2013-09-21

Halloween in the IE and Southern California provide plenty of haunted houses & mazes in 2013.

Riverside & San Bernardino counties provide a ton of options, but if you can’t get enough local Halloween thrills, some of the best events, mazes and Halloween attractions in the nation are found in So Cal. We’ve survived a few of these events to provide reviews for you. Listed below you will see all of our creepy haunted houses in the IE and Southern California.

Inland Empire Halloween Haunted Houses and Mazes

Coffin Creek – Corona – *TIED FOR BEST IN THE INLAND EMPIRE*

In 1938 when Southern California had an unusual bout of rain lasting 14 days, severe flooding caused coffins to float down to a wooded area next to River Rd and Archibald Ave in the city of Corona. Now Coffin Creek has established itself as one of the Inland Empire’s premier spook-fests, featuring five different scare stations, including:

Chambers of the Mausoleum – Rated #1!

Scarecrow Trail

Lone Hill Manor

Shady Hallow Hayride

Labyrinth of Lost Relics



Chambers of the Mausoleum features a terrifying story brought to life with live actors in impressive  theme park quality surroundings. You will be blown away by this haunt featuring interactive, scenario-based thrills. They are now in their 9th terrifying year of operation!  For more information, check out www.malformationz.com.

Better dig in your sofa cushions if you want to enjoy this event: One attraction will run you $13, two will run you $23, while all five are discounted to just $33. Opening weekend will also have many discounted tickets. Coffin Creek is located at Crossroads Riverview Park 14600 River Rd Corona, CA 92880. Coffin Creek is open October  11-12th, 18-20th, 25-27th, and 30-31st. Hours: Friday, Saturday & Halloween  7:30PM-12:00AM. Wednesday, Thursdays, and Sundays  7:30PM-10:30PM. Gates open at 7PM, box office opens at 7:15PM.For more information, check out coffincreek.com and check out our Coffin Creek review!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXt6kEpYaVo

Field of Screams – The Haunted Stadium – Lake Elsinore *TIED FOR BEST IN THE INLAND EMPIRE*

The Field of Screams Haunted Stadium at the Diamond in Lake Elsinore, CA opened seven years back. They now claim to be the biggest and most extreme haunted attraction in the Inland Empire, featuring five  terrifying movie quality haunted mazes, and 2 scare zones. (Plus they sell beer!) Tickets are $15 and $25 for VIP front of the line passes and a coffin ride. For more information, check out hauntedstadium.com.

Human Roast House – Downtown Riverside – RUNNER UP for BEST IN THE INLAND EMPIRE

When entering the Human Roast House you’re not only entering your average haunt, but the actual home of Austin Reed Trebbe, a notorious serial killer located right in the downtown Riverside area. The deeper you go into his home, you come face to face with all aspect of his madness. What’s real, and what’s delusion?

The location is in Downtown Riverside at the corner of University & Main. Tickets are $10 for general, $15 for VIP (front of the line), and $25 for VIP plus a t-shirt.

Rob Zombies Great American Nightmare (Formerly Nightmare at Scareview Farms)- Pomona Fairplex

3 Haunted attractions based on Rob Zombies movies! The mazes are a 3-Dimensional experience with animatronics, pyrotechnics, claustrophobic effects, and many other things guaranteed to terrify. With movies like “Lords of Salem Total Black Out”,  “The Haunted World of El Superbeasto”, and “Haunt of 1,000 Corpses”  even the most stoic person will have nightmares!

As an extra bonus, you are treated to nightly concerts and even wrestling! Listen to the music while strolling Bloody Blvd, and take some time to watch the films of horror genius Rob Zombie. Check the website for concert information.  Tickets are $30 in advance for Thurs & Sun (6:30-11pm), and $35 in advance for Friday & Sat (6:30-1am)

Calico Ghost Town – Ghost Haunt -  Calico

In late October, the already haunted Calico Ghost Town will turn into a maze with ghosts and goblins and plenty of fun. This year, Calico presents, “SLleepy Hollow”! The always spooky western backdrop of Calico will undoubtedly produce a good time for all who dare. View pictures from previous events in their photo album. Calico is about an hour north on the 15 from San Bernardino, just past Barstow where Interstate 15 and 40 meet.

