Southern California 2021 Haunted Attractions Guide

All Around SoCal

After a much reduced year thanks to COVID, Halloween season is back! Yes, this year, despite the persistence of the Delta variant, Southern California is once again having a normal-ish haunt season with the return of commercial haunts en masse. Home haunters did a fantastic job of saving Halloween last year, especially with their myriad of creative yard displays, but at the end of the day, we all love haunted mazes and big hellroductions as well, and September and October just aren’t quite the same without the pro haunters. So, here again—for the 6th consecutive year—is our database of spooky attractions across the Southern California regituon! It features all the pro haunts we’re aware of, plus ayd selection of our favorite home haunts operating this year (it is, admittedly, a large selection). Read on and start planning your frightful itinerary this fall!

I’d be remiss to also give a shout-out to the Southern California Haunt List for providing a much larger catalog of home haunts beyond the highlights listed below. They’re a great resource if you’re looking for something nearby or want to support some of the smaller haunvated attractions in addition to the heavy hitting traditional mainstays.

Remember to check back to this page throughout the season as we update information and add more listings as we find them.  


Los Angeles County Area

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood
- Where: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
- When: Thu. Sep. 9 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of HHN Hollywood ]

After going dark last year, Halloween Horror Nights returns with a restrained mix of new and returning mazes:

  1. The Haunting of Hill House  - based on Netflix’s critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller

  2. Texas Chainsaw Massacre - a chilling maze featuring a demented Leatherface and his unrelenting chainsaw

  3. Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives - inspired by Universal Pictures’ cinematic monsters with an all-original story about one of the studio’s most infamous creatures

  4. The Exorcist - guests live the tormented aberrations experienced by Regan and her determined mother

  5. The Curse of Pandora’s Box - an original concept maze inspired by the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology

  6. Halloween 4: The Return of MIchael Myers - the relentless Myers is ready to resume his killing spree and terrorize the people of Haddonfield as he hunts for his niece Jamie to finally seek his revenge

  7. The Walking Dead - a fully immersive journey inspired by AMC’s popular television series

New scare zones include Chainsaw Rangers greeting HHN entrants, Demon City taking over New York Street, and Universal Monsters: Silver Scream Queenz extending off the end of the Bride of Frankenstein Lives maze. Also returning is the Terror Tram—featuring The Ultimate Purge—plus the Jabbawockeez return for another season of high energy dance shows.

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
- Where: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr,  Los Angeles, CA 90027
- When: Fri. Sep. 24 - Sun. Oct 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of the L.A. Haunted Hayride ]

After last year’s “Drive-Up” experience at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, the L.A. Haunted Hayride returns to Griffith Park—albeit a slightly different location—to bring guests back to the town of Midnight Falls, where every day is Halloween! In addition to a completely revamped hayride, the attraction brings three mazes:

  1. Dead End Diner - new for 2021, visit a most decrepit rest stop and with actual dead ends where monsters can trap guests

  2. Trick or Treat - the fan favorite returns with new environmental scares in addition to the monsters lurking behind the doors

  3. Midnight Mortuary - follows the Marlin family deeper into their twisted and depraved practices

Delusion: Reaper’s Remorse
- Where: 5257 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
- When: Thu. Sep. 16 - Sun. Nov. 21 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Delusion ]

The most terrifying and sprawling Delusion yet returns to its horror roots and introduces a new Open World setting where guests can dive deeper into the mysteries and immersive themselves in a scavenger hunt of sorts. Stick around for food and drinks, and try not to get sucked into Esther Phillips’ soul-manipulating artifacts! This is the ultimate experience in immersive horror theater, and with its new partnership with 13th Floor Entertainment, this promises to be the best Delusion yet!

(Photo courtesy of Delusion and 13th Floor Entertainment Group.)

(Photo courtesy of Delusion and 13th Floor Entertainment Group.)

The Clown Academy
- Where: 2525 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
- When: Thu. Oct. 7 - Sun. Oct. 24 (select nights)

A mix of escape room and haunted maze, this new production, put on by Intruder Escape blurs the lines of reality and horror with an ultra realistic approach on haunted houses. Guests will be traveling to the abandoned school of clowns to enjoy games and live entertainers as they await your entry into the maze. Upon entering, visitors will experience a horror spectacle full of the most nostalgic and classic games gone HORROR. Will they survive this twisted lesson?

Descanso Gardens presents Carved!
- Where: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
- WhenMon. Oct. 11 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)

Descanso Gardens is beautiful without any seasonal overlay, but it really goes all out in spectacular fashion for holiday events! After a successful five-night trial run two years ago, this event returns with a thousand professionally carved pumpkins – some as large as 100 pounds and all of them real – will line a 1-mile walk through the Camellia Forest and Oak Grove. Carved is a family-friendly event for all ages.

Descanso Gardens Carved.jpg

Cemetery Lane
- Where: Heritage Square, 3800 Homer St, Los Angeles, CA 90031
- WhenWed. Oct. 27 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)

If you went to Spooky Swap Meet and through that the Heritage Square Museum would be the perfect setting for a Halloween carnival and decked out trick-or-treat village, well, the Midsummer Scream folks agreed. This family-friendly event offers all sorts of spooky fun for only five nights and will cap off Halloween season with a wonderful flourish that transports guests back to the nostalgic charm of classic Halloween!

SpeedZone Haunted Mini Golf
- Where: 17871 Castleton St, City of Industry, CA 91748
- When: Fri. Sep 24 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of SpeedZone Haunted Mini Golf ]

Newcomers to the haunt scene this year, Speedzone Los Angeles, located in the City of Industry, is doing a bit of what Castle Park did last year in its Halloween pivot by offering a haunted experience with its mini-golf attractions. Halloween decorations and scareactors will roam the grounds as guests try to focus on getting those tricky chip shots in. And if that’s not thrilling enough, Speedzone also offers go kart racing as well (monsters not included)!

