HBO Max has found the right show to set the mood for the upcoming late-night spooky season. While many turn to horror movies and Halloween specials, one unlikely contender has made its technique to the highest, and that’s Scariest House in America.
A Haunted House Tour Led by Retta
Scariest House in America, led by Parks and Recreation star Retta, is now in its second season and offers something far beyond your usual ghost stories. Retta travels across the country, getting into homes that look straight out of nightmares and meeting the individuals who actually live in them. Each stop ends with a rating on the “Scare Meter,” which judges the home’s appearance, livability, and overall fright factor.
The highest house from each episode moves on to the finals, where one property earns the grand title of Scariest House in America. The winner doesn’t get an exorcism but a $150,000 renovation from HGTV designer Alison Victoria, who manages to upgrade the house without erasing its haunted charm.
The show is a twisted spin-off of Ugliest House in America, where Retta used to search out probably the most dreadful designs for HGTV makeovers.
Do you continue to like scary houses? Don’t miss Scariest House in America Fridays at 9|8c on @HGTV with Hulu + Live TV. pic.twitter.com/OAKo26MkBc
— Hulu (@hulu) September 26, 2025
Inside The Frightening Fixer Upper That Won Season 1
The homes themselves are removed from staged attractions, as real families live in these places, some willingly, while others hold onto homes that carry a long time of unsettling history. In the primary season, the winner was a property in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, dubbed “Hansel and Gretel’s Frightening Fixer Upper.” Behind its storybook façade lay an unsettling collection of peculiarities, similar to a seven-foot kitchen ceiling, a TV mounted over the bed, a heart-shaped bathtub full of mouse skeletons, and even a homemade elevator.
Prepare for the fright of your life because Rhetta is back and taking you on a journey to search out the Scariest House in America—tune in tonight at 9/8c on @HGTV! pic.twitter.com/wJeN4HUCxB
— Philo (@philoTV) September 19, 2025
Season 2 Brings Latest Scares Across The Country
Season two pushes the envelope further. Retta has divided the country into regions, uncovering probably the most haunted corners of America. One episode encompasses a house with a “corpse door” resulting in a basement once used for mortuary work, complete with old concrete stains where blood once drained away. One other in Maryland ties into the legend of the Bowie Goatman, a half-human creature said to stalk the woods with an axe. The local lore even caught the eye of the White House a long time ago, prompting a decree to eliminate whatever was terrorizing the world.
The Perfect Family Binge For Halloween Nights
Scariest House in America has quickly change into a seasonal favorite. Retta’s humor and disbelief turn the fright into fun, making the series ideal for a family binge throughout the Halloween season. It’s entertaining and filled with strange true stories from across the country.
The show airs on Fridays at 9.00 p.m. on HGTV, and each episode is obtainable for streaming on HBO Max.
#hgtv Scariest House in America preview l Retta pic.twitter.com/XumqeqkmlY
— #savegoodgirls 💵 (@GoodGirlsSource) August 30, 2024
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