ScareHouse's "Scream District" won't open in time for the Halloween season

After a series of delays, ScareHouse's new 2019 Strip District haunted house has been canceled for the time being. The opening of the "Scream District" was first postponed on Oct. 1, then again on Oct. 10. Today, Scott Simmons, creative director of ScareHouse, issued a statement that the attraction "will not operate as planned this Halloween season."

The holdups were caused by delayed approval of permits for the new space.

“It’s not as if there are any bad guys in any of this, it’s just that the process of getting permits and things done in the city of Pittsburgh has proven to be so time-consuming and so much slower than we ever could have anticipated,” Simmons told City Paper earlier this month. “Even with feedback from the City and from the architects involved and everyone else, it’s just remarkable how long it takes to get anything done.”

According to the statement, all current ticket-holders for the Scream District will be refunded and ScareHouse plans to continue with the project regardless of the season, and Simmons anticipates the haunted house will open later in the year.

"We can't wait to thrill and terrify you within The Basement and our Stalked by a Killer escape room, which WILL both be opening for business later this year," read Simmons' statement. "Because Halloween is never really over. And we like to think there's always time for one good scare."

For a look at what the new attraction will offer, read CP's preview of the space from September.