Creep L.A.
- Where: The Ghost Light at Three Clubs, 1123 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90038
- When: Thu. Sep. 30 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Creep L.A. ]

Known for reimagining and redefining the theatre-going experience, JFI Productions proves this year will be no exception-- even during the ever-changing post-pandemic climate. CREEP 2021 is filled with intimate moments, deep connections and soul-shaking chills and thrills, all within the bounds of safety, compliance, consent, and, of course, facial coverings. But what’s Halloween without a good mask, anyway? This year, guests will find themselves in a multitude of surprising worlds including a lush and sultry bar, a desolate town-square populated with odd characters, and a world-warping haunted house with a mind of its own.

(Photo courtesy of JFI Productions.)

(Photo courtesy of JFI Productions.)

Urban Death: Tour of Terror
- Where: 4850 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Mon. Nov. 1 (Fri. & Sat. nights and extended final weekend)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Zombie's Joe's ]

After a year off due to the Coronavirus, this Halloween NoHo staple is back! This condensed version of Zombie Joe's regular, full length show sees guests entering Zombie Joe's Underground Theater Group's small performance space through an extremely dimly lit maze portion to witness a shocking, sensual, eerie, and sometimes disturbing series of performances, loosely tied together.  Then it's back out the way guests came!  Nudity is present, so the event is extremely recommended for mature audiences. Haunt fans should not miss this insidiously addictive production!

(Photo courtesy of Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre.)

(Photo courtesy of Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre.)

Force of Nature Productions presents Fallen Saints: Cult
- Where: not yet announced
- When: not yet announced

Guests of Midsummer Scream’s Awaken the Spirits got a taste of this via a teaser reward to a scavenger hunt. Fallen Saints will produce this year’s production outside of the normal Halloween season, but it will take on a darker and different setting than past events. Stay tuned for more details once plans are finalized, and an official announcement is made!

(Photo courtesy of Force of Nature Productions.)

(Photo courtesy of Force of Nature Productions.)

House of Spirits
- Where: 6525 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
- When: Sat. Sep. 25 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Looking for a haunted drinking party? Step inside the House of Spirits — a haunted cocktail soiree that is unlike any other party in town! Freely roam a mysterious mansion and experience a night of themed cocktails, macabre magic, sinister séances, tarot readings, strange roaming specters, live music, hidden secret games, giant Ouija boards and so much more!

Freeform Halloween Road
- Where: Heritage Square, 3800 Homer St, Los Angeles, CA 90031
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Tue. Oct. 5 (nightly)

Freeform’s very limited Halloween attraction is back again but, unfortunately, already sold out. The event is back for a spooky, socially distant experience. The outdoor, immersive event will feature the worlds of "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Hocus Pocus," "The Addams Family" and other spooktacular surprises filled with games, photo moments, live entertainment and prizes!

Toluca Lake Pumpkin Festival
- Where: 10601 Riverside Dr, North Hollywood, CA 92602
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (daily)

This charming pumpkin patch on the corner of Riverside Dr and Cahuenga Blvd. features an assortment of pumpkins, lots of hand-painted photo ops, a petting zoo, and even a haunted maze with life scareactors at night! This is a community treasure in Toluca Lake and fun for the family and for haunt enthusiasts!

Toluca Lake Pumpkin Festival.jpg

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch
- Where: 10100 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
- When: Thu. Oct. 7 - Sun. Oct. 31 (daily)

This Culver City tradition since 1987 is family friendly and full of fun events, activities, food, and entertainment, in addition to lots and lots of pumpkins! It’s a delightful way to get into the Halloween spirit with the kids!

BCR: A Place to Scare presents Cursed Creek
- Where: 230 Amhearst Dr, Burbank, CA 91504
- When: Sat. Oct. 9 - Sun. Oct. 24 (Sat. & Sun. nights)

BCR: A Place to Grow is a Burbank non-profit serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. Last year, they did a drive-thru haunt in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic as part of a fundraising effort, and it was actually pretty darn good! This is one of many haunts working to advance great causes—a “scare to care” endeavor.

Rotten Apple 907 presents Evil in the London Fog
- Where: 907 N. California St, Burbank, CA 91505
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Rotten Apple 907 ]

Rotten Apple 907 returns for its 30th year as a walk-through! After last year’s amazing yard display and haunted show, the venerable Burbank Haunt returns to its roots with a deep dive into some of the most frightful stories in London lore! Note that the line may be cut off before the 10:00pm closing, as by city permit, Rotten Apple must be shut down by 10pm, not simply line-capped.

Also, if you’re in the area, cruise the local neighborhood for some great haunted yard displays. There are several on Clark Ave west of Rotten Apple, and one great one on Ontario Street just on the opposite end of the block and then one block over from Rotten Apple!

Rotten Apple 907.jpg

Holiday Fantasies Come to Life
- Where: 1505 N. Valley St, Burbank, California 91505
- When: not yet announced, typically month of October
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Holiday Fantasies Come to Life ]

This was a secret gem a few years ago, but ever since this Burbank yard display on steroids started getting more online coverage, the hidden treasure has been a little less hidden. Tina and Arnie absolutely love decorating for the holidays—any holiday—though Halloween and Christmas are their most extravagant endeavors! It’s a good bet that they’ll be back this year with another sprawling theme (and it could very well not be Disney this time), but Holiday Fantasies Come to Life is definitely worth a Burbank haunt stop to enjoy and appreciate the sheer scale and scope of it all.