Theatre 29 Haunt – Twentynine Palms

There is another haunted house run by the local community theatre going into their 9th year: Theatre 29 Haunt, run by a non-profit community theatre. The price is cheap: only $7 ($5 for groups of 4 or more)! We’re told the folks there work very hard and put on a first class show that doesn’t break the bank! More info is available at theatre29.org or perfomancelive.

Escape from Wonderland 2012 – San Bernardino

Insomniac puts on an impressive electronic music event for Halloween in downtown San Bernardino at NOS Fairgrounds. Check out our review of the 2011 Escape from Wonderland, with two impressive Halloween mazes in a makeshift adult Halloween theme-park. This is a blast, but you’re paying for more than just Halloween mazes, so be sure to save up.

 

Scream Kingdom @ Splash Kingdom in Redlands

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The Savage Circus! From a humble backyard haunt in 2011 to a full on functioning production team, we give both time and hard earned money to bring our passions to life. We began with Dr. Sinisters Asylum in 2012 and was met with success. This year “The Exposure” infects southern California with a different approach to horror and what we think will bring our Haunt to the next level. $10 at the door!

Other events, haunted houses and mazes in the I.E.:

Scandia in Ontario

Castle Dark at Castle Park in Riverside

Boo in the Zoo - Big Bear – Family friendly (October 27th)

Haunted Wine Tours- South Coast Winery (Temecula)

The Doll Factory- Corona

Evil Haunt- Murrieta

High Desert Fear Festival- Victorville

Ghost Walk- Riverside

 

Southern California Haunted Houses and Mazes

Within a short drive, you’ll be entering some of the region’s most famous Halloween events. If you’re looking for some impressive events and have a few bucks to spare, here are our recommendations, in no particular order:

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2012

** Tied for Best in Southern California **

Launched in 1997, Universal has quickly become the most highly regarded Halloween event in Southern California. Indeed, HHN was ranked #1 by ScareZone‘s Haunted House rankings in 2010. This is probably no surprise, as Universal Studios in Hollywood has long been the experts at fooling the public with impressive stage sets, costumes and acting. Translate the talent of Hollywood to Halloween and you have Halloween Horror Nights.

This year’s mazes will be:

The Walking Dead: Dead Inside

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Saw is the Law

Welcome to Silent Hill

La Llorona: La Cazadora de los Niños (The Child Hunter)

Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D

Universal Monsters Remix

Notice they now have 6 mazes, unlike last year where there were only 5? Maybe this will translate into shorter lines and more fun for everyone!

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights – Courtesy lastheplace.com

Expect all of the mazes to be R-rated (what else would we expect from Hollywood?)

The one down side is that the popularity has lent itself to long lines, especially on dates close to Halloween. We recommend checking out Universal earlier in the season. The mazes are a bit short, but Universal clearly prides itself on the quality of its mazes, not the quantity of mazes or their length. Also, there is no alcohol in the park for those adults who prefer a drink to calm their nerves or just enjoy the night, so enjoy your last drink at dinner before hand on the Universal City Walk or elsewhere.

The 2012 season will run select nights from late September to Halloween. Substantially discounted tickets were available at Ralph’s last year, but check ahead of time as those tickets go quickly! Check out our full Halloween Horror Nights 2012 preview and review from last year!

Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt – Orange County

** Tied for Best in Southern California **

Knott’s is an a classic destination in Orange County and beyond for several reasons. First, the western setting that is Knott’s lends itself perfectly to the haunted theme. Second, Knott’s goes all out, with 12 mazes last year. When we say mazes, we’re not referred to a few rooms of some junk piled on a table. Rather, we’re referring to a lengthy, 5-10 minute adventure with cleverly disguised monsters around every corner in uniquely themed mazes that have scared fans for years. Third, Knott’s has some exhilarating and unique rides for guests of all ages. Fourth, the value at Knott’s might be the best in Southern California. For around $30-40 dollars, you’ll be scared all night long, and not just in the mazes, but also with well dressed actors around every corner and lurking the in the fog (don’t even try to figure out where- another one will scare you while you try!). Lastly, Knott’s is incredibly walkable, so you won’t want to collapse at the end of the night. Knott’s provides a well-rounded experience that has kept generations of Halloween revelers coming back year after year. Check out our full review of Knott’s Scary Farm 2012! And our 2013 Preview!

