09/26/2026
Foley's Haunted Forest returns in October, turning part of the nature preserve into an after-dark Halloween experience.
Most days, Graham Creek Nature Preserve is one of Foley's best places for hiking, paddling, disc golf and simply getting outside.
October nights are a different story.
The Haunted Forest is returning to Graham Creek this fall.
The event transforms part of the preserve into an outdoor Halloween experience, using the natural woods themselves as part of the atmosphere.
And Graham Creek has plenty of woods to work with.
The City of Foley says the preserve encompasses about 650 acres and protects a mixture of longleaf pine savannas, bottomland forest, wetlands and tidal marsh.
During ordinary daylight hours, those habitats make Graham Creek a destination for nature viewing and outdoor recreation.
After dark in October?
They provide a pretty convincing setting for a haunted trail.
The 2026 Haunted Forest is being promoted with a "Sinister Circus" theme and is scheduled for selected nights beginning October 9 and continuing through October 30. Because the attraction operates only on certain evenings, anyone planning to go should check the current event schedule before heading out.
The Haunted Forest has become one of Graham Creek's recurring seasonal events, alongside the preserve's educational programs, races, archery events and Christmas activities.
I like the contrast.
This is a property Foley maintains specifically to conserve natural habitats and provide outdoor recreation. Most of the year, people come here looking for birds, trails, kayaks and quiet.
Then October arrives and somebody decides those same woods need to be terrifying.
If you've ever walked through a South Alabama forest after dark, you already know they don't need much help.
Research verification: City of Foley identifies Haunted Forest as one of Graham Creek's established seasonal events, and the current Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism calendar lists the 2026 "Sinister Circus" run for October 9–30.