Holiday Fantasies.jpg

Rotting Hill Cemetery
- Where: 4848 Sancola Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601
- When: Sat. Oct. 2 - Sun. Nov. 7 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Rotting Hill Cemetery ]

Brand new last year, yet one of the most spectacular visits, this Haunted Mansion-inspired yard haunt captures the magic of Boney Island and the whimsy of an enchanting, spooky Halloween that offers more chuckles than chainsaws. It was good enough that we ended up visiting again on Halloween night, just to enjoy the morbid mirth!

DeWynn Cemetery
- Where: 454 S Lamer St, Burbank, CA 91506
- When: not yet announced
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of DeWynn Cemetery ]

We heard about this extravagant haunt over the grapevine last year because it literally spanned a street and bridged two neighboring properties—all while serving as a “scaled back” version of a Halloween display due to the Coronavirus pandemic! On Halloween Night, the folks at DeWynn Cemetery were even passing out candy via the longest candy slide in these parts too. The scale shouldn’t be a huge surprise, though. The creator of DeWynn Cemetery have been part of the team of Boney Island in the past, and the same enchanting fun of that classic sparkles at this yard display too!

Clybourn Manor
- Where: 4336 N Clybourn Ave, Burbank, CA 91505
- When: Sat, Oct. 16 - Sun. Oct. 17, Sat. Oct. 23 - Sun. Oct. 24, Sat. Oct. 30 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Clybourn Manor ]

This fantastic pirates-themed haunt won Best in Show in the Toluca Lake Halloween house decoration contest last year and sits in a hotbed of great haunted yard displays in the local community. Each year, they’ve gotten more and more extravagant, and we can’t wait to see what they produce this year!

Lilley Hall Pumpkin House
- Where: 10104 Moorpark St, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
- When: Sat. Oct. 9 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Lilley Hall Pumpkin House ]

Every year, this historical house puts out hundreds (thousands?) of blowmold pumpkins that light up the yard and the neighborhood at night. It’s a dazzling sea of jack-o-lanterns, and the home is another anchor to a plethora of awesome yard haunts in Toluca Lake (the neighborhoods were buzzing last year on Halloween night). Check out Rock and Roll Will Never Die and a host of others nearby!

VanOaks Cemetery
- Where: 5822 Norwich Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411
- When: Sat. Oct. 16 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of VanOaks Cemetery ]

There are very few yard displays that match the detail, rigor, mood, and pall that VanOaks Cemetery brings. Derek Young and his wife have crafted an incredibly rich and wonderful yard display that goes for depth rather than flashiness, revealing itself in layers for those who take the time to soak in the ambiance. After staying dark last year due to the pandemic, VanOaks is back, and it’s a masterclass in home-made haunt appreciation. Because in this case, home-made is complex and elegant!

VanOaks Cemetery.jpg

Exquisite Corpse Horror presents Redwater
- Where: 8708 Wendon St, San Gabriel, CA 91775
- WhenUnfortunately, due to circumstances beyond their control, this haunt is cancelled.
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Exquisite Corpse Horror ]

Last year, David Coleman, formerly of Twisted Minds Productions, put on a “preview haunt” of course under his own haunt production banner, Exquisite Corpse Productions, in the form of a rustic-themed yard display called Redwater Pass. This year, Exquisite Corpse brings the full walk-through version to life in the follow-up! The old fishing town of Redwater that was deserted for unknown reasons back on July 13, 1932, but this fall, perhaps guests will find out the terrifying truth of why!

Redwater Pass.jpg

Kraken Cove
- Where: 1030 Manley Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
- When: Sat. Oct. 16 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Kraken Cove ]

Not too far from Redwater Pass last year, we found another quality pirate-themed yard display that showed clear Pirates of the Caribbean influences but also deviated in its own creative way. Nicely detailed and sumptuously decorated, this home haunt was a great one-two combo with the aforementioned Redwater haunt!

Macdevitt Manor Haunted House
- Where: 2436 W Macdevitt St, West Covina, CA 91790
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Macdevitt Manor ]

Kirk Higgins has been in the haunt game for a long time, but it wasn’t until last year that we finally had a chance to visit. What we found was a trove of creative home-crafted creations set in an open-air, front yard walkthrough. Tombstones and ghouies filled the atmosphere, and we especially loved the 12 ft tall Home Depot skeleton transformed into an animatronic with menacing dialogue!

Haunted by Memories Manor
- Where: 9911 Alesia St, El Monte, CA 91733
- When: Sat. Oct. 2 - Sun. Oct 31 (Sat. & Sun. nights only)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Macdevitt Manor ]

Another longstanding haunt that we only got to visit for the first time last year, Haunted by Memories Manor packed quite a bit of theming into its yard display. Although Haunted by Memories Manor has traditionally been a walk-through maze, due to the ongoing pandemic, they will remain a yard haunt this year. An exhibition on horror hording in all the best ways, this great haunt also includes a community service component by fundraising for and bringing awareness to a local foodbank to assist more disadvantaged community members.

The Haunted Rose presents: Realm of the Supernatural
- Where: Whittier Museum, 6755 Newlin Ave, Whittier, CA 90601
- When: Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Haunted Rose ]

By this point, longtime readers know that we’ve built up a pretty nice catalog of coverage on home haunts and have made it to a variety of amateur haunted houses throughout the past few years. With no disrespect to the others, I can confidently say that The Haunted Rose is one of the best out there. Ryan Banfield consistently delivers amazing theming, riveting storywriting, slick integrated theatrical effects, and a thoroughly immersive ambiance to craft incredible H.P. Lovecraft-inspired haunted attraction experiences. This year, The Haunted Rose is collaborating with the Whittier Historical Society and holding its production at the Whittier Museum and going for three whole nights (actually a record). If you’ve been missing out on The Haunted Rose in previous years, don’t let 2021 repeat that trend!

