Knott’s Scary Farm to terrorize during October

For those unfamiliar with the transformation that Knott’s Berry Farm undergoes during the fall season, the Buena Park-based amusement park certainly knows how to gear up for Halloween with haunted attractions set up for its 42nd year of Knott’s Scary Farm.
The Halloween-ized version of the theme park will take place on various dates through Nov. 1, with more than 1,000 employees dressed as monsters lurking around the park each day.
In addition to the usual thrilling theme park rides, the spotlighted Scary Farm attractions are undoubtedly the haunted mazes. This year, there are a total of 10 haunted labyrinths, each uniquely themed and intricately designed according to its own respective concept.
Among the variety of walkways are three new mazes that have made their Knott’s debut this Halloween: Trapped: Lock & Key, Voodoo, and The Truth Fairy.
It is technically the third year that the reservation-only Trapped has made an appearance at Knott’s Scary Farm, but it has been completely revamped into a new door less maze that offers enough of a scare to require one member of the party to be least 17 years old. Tickets must be bought ahead of time at $60 for up to six people.
The Voodoo maze takes place in the chilling swamps of the Deep South, where visitors will play the potential bloody sacrifices for creatures roaming the caves and demons cursing them with Voodoo spells.
While the last new attraction on the block, the Tooth Fairy, appears to have a friendlier theme, this maze is home to a demented version of the traditional tooth fairy and utilizes special effects like no other maze does. The demented fairy forces guests to give up their sense of sight as they are placed in a blackout room and an x-ray strobe light room in which they must feel their way out.
Voodoo and the Tooth Fairy are located near the famous roller-coaster Ghost Rider, close to two out of seven returning mazes: Dominion of the Damned and Trick-or-Treat.
Dominion of the Damned draws from the classic vampire theme, but with an unconventional new grand finale that guests will have to experience for themselves. Trick-or-Treat is based on the traditional practice of knocking on doors and asking for candy, but visitors may find themselves in regret as they wind up at the home of a witch.
As visitors make their way across the park from the leftmost attractions – Ghost Rider and two Scare Zones where monsters can freely exercise their scaring tactics – they will encounter five more returning mazes with their clever themes attached.
Historical figures show their influence within Knott’s Scary Farm mazes, as exemplified in as Black Magic, which is inspired by the idea of Houdini’s ghost, and Forevermore, which is based on the twisted writings of Edgar Allen Poe. Gunslinger’s Grave takes visitors back in history as well, as this maze takes place in the Old South and embodies a truly haunted ghost town.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Halloween if fictional and magical characters didn’t play a role. The maze Pinocchio Unstrung conjures up a twisted version of this friendly fairy tale puppet with a character that seeks retribution on its former masters. The Witch’s Keep, arguably one of the less terrifying attractions, houses the Green Witch and utilizes special effects for visitors who sit through a mine train ride.
Other special attractions include two returning live shows: the Hanging, a comedic stunt-based performance drawing from the past year’s pop culture, and Elvira’s Big Top, a musical and magical form of entertainment.
If the constant adrenaline rushes from the lurking clowns and werewolves become too tiring, there is also an area set aside in the Fiesta De Los Muertos scare zone with a dance floor and a DJ, where visitors can create somewhat friendly relations with the monsters who come to party.
But for those who prefer a more haunting experience, be sure to try the new, interactive, zombie-hunting journey, Special Ops: visitors are armed with laser guns for a hands-on experience. Also, stay in the Ghost Town Scare Zone, as fog machines cloud the air and make the scares that much more unexpected.
This year, Knott’s Scary Farm has developed the Knott’s Scary Farm Pass for the visitors who can’t get enough: the pass offers unlimited visits to all 24 event nights at the park. The passes are currently on sale for $75 at knotts.com ($65 for current Knott’s season pass holders).
Single night tickets range from $39 to $49 depending on the date of the event.
Knott’s Scary Farm will be taking place on Oct. 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 22-26, 30-31, and Nov. 1. The haunted version of this amusement park has attracted millions of visitors since the 1970s.
For more information, visit knotts.com/scaryfarm.