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USS Nightmare haunted steamboat returns to Newport waterfront for 30th Halloween season


The USS Nightmare, Northern Kentucky’s annual Halloween favorite, has once again appeared along the Newport waterfront and is preparing to welcome guests for the 2022 season.

The haunted steamboat will be open Fridays and Saturdays beginning today, September 16 with ticket sales from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Beginning Thursday, September 29 and running through October 31, the show will expand to a Thursday through Sunday schedule with Thursday and Sunday ticket office hours from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The USS Nightmare will also be open for Halloween on Monday, October 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Guests can select General Admission, Fast Pass or Front of the Line tickets. The USS Nightmare also offers a Captain’s Season Pass valid for unlimited General Admission for all regular shows.

Guests who want to amp things up can select the RIP Experience, an intense and immersive show option that features more interaction with the crew and digs deeper into the 277-foot dredge’s deep, dark past. The experience offers access into additional areas of the ship and is available on any regular show date.

Special events for the 2022 season include the Lights-on Matinee and the Captain’s Extreme show. The kid-friendly, Lights-on Matinee is Sunday, October 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. and is the perfect family Halloween event that even the youngest children can enjoy. The matinee is also an opportunity to see the detail of the show and the massive equipment of the historic ship. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For visitors seeking an even darker, more intense and immersive eperience, the USS Nightmare is offering the Captain’s Extreme show. The adult-rated show features adult features more horror, group separation and special content. Guests can expect to get wet and dirty, and are asked to dress accordingly. The Captain’s Extreme show is available Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Ticket prices vary depending on day, date, and ticket type. All tickets are available for purchase at the USS Nightmare ticket window or online at www.USSNightmare.com. Group discounts for parties of 15 or more are available. Visit the USS Nightmare Facebook page for additional season information, special offers and story background.

The USS Nightmare is docked on the Newport waterfront near the intersection of Riverboat Row and Columbia Street in front of Newport on the Levee. Free parking is available in front of the boat with additional pay parking available nearby. Directions are available at ussnightmare.com.

USS Nightmare


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