FIVE SUPER SCARY HALLOWEEN ADVENTURES
As Halloween creeps closer, most people are already prepared with a costume, plans and/or what type of candy they’re giving away at the door. If you’re like me and have zero of those things done, I’ve compiled a list of some last minute options, in case you don’t LOVE dressing up, or you do, but need a change of plans. Here are five LA-based super scary adventures... not for the faint of heart.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride @ Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours and ticket info here
Firstly, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride has become an iconic Hollywood tradition that started six years ago. The hayride trail this year is bringing a new 25-minute experience where “armies of demonic and dark forces and demonic presences litter the ground and are frantic to strike at their favorite “hayriders.” With all new scare zones, The House of Horsemen will be terrifying. With each room in the house symbolizing the four elemental apocalyptic terrors, like pestilence, war, famine and death, there will be no place to hide. The creative team has innovatively made a new special effects challenge, that has not been done in the haunted attraction world, making this hayride a unique and utterly bone chilling experience well worth it.
Halloween Horror Nights @ Universal Studios
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Hours and ticket info here
Universal Studios produces the “most terrifying 360-degree Halloween event in Los Angeles with More Dead than Ever!” Featuring scares from tons of Hollywood’s most terrifying movies, music, and TV shows like AMC’s The Walking Dead. With mazes featuring movies like Alien vs. Predator, From Dusk til Dawn, Dracula, and my least favorite scary “thing,” Clowns 3D. For the Clowns 3D maze, legendary guitarist Slash will bring a frightening new sound that will make you “experience a mind-blowing sensory overload of your darkest fears.” I don’t want ANY part of that one. Besides mazes there’s a Terror Tram, an apocalyptic journey trough the Walker-infested Universal back lot.
Knotts Scary Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
Hours and Ticket info here
Knotts Scary Farm brings back Trapped: Lock & Key. Bringing extra rooms, and more complex puzzles to solve, and an extreme and shocking finale that will come to life. With Trapped, “you become part of the terror and are forced to face your darkest fears, confront your inner terrors and descend into the madness of a maze with no way out.” Other attractions consist of Black Magic, with the motto “will you be part of the disappearing act?” Creepy. Back by popular demand is Elvira. In the 1,800 seat Charles M. Schultz Theatre, Elvira becomes the “ring Mistress of the Park” and will feature amazing dance performances by hip-hop based Academy of Villains, who danced on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Blackout Halloween
500 Mateo Street 90013
Downtown Los Angeles
Hours and Tickets info here
This may be the scariest of Halloween events out there. First started in New York City, it has made its way West to the Arts district. A haunted house, where you don’t get to go in it with a group, but alone, not knowing what could happen. So scary, no one under the age of 18 is allowed. If you’re a horror enthusiast and love those types of uncomfortable situations, Blackout Halloween is for you. One review in New York City’s Slant said, “ If you prefer rubber bats and cobwebs over genuine fear-inducers like confinement and sensory deprivation, don’t even think about buying a ticket.” So there you have it, the scariest most chilling Halloween event ever.
Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
1126 Queens Hwy
Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours and Ticket info here
What better way to be frightened than by going to the actually haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach? New mazes are being introduced this year, Voodoo Village, Soulmate and B340. It will be an exclusive encounter onboard the infamous ocean liner, unlike any other haunted experiences you’ve done. The creepiest part is that all the Queen Mary mazes take you through some of the most active paranormal areas aboard the ship. Hope you’re not scared of little kid ghosts, because a girl from third class thought she could slide down the banister and sadly, fell and broke her neck. Apparently, she now wanders the pool area and nursery looking for a doll or her mother. “The Queen Mary is home to a bunch of casualties but she was also surrounded by death” during WWII. It is reported that while avoiding enemy ships, she zigzagged into a companion ship, and was nearly cut in half and sadly had to leave 300 survivors in the water. Apparently, there is a pounding on the side of the Queen Mary sometimes, by those men trying to come on board. So, Halloween on the Queen Mary um… fun.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keyla Vasconcellos is originally from Brazil and grew up in Virginia. When she moved to California, it immediately stole her heart. After attending Pepperdine University, she worked in restaurants where she grew to love all types of cuisines. She is aspiring to be a Gastronomist Extraordinaire by eating her way through Los Angeles and sharing her adventures with anyone who enjoys a delicious meal.