WASHINGTON — Frau Helga Mueller immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1893, according to legend. She worked as a maid for a wealthy landowner and lived in a modest house on Florida Avenue near North Capitol Street in Northeast D.C. She was also a witch.
Several years after her arrival in D.C., children started to disappear. Six kids vanished on Oct. 1913. The investigation led authorities to Mueller’s house. The bodies of all her victims remained buried in the backyard, but she had disappeared.
Officials burned the house to the ground, yet local legend says that the site remains haunted. It’s now the location of D.C.’s only haunted house.
“The Curse of Frau Mueller” features over 50,000 square feet of pure horror. Daring guests snake their up through three floors of thrills and scares presented by Gravesteen Haunted Productions. It took organizers more than four months and 20 actors to make the hauntings come to life, co-owner Andrew Deruiter says.
The haunted house first debuted in Germany last year, he says. That production was smaller, but the local attraction has already drawn thousands of people. They sold 2,000 tickets last weekend alone, Deruiter says.
Click through the gallery to get a sneak peek of the haunted house. It is located at 50 Florida Ave. NE Washington, D.C. 20001. Call 918-813-5851 for more information.
And for other haunted attractions in the area, check out the list below:
- Route 29 Haunted House is open through Oct. 31, and is located inside a converted firehouse off Lee Highway in Warrenton, Va. It is not recommended for children under 12. Address: 5303 Lee Hwy Warrenton, Va. 20187. Phone: 703-431-4203.
- Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through October, the Paxton Manor opens its doors to those who are brave enough to walk her halls during Shocktober. Address: 601 Catoctin Circle NE Leesburg, Va. 20176. Phone: 703-344-1384.
- Bennett’s Curse in Jessup, Md. offers a “House of the Vampyres” and “Sanctuary of Insanity” in its giant mazes. Address: 8024 Max Blobs Park Rd. Jessup, Md. 20794. Phone: 410-538-6461.
- Nightmare Screamplex is Maryland’s only haunted scream park. It has three attractions all one location, including the Nightmare Forest, Maize of Terror and Lost Asylum. Address: 18031 Central Park Circle Boyds, Md. 20841. Phone: 855-95-MANOR.
- The Death Trail is the only haunted attraction in Prince William County and comes complete with demented clowns, zombies and much more. Address: 16120 Dumfries Rd. Dumfries, Va. 22026. Phone: 571-220-6414.
- Fright Night in Ashburn is not for the feint of heart. This 30-minute trail weaves through your most terrifying nightmares. Enter if you dare. Address: 19790 Ashburn Rd. Ashburn, Va. 20147. Phone: 571-209-5000.
Not into haunted houses? Try some of the other Halloween attractions around town:
- Silver Spring Zombie Walk takes places Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. Meet at Jackie’s restaurant for a pre- walking dead drink, and lumber up Georgia Avenue to the AFI movie theater for a showing of “Shaun of the Dead” and “The Satanic Rites of Dracula.”
- Visit bats, spiders, owls and other spooky creatures while trick-or-treating at Boo at the Zoo Friday through Sunday. The annual Halloween celebration at the National Zoo will also feature more than 40 treat stations.
- Join space aliens, mysterious astronauts and ghostly pilots during the Air & Scare at the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Va. Saturday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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