The USS Nightmare in Newport KY

It's Halloween season and you already have a list as long as your arm of some of Kentucky's and Indiana's best haunted houses that you're ready to explore.

WELCOME TO YOUR 'NIGHTMARE'

And the list isn't short, right? Well, let me ask you...is there a haunted riverboat on that list? Perhaps, one called The William S. Mitchell?" The one that's been dubbed the USS Nightmare and has been scaring patrons for three decades? Well, if not, let's get you a Sharpie and we'll go from there.

THE HAUNTED 'WILLIAM S. MITCHELL' AKA THE USS NIGHTMARE

In fact, we'll go to Newport, Kentucky, and prepare for a terrifying night on the Ohio River. It's a unique way to celebrate the scariest season of them all. And, for me, few things are scarier than a haunted watercraft. Houseboat, riverboat, ship, you name it.

But this one is a riverboat. Named after its captain, The William S. Mitchell was designed, essentially, as a cutter--clearing the watery path for commercial river traffic. And it has quite a history--quite a DARK history, actually. From USSNightmare.com:

Three men were killed during its construction along with another death and dozens of injuries during its inaugural launching ceremony. In just 45 years of active service, the boat is responsible for over 112 crewmember deaths. Those who endured grueling shifts unearthing the river’s bottom and whatever else was awakened from its depths gave the ship a fitting moniker: Death Dredge.

THE HISTORY OF 'THE WILLIAM S. MITCHELL'

Here's a visual history of this cursed dredge ship:

Your tour through the USS Nightmare will feature more than 20 scenes and 15-plus characters on each of the two decks, and there are quite a few tour packages.

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WHEN YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE USS NIGHTMARE

The Nightmare will be open from 7 PM until 11 PM on weeknights and from 7 PM until 1 AM on weekends. Maybe you'll be brave enough to experience the Captain's Extreme Tour:

With Cincinnati right across the river, this sounds like a perfect seasonal weekend getaway between now and Halloween.

The ghost of the maniacal Captain Mitchell and his ill-fated crew await you.