play sports, gain access to inspiring role models, and enjoy safe activities with friends and family.
“Field of Screams Maryland is a vital fundraiser for our children, making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of children and families over the past two decades,” said Brad Scott, Executive & Athletic Director, Olney Boys & Girls Club. “We’re excited for the new renovation plans and grand re-opening in the Fall of 2026 and look forward to the continued success of a family tradition and critical community fundraiser.”
The event has faced ongoing complications related to permits and neighbor concerns, according to WTOP. In 2021, a District Court judge issued an abatement order after ruling the Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association, which hosts the event, had failed to secure proper permits and certificates for certain structures along the haunted trail. While some features like the haunted house and “slaughter house” have the required permits, other walk-through trail structures remained out of compliance. Neighbors had aldo raised safety and traffic concerns, citing hundreds of cars that passed through nightly