Queen Mary Dark Harbor Nights

RUNNER UP for BEST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

This well-renowned Halloween maze in Long Beach is known for its unforgettable and macabre makeover at the hands of fright masters long responsible for some of Southern California’s biggest scare-fests. More than 45,000 scares per hour await, along with 160 monsters and 20-foot tall flames. Three shipboard and two onshore mazes confuse and ensnare visitors. If that wasn’t enough, the food, drink and entertainment inside will keep everyone entertained the whole night.

Dark Harbor Nights was ranked #1 in Best Scare-Actors, Best Scare Zone, Most Unique Experience, Best New Maze for 2010 (The Cage). OC Weekly provides extensive photos from last year if you want to see the ghoulish fun you’ll be getting into. Dark Harbor Nights will be held throughout October. General admission tickets started at $24.00 online and $29.00 at the door last year. Check out our full preview and review here.

Mickey’s Halloween Party – Disneyland

Disney will stage an extra-charge nighttime Halloween event, Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland, that will include live music, trick-or-treat stations, craft-making, and other mildly spooky fun for the kids, as well as selected rides and attractions, and a Halloween Screams fireworks show featuring Jack Skellington from “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.” This event seems best for the younger folks or those not looking for anything too scary. For 2013, it begins  September 27th and on the weekends in October (ending on Halloween). The cost is between $59-$67. This event requires a separate ticket and is not included with daily admission to Disneyland. Discounted advance tickets are available online for certain dates. Check out Mickey’s Halloween Party official page for more information. Disneyland is also decked out for Halloween at no extra charge.

Knotts Camp Spooky- Buena Park

This annual event caters to children 3- 11 years of age, and offers many special Halloween-themed activities in addition to their regular rides and games.

Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest – Valencia

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS® promises family-friendly “thrills by day,” while an amped-up “fright by night” will deliver more Zombie Zones, Terror Trails (additional fee required), Halloween-themed shows and more screams than ever before.  Now seven weeks long, Fright Fest begins Sept. 13 and runs weekends through Oct. 27.

The park between $45-60, depending on the day you go.

Old Town Haunt - Pasadena

The heavily talked about haunted mansion maze has received rave reviews from various TV stations and bloggers alike. Take a look at our preview and see why this may be one of the few stand alone Halloween haunts worth traveling for. Tickets are around $15, or $20 for VIP to enter with no wait. The haunt will start in late September or early October and continue until Halloween. For more information, check out oldtownhaunt.com or call (626) 248-7652.

2nd Annual Los Angeles Haunted Hayride at LA’s Old Abandoned Zoo

The Haunted Hayride will take you on a bumpy, dark ride through the abandoned cages and habitats of the Old Zoo from the 1930′s in the woods at Griffith Park, populated with all kinds of scare creatures. This attraction moved from King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas a few years back. The attraction also includes a hay maze.

A general admission is $30 and that gets you the hayride and purgatory slidehow. $39 gets you the hayride, slideshow and Dark Maze.   $5 Off Discount coupons are available Weds & Thurs while supplies last. VIP passes also available.

The hayrides begin October 4th and continue until Halloween night. Check out a full review on Hollywood Gothique. Go on opening night for plenty of star sightings! This event is at the Old Abandoned Zoo from the 1930′s, not to be confused with the modern L.A. Zoo. Check out the Yelp! review of this L.A. treasure.

Haunted Hollywood Sports – Bellflower

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With 23 Acres of Terror, the Official Home of the Original Zombie Killhouse…..Haunted Hollywood Sports is a brand new Halloween event in Southern California based at Hollywood Sports Park, located in the city of Bellflower. With 2 scare-zones, 3 walk-through mazes, and 3 interactive Killhouses, an 18 and over Club, Shooting Range, and Group E-Photo Booth, HHS brings in a new level of terror for Halloween 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c5SnvoBt3dM

Other haunted houses and mazes in Southern California

Reign of Terror - Thousand Oaks – highly rated!

The Empty Grave - Anaheim

Haunted Hotel / Scream Zone / Haunted Trail at Balboa Park – San Diego – highly rated!

Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball (adults only) - Las Vegas - not quite a haunted house, but quite famous indeed!

EAT/SEE/HEAR- Horror Movies, band, food truck at LA Historic Park

Maniac Mansion- A small free haunted house at a private homeowners residence

List of reportedly haunted place is California

If there are any haunted houses that you think we should include, contact thingstodo@inlandempire.com

The post Halloween Inland Empire & Southern California 2013– Haunted Houses & Mazes appeared first on Inland Empire .com.

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