Millmur Manor and the Haunts of Arbolita
- Where: 1500 Arbolita Dr, La Habra, CA 90631
- When: Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Millmur Manor ]

Millmur Manor is a highlight on a street that is chock full of Halloween Spirit. This section of Arbolita Dr. is booming with activity on Halloween night, and the community also has numerous residents who go all out for Halloween decorations each year—something that I discovered for the first time two years ago and continued to see last year. Anyone who longs for that bustling Halloween spirit should definitely hit up this area of La Habra on October 31st!

The Curse of the Raven
- Where: 4682 S Stanton Ave, La Mirada, CA 90638
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Curse of the Raven ]

If you want to talk about one of the very best cemetery displays around Southern California, this is definitely in the conversation. The meticulously carved tombstones, integrated projections, rustic shack facade, entire life-sized crypt, bountiful jack-o-lanterns, and carefully synchronized AV effects make this home haunt look completely professional and absolutely spellbinding. The Bradvicas have extensive haunt experience, with Knott’s Scary Farm, Decayed Brigade, and The 17th Door among their haunt work credits, and they certainly flex their spooky muscles in crafting this incredible display!

Realm of Shadow presents Hamre Manor
- Where: Trinity Christian School, 11507 Studebaker Rd, Norwalk, CA 90650
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Realm of Shadow ]

Forced to go dark last year due to L.A. County’s haunted house restrictions due to COVID, Realm of Shadow is back this year with a different haunted maze. We first saw Realm of Shadow in the 2019 Midsummer Scream Hall of Shadows, then visited later that season and loved what we saw. Although the creators and organizers behind this haunt come from a church background and use funds raised from the haunt for charitable purposes, this is not an Evangelical hell house. You’ll get no preaching at Realm of Shadow, just good frights for a great cause.

Realm of Shadow.jpg

The Grey Phantom
- Where: 14338 Funston Ave, Norwalk, CA 90650
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sun. Oct. 17, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sat. Oct. 30
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Grey Phantom ]

One of the biggest buzz attractions last year was a Dark Harbor tribute yard display that had to be seen to be believed. With no actual Dark Harbor, someone had to step in to fill the void, and Ernie Velez and his family did just that by literally crafting a massive display of the Queen Mary’s wartime alter ego, the Grey Ghost, and incorporating little nods to the beloved Long Beach haunt. This year, that yard display is turning into an actual walk-through, so even though Dark Harbor is still out of commission indefinitely, there’s still a chance to experience the spirit of the ship—just in Norwalk!

Fairbrook Manor
- Where: 5426 E Fairbrook St, Long Beach, CA 90815
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Thu. Oct. 27 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Fairbrook Manor ]

Not that it happens often, but it’s always weird when you visit a place with the purpose of covering it, and then it turns out the owner is a longtime reader of the website. But we wouldn’t just be calling attention to Robert Duck’s haunt out of nepotism. This Long Beach haunted yard display is actually an exceptionally well done production that presents a rich and detailed scene incorporating the front yard and peeking into the house itself (hello, Victoria!). Fairbrook Manor also collects canned food donations for the local food bank, so count this location as another charitable home haunt mixing scaring and caring!


Orange County Area

Knott's Scary Farm
- Where: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
- When: Thu. Sep. 16- Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Knott's Scary Farm ]

The original Halloween Haunt is back after spending 2020 as a food festival and brings eight mazes to this year’s line-up, including one new maze replacing the Shadlowlands location at Xcelerator:

  1. Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind - brand new for 2021, this different and darker, more twisted (is that possible) take on a clown maze features a psychological assault on the senses

  2. Wax Works - the demented Dr. Augustus Scratch crafts his masterpieces made out of wax in horrifically realistic fashion… probably because they’re also made of people

  3. Origins: The Curse of Ghost Town - explore how Ghost Town Streets became the dark and twisted domain, prowled by menacing beasts and creatures that it is today

  4. The Depths - disappeared miners and a notorious sea creature punctuate this H.P. Lovecraft-inspired maze

  5. Paranormal Inc. - join a ghost hunting documentary crew at a haunted hospital

  6. Dark Entities - a mysterious creature is attacking a desolate space station

  7. Dark Ride - this instant-classic returns with its murderous carnies and new rooms

  8. Pumpkin Eater - the monstrous villain of fairy tale lore searches for new victims

Also back this year is the Halloween Hootenanny overlay of the Calico Log Ride. Ghost Town Streets, Carnevil, The Hollow, and Foresaken Lake return as scare zones this year, along with a brand-new and supposedly more interactive scare zone, The Gore-ing 20’s.  There are a plethora of show offerings this year, including the return of the wildly popular Puppet Up: Uncensored improve Muppet show by Henson Alternative; the Conjurers magic show at the Bird Cage Theater; the new Carnaval du Grotesque music and dance show replacing The Hanging at the Calico Stage; Invitation to Terror, a new, technologically advanced continuous run at Mystery Lodge; and Wicked Drums, a rebirth of the old Blood Drums show deep in the heart of The Hollow!

Knott’s Spooky Farm
- Where: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
- When: Sat. Sep. 25 - Sun. Oct. 31 (Sat. & Sun.)

This family-friendly daytime Knott’s Halloween operation runs weekends from the end of September through the end of October and offers character meet-and-greets, trick-or-treating, and a lovely ambiance (especially in Camp Snoopy) for frightful fun for the kiddos.

Knott's Spooky Farm.jpg

Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure
- Where: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802
- When: Thu. Sep. 9 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Oogie Boogie Bash returns after a one-year hiatus due to the Coronavirus, and as of this writing, the popular event has already sold out. This replacement for Mickey’s Halloween Party takes place in California Adventure and features trick-or-treat trails, the Frightfully Fun Parade, the Villains Grove transformation of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, special themed photo ops, and a delightfully spooky park ambiance!

The 17th Door
- Where: 1851 W Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton, CA 92833
- When: Fri. Sep. 17 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The 17th Door ]

The 17th Door has spent the last few years following poor Paula in Perpetuum Penitentiary, but having escaped the confines of that prison, promises a whole new chapter of terror this year. The most extreme large-scale commercial haunt in Southern California also adds Field Trip, a 50 minute outdoor add-on experience that enhances the scares even further. Will it have guests screaming Mercy?

Haunt of Halloween
- Where: Kaleidoscope Mall, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
- When: Thu. Sep. 30 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

This new haunted attraction experience brings a medley of attractions to South Orange County. Outpost 13 is the main attraction, a haunted maze “where adrenaline and fear for survival becomes a reality.” It also pairs with an optional scare zone that apparently allows guests to turn the tables and try to scare other guests. During weekend afternoons, a non-scare trick-or-treat feature is available to families and kids. Also included in the price of admission are a photo op and live entertainment, plus food and drink on site for purchase.

Hauntington Beach Manor
- Where: Westminster Mall, 1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster, CA 92683
- When: Thu. Oct. 7 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Hauntington Beach Manor ]

Formerly a home haunt with some of the most ambitious haunts and season runs, Hauntington Beach Manor has outgrown its former residential location and has moved to the Westminster Mall for this year! After a tremendous run in 2018, HBM had to go dark the following year due to unexpected circumstances, then was limited to a short mini-haunt over Halloween weekend for local residents last year. But they’re ready to go for a more typically expansive maze experience this year, and we can’t wait to see what they have to offer!

Hauntington Beach Manor.jpg

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
- Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
- When: Mon. Sep. 18 - Sun. Oct. 31 (daily)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch ]

Although it appears to have shed its Sanrio association for this year, Tanaka Farms returns its popular pumpkin patch experience for the family this year. Featuring a Wagon Ride, Barnyard Educational Exhibit, and U-Pick Vegetable Patch regularly, plus ATV rides, the Pumpkin Cannon, food from the Tanaka Grill and interactive activities for kids on weekends, this is a dollhwholesome experience for young and old. Note that guests on the weekends will need to purchase parking passes in advance due to the popularity of the event.

Tanaka Farms.jpg

Boo Ha Ha: A Haunted Oktobeerfest
- Where: 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- When: Fri. Oct. 29 - Sat. Oct. 30

Looking to mix brews and boos? Well, there is a distinct lack of actual scares at this event (probably for the better), but the annual autumn brew fest is back at the OC Fairgrounds, operating the final weekend of October! Beer tastings and live music highlight this adult-oriented event!

Pirates Cave Haunt
- Where: 2548 E Garfield Ave, Orange, CA 92867
- When: Sat. Oct. 16 - Sun. Oct. 17, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Pirates Cave Haunt ]

Although it’s been running for the better part of a decade, the Pirates Cave Haunt has come a really far way in even just the past few years. Dave and Jacob Larson have transformed this annual community tradition into one of the absolute best home haunts of Orange County, upping the production values, theatrical presentation, and scares each year. Last year featured an elaborate haunted show featuring live actors and screen, lighting, and sound effects, but this year returns to the haunt’s maze roots and expands the footprint beyond just the front yard into the interior of the Larson property—tripling the size—to delve deeper into the lore of buccaneer Calico Jack! With three weekends this year, the Pirates Cave is bigger and better than ever and a can’t-miss home haunt!

Pirates Cave.jpg

Phantom Hollow
- Where: 9852 Verde Lomas Cir, Villa Park, CA 92861
- When: not yet announced
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Phantom Hollow ]

If you visit the Pirates Cave, make sure to swing by the nearby Phantom Hollow yard display. This incredibly elaborate set-up is one of the most spectacular in Southern California, featuring fanciful effects and projections that create an absolutely magical atmosphere. From a beautiful, life size hearse carriage featuring Henry Ravenswood's phantom from Phantom Manor as the driver to a host of intricate, gorgeous tombstones with punny and amusing epitaths, plus a the towering and customized 12 ft tall Home Depot skeleton gripping a bundle of crooning jack-o-lanterns, to a trio of wise-cracking and melodic sheet ghosts to the side, this display is chock full of details. And the whole street gets in the act with Halloween decorations too!

Last year, Phantom Hollow operated the last two or three weekends of October, and we expect the same for this season.

The Gershon Dungeon
- Where: 13861 Gershon Pl, Tustin, CA 92705
- When: Sat. Oct. 30 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Gershon Dungeon ]

One of the longest home haunts in Orange County, this attraction might be viewed as the OC Beware the Dark Realm. Telling the story of one Guinivere Holt, a cruel orange plantation owner who tortured her slaves, The Gershon Dungeon takes place in the modern day, where the burial plot of the entire, long-lost estate has been unearthed, bringing heinous spirits and the ghost of the demonic Guinevere herself back to the realm of the living!

The Gershon Dungeon was a yard display only last year due to COVID-19, and we’ll see if it remains so this year or reverts back to its sprawling walk-through maze format.

The Gershon Dungeon.jpg

Prism Haunted House presents: The Museum of Life
- Where: 24465 Chamalea Dr, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sat. Oct. 16, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sat. Oct. 23, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Prism Haunted House ]

After doing an elaborate haunted show last year in lieu of their regular maze format, Prism Haunt combines the two into one technologically charged and psychologically terrifying haunted attraction this year! Prism formally welcomes guests to The Museum Of Life, which hosts fantastic and eerie oddities gathered from around the known universe. All creatures are preserved and displayed as they would be found in their natural environments for audience viewing and educational pleasures. Just please, don’t touch the specimens… you never know when they may touch back!

