Condemned before Halloween: Darkness Rising Haunted House won’t open in 2026
The popular attraction in Copiague will not open for Halloween 2026 after the building it operates from was condemned, according to owner Kevin Baird.
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Darkness Rising Haunted House is going dark this season after two decades of frightening Halloween fans on Long Island’s South Shore.
The popular attraction in Copiague will not open for Halloween 2026 after the building it operates from was condemned, according to owner Kevin Baird.
Baird said he has rented space on Chettic Avenue for the haunted house since 2019 but recently discovered issues with the building.
“We found out there was some issues with the building way too late,” Baird said.
The Town of Babylon said the haunted house was closed because it lacked the proper permits.
Baird said the approval process cannot be completed before Halloween.
“We had to cancel the haunt and now we have to go back in there and tear the whole thing down,” Baird said. “I've always been a big Universal Studios fan and Disney, and that's the closest I could get to doing that was a haunted house, so I just love doing it.”
The town released the following statement:
“The haunted house was operating inside a building with no certificate of occupancy for that use and without the fire protections required of a special amusement under the fire code. The Town is willing to work with the operators on that process for next year.”
Baird said he invested $100,000 into this year’s attraction and is now forced to dismantle it.
He says Darkness Rising is not finished, despite the setback.
“I’m not going to stop doing this now," Baird said. "I’ve been doing this my entire life since I was 9 years old, so we’re going to keep going and figure it out."
Baird hopes to secure a new location and bring Darkness Rising back for Halloween 2027.