Haunted Mansion Haunt
- Where: 28322 Millwood Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92679
- When: Fri. Oct. 22, Sun. Oct. 24 - Mon. Oct. 25, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Haunted Mansion Haunt ]

Orange County’s finest home haunt tribute to the Haunted Mansion is back this year with its collection of happy haunts and grim grinning ghosts. All props and effects are hand-crafted, and the haunt brings a nostalgic and lovely tribute to one of Disneyland’s most iconic rides!

Santa Ana Haunt presents Shades of Hell
- Where: 2309 W Cubbon St, Santa Ana, CA 92704
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Santa Ana Haunt ]

We stumbled onto this haunt almost by accident at the very end of last year’s haunt season and were pleasantly surprised by the great experience and unique storyline premise of this residential Halloween maze. Featuring different takes on hell and its differences for different souls, Santa Ana Haunt featured great actors, some terrific theming, and a passionate and entertaining experience!

Grim Grinners
- Where: 2015 S Eileen Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802
- When: Sat. Oct. 9 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Grim Grinners ]

A terrific newcomer to the haunted yard display scene last year, winning second place in the City of Anaheim Halloween decorations contest, Grim Grinners brings some scary fun to its beautifully lit and wonderfully elaborate yard haunt. With a few animatronic scares and a beautiful set-up, this Anaheim gem is definitely worth checking out in October! This year, they’re also including a haunted show element starting Oct. 19. Also, check out Hades Lair (which we called “The Chains of Wakefield” last year after Parks & Cons’ nickname) just around the neighborhood corner on Wakefield Ave!

Twisted Dreams Haunt
- Where: 5815 Panama Dr., Buena Park, CA 90620
- When: Fri., Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Twisted Dreams Haunt ]

This old school haunt conjures up feelings of Knott’s Scary Farm in the early 2000s, with a violent and gritty feel focused on intense scare and abject terror. Sprawling an impressive length around the side and back yards of a Buena Park home, Twisted Dreams doesn’t care about pretty or polished. It just wants to horrify.

Quarantine Crazies
- Where: 629 Maple Ave, Brea, CA 92821
- When: Mon. Sep 6 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of this haunt ]

This is the only haunt on this last that doesn’t have any official haunter name or social media presence, but we’re including it on the list on account of how awesome it was last year.

Karen Ficke has an insatiable passion for Halloween and one twisted sense of humor, and every year, she transforms her yard into a different theme for the fall holiday. In the past, she's done a "Corpse Cafe," a "Monster Water Park," and other creative themes reusing her props and figures and finding cool discoveries at thrift stores. Last year’s very topical display was called “Pandemic Nightmare” and featured a ton of hilarious visual gags referencing all things related to the Coronavirus pandemic. And since COVID really hasn’t gone away, she’s tweaked and extended that theme in this year’s display, “Quarantine Crazies.” Some of last year’s display returns, but there are also a lot more syringes and vaccines present! So go get your jab (one way or another)!

Tunnel of Terror
- Where: Big Wave Car Wash, 2219 West Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801
- When: Thu. Oct. 7 - Fri. Oct. 29 (Thu. & Fri. nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Tunnel of Terror ]

Tunnel of Terror was a viral hit when it launched on just a week’s preparation last year in Huntington Beach. Get a car wash and be haunted by deranged clowns? Who wouldn’t want to check that out? Well, it’s back again this year, at a new location in Anaheim. Make sure you pre-purchase your ticket online!


Ventura County, The Valley, and North of Los Angeles

Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Where: 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355
- When: Sat. Sep. 11 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Magic Mountain's Fright Fest ]

It’s back! 2021’s Fright Fest returns six total mazes:

  1. Sewer of Souls - dare to enter a foul-smelling wretched wasteland

  2. Condemned: Forever Damned - explore the recently abandoned home of a habitual collector of things

  3. Vault 666: Unlocked - demonic relics and obsolete oddities are locked in an abandoned vault within this dark and sinister antiquity shop

  4. Red's Revenge - not your grandma's Red Riding Hood, this maze upends the classic tale

  5. Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising - a mysterious agent is infected Ash Valley with a horrific virus

  6. Willoughby's Resurrected - Fright Fest's classic haunted house returns for more fear

In the scare zone department, there are two new ones to note: The Deadzone in the park’s Underground themed land (home of the West Coast Racers roller coaster) and Terror Rising: Dark Developments, to be located in Baja Ridge. Fright Fest also brings back Witches Lair in the Metropolis area, City Under Siege in the DC Universe area, plus favorites Demon's Door, Exile Hill, TERRORtory Twisted, and Frightmares: A Twisted Fantasy. The event also has new entertainment this year, with Dark Minds, a macabre mentalist show, and Grave Games, featuring daring acts of crossbows and fire juggling.

Reign of Terror
- Where: 197 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
- When: Fri. Sep. 24 - Sat. Nov. 6 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Reign of Terror ]

After being forced to remain dark last year due to the Coronavirus, Reign of Terror is back with a new location and facility at the Janss Marketplace, featuring a new layout and sequence of attractions with more twists and turns! This incredible haunt is nine haunted houses rolled into one, with each one transitioning into the next with unrelenting vigor.  The Haunted House, Miner's Revenge, Casa Blood, Quarantine, The Asylum, Infected, Backwoods, Fun House, and Containment return as themes. There’s also a new “Un-Hallowed Ground” section featuring the Monks from the Order of the Crypt—the 10th theme of this ever-expanding walk-through! Reign of Terror is unbelievable in its sprawling quality, and it is not to be missed!

Ventura County Fear Grounds
- Where: 28545 W Driver Ave, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
- When: Thu. Sep. 30 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Featured at last month’s Awaken the Spirits “pop-up” convention, this brand-new haunt from the former creative director of Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights features three haunted attractions:

  1. The Cage - the goal is to escape, but the monsters lurking in plain sight won’t make that easy

  2. Terror Trail - everything is under control, just stay on the trail and no harm will come… probably

  3. Fright Train - board the rickety rails to a realm of horror

In addition, the Dead End at Surfer's Point LIVE is the gateway to guests’ fears. This cozy area with delicious treats, spirits, entertainment, roaming haunts and social media photo op is where visitors will enter before sample any or all of the three attractions.

Nights of the Jack
- Where: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Nights of the Jack ]

This family-friendly walk-through experience features thousands of beautiful, hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins along a 1/2 mile trail at the King Gillette Ranch, out in Calabasas. Advance tickets are required, but it’s a fun, charming, and photogenic way to experience a bit of Halloween!

Haunt O’Ween
- Where: Westfield Woodland Hills, 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Haunt O’Ween ]

This Halloween wonderland transforms part of the Westfield Mall in Woodland Hills into an immersive all-ages playground of Halloween adventures and fun! Featuring everything Halloween has to offer all in one place, Haunt O’Ween will have pumpkin picking and carving, trick or treating, face painting, performances, games, food trucks and more, with beautiful, spooky sets and great photo ops, including a playful Funny Bones Graveyard with enormous hay sculptures and hundreds of friendly skeletons and the new maze-filled Scarecrow Gardens, in which traditional Halloween colors are enhanced by a neon and UV overlay!

(Image courtesy of Experiential Supply Co.)

(Image courtesy of Experiential Supply Co.)

Agoura Horror Story
- Where: 28545 W Driver Ave, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
- When: Fri. Oct. 29

Agoura High School puts on its annual haunted house for one night only!

Spooky Hollows
- Where: 16418 Gilmore St, Van Nuys, CA 91406
- When: Fri. Oct 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Spooky Hollows ]

A past Scare L.A. and Midsummer Scream staple, Spooky Hollows is a great home haunt with some fantastic props, special effects, and fun scares built in.  In past years, Spooky Hollows has been a haunted maze, a yard display, and a haunted show—the rare haunt to hit that trifecta. They tease that this year is going to be a little different, so what mysteries can that spell?

Fillmore Graves
- Where: 14318 Emelita St, Van Nuys, CA 91401
- When: not announced, typically last 2 or 3 weekends of October
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Fillmore Graves ]

This one is always a bit of an enigma. At the home of Walt Disney Imagineer Scott Goddard, Halloween seems to materialize in weird and spooky ways, but we never quite know when or if it’s a guaranteed manifestation. However, the last few weeks of October are usually a good time to swing by to see if any spirits have materialized, and if they have, guests will find a wonderful yard display of not-so-subtle references to various Disney park attractions and lands, along with a bit of fanciful magic in the form of special effects and moments.

Haunted Groundz
- Where: 13243 Mission Tierra Way, Granada Hills, CA 91344
- When: not yet announced, typically last weekend of October
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Haunted Groundz ]

As far as home-made haunted shows go, this one is one of the more spellbinding ones. Dmitriy Slobodski has created a charming, entertaining, fully synchronized yard show that is great for the whole family, but which typically only takes place the final weekend of October. Each year, Dmitriy adds new elements and enhances different facets of the show, so even if you’ve seen it before, it’s worth stopping by to see the what’s new this year!

Beware the Dark Realm
- Where: 28621 Sugar Pine Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sat. Oct. 16, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sat. Oct. 23, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sat. Oct. 30
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Beware the Dark Realm ]

If you thought Rotten Apple has been scaring for a long time, this is Beware the Dark Realm’s 50th year of frights! Well, technically, it is creator Scott Sivley’s 50th year doing a haunted house, dating back to his childhood. But that’s still a long time!

A legendary home haunt with a medieval torturous theme, Beware the Dark Realm is back with the most intense home haunt in the Santa Clarita Valley. Beware the Dark Realm’s medieval theme is put together by haunters who have been doing their craft for a very long time and has shared this passion with a new generation. This year, they’re once again taking donations for Family Promise, which aids the homeless community.

Beware the Dark Realm.jpg

Club Fear presents Twisted Manor II: The FInal Chapter
- Where: 23501 Clearidge Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91354
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sat. Oct. 23, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sat. Oct. 30
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Club Fear ]

Club Fear is back this year with a sequel to its 2019 Twisted Manor walk-through maze. WIll guests be able to survive another encounter with the homicidal clown, Rellik? Creator Jason Shields is insanely talented with home-made theming and mechanized props, and there’s no doubt that this year’s Club Fear will be more elaborate than ever!

(Also, Christmas fans should come back to Clearidge Drive in December, when literally every house in the entire neighborhood is decorated for the holidays. This creates an immersive holiday village atmosphere with residents outside and enjoying food and drink and company that is absolutely charming and delightful.)

Club Fear.jpg

Coffinwood Cemetery
- Where: 27159 Waterford Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91354
- When: Fri. Oct. 8 - Sun. Oct. 31 (Fri. & Sat. nights and Halloween)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Coffinwood Cemetery ]

This long-running Santa Clarita yard display and sometimes-haunt (depending on the evening) is beautifully themed, with impressive figures and atmosphere that looks absolutely stunning! Fridays are non-scare nights that are family-friendly, while Saturdays are full scares recommended for teenagers and older. Along with Beware the Dark Realm, Coffinwood Cemetery is part of the elder statesman haunt tribe of the SCV!

Coffinwood Cemetery.jpg

Stoney Pointe Halloween Haunt
- Where: 23227 Barnacle Ln, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
- When: not yet announced
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Stoney Pointe Halloween Haunt ]

This VERY intimate, family-friendly haunt is yet another in the rapidly growing list of Santa Clarita Valley haunts that seem to be sprouting like toadstools. Very cozy, with a rich layering of Halloween decorations that spook more than scare, this “patio haunt” and yard display is a great addition to the SCV haunt scene!

The Dollhouse
- Where: 27337 Denoya Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
- When: Thu. Sep. 16 - Sun. Oct 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Dollhouse ]

Do you have pediophobia? Well, this is not the place for you, then. Phyllis Wagner has been filling her front yard with hordes of creepy Victorian dolls for many years, but last year, she started getting more attention in the haunt community as the Santa Clarita Valley continued to explode as a must-see destination for haunters and haunt fans. Though Halloween isn’t the only holiday the dolls come out (check back during Christmas too), it is the most fitting. At The Dollhouse, visitors will find a chilling menagerie of playthings arranged in the most creepily disturbing manner. Just make sure none of them follow you home…

Sombras Cemetery
- Where: 26041 Sombras Ct, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sat. Oct. 16, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sat. Oct. 23, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Sombras Cemetery ]

We found this sumptuously beautiful cemetery display last year and loved the wonderful lighting, dilapidated archway, whimsical skeletons, and creepy tombstones. The visual storytelling is on point, and Sombras is already cooking up more elaborate sets for this year!

The Farm Haunt presents Dr. Diablo and the Curse of Castaic Creek
- Where: 29130 Diablo Pl, Castaic, CA 91384
- When: Sat. Oct. 23, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sat. Oct. 30
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Farm Haunt ]

It’s taken two years, but Tim Fowler is finally going to do his walkthrough haunt in Santa Clarita (adjacent). In 2019, the Fowlers were the newcomers from Glendale, where they had been doing a haunted maze for several years. In an effort to gauge the neighborhood, they simply put on a very elaborate yard display instead, and fortunately, the neighbors were impressed, no repulsed. Last year would have been the launching point for the maze, but COVID. So this year, Farmer Fowler will finally be able to tell the tale of Dr. Diablo and his devious deeds. Anyone who has stopped by the past two years knows the incredible level of detail at The Farm Haunt, and that it’s finally going to evolve into a walkthrough definitely has this home haunt at the top of many haunters’ lists!

The Haunt at Hellizondo
- Where: 21024 Arminta St, Canoga Park, CA 91304
- When: Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31

After wandering the Valley the past few years and transfigurating between yard and maze haunt, The Haunt at Hellizondo is finally back to its normal, haunted house self. The past few years have featured a bayou ambiance, but 2021 will bring a new story, new setting, and new theme!

Mourning Rose Manor
- Where: 5250 Aurelia St., Simi Valley, California, CA 93063
- When: Sun. Oct. 10 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Mourning Rose Manor ]

This richly detailed Simi Valley yard haunt is another “dolled up” display that is chalk full of elaborate details and sinister ambiance.  The theming would rival that of a solid haunted house, if they ever chose to turn it into that.  But in the meantime, guests can enjoy the macabre environment crafted in this eerie front yard!

Mourning Rose Manor.jpg

The Inland Empire

Coffin Creek
- Where: 14600 Baron Dr, Corona, CA 92880
- When: Fri. Oct. 8 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Coffin Creek ]

Back for its 14th year, Coffin Creek is one of those old school, fun, passionate, purely enjoyable haunts. It may lack the flash and dazzle dazzle of today’s haunts, but it retains good, old fashioned haunt quality, great energy, and lots of scares!  Coffin Creek returns this year with five attractions:

  1. The Brimstone Asylum for the Criminally Insane - the inmates have taken over, and they want blood

  2. The Catacombs and the Raven Cult - a mysterious group haunts the old burial grounds, looking for sacrifices

  3. The Curse of Voodoo Bayou - the haunted trail takes on a marshy tone this year

  4. Shady Hollow Hayride - the hayride brings guests into the dark woods, where sinister forces await

  5. The Dark Realm - fantasy and horror intermingle as guests try to fend off evil forces

Also returning is the Dark Shadow Marketplace, where guests can shop a selection of ghoulish wares.

Coffin Creek.jpg

Castle Dark at Castle Park
- Where: 3500 Polk St, Riverside, CA 92505
- When: Fri. Sep. 25 - Sun. Oct. 31 (Fri. - Sun. nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Castle Dark ]

Castle Park returns with another Halloween overlay this year, with three mazes:

  1. Phobias - tight spaces, snakes, the dark, no guest will leave without facing their phobias in this fully immersive and interactive thriller

  2. Mr. Tubb$’ Twisted Circus - this circus is a show of oddities like no other, filled with freaks of nature, twisted acrobats, and crazy clowns

  3. Home Sweet Home - guests are invited to a fun family gathering, but this family is not all they appear to be

There will also be four scare zones: Dark Harvest, where anyone found guilty of using witchcraft will be shown no mercy, The Inferno, a series of darkly lit streets, where cult worshippers believes only the dead are truly saved, The Streets of La Sierra, where once dead family members rise from their graves to haunt those they left behind, and The Midway, packed like a clown car with demented circus folk, roaming the streets in search of new audiences to delightfully torment. In addition, Castle Park’s 2 dozen rides & attractions will operate during Castle Dark, as well as their 4 award winning miniature golf courses.

Dark Harvest
- Where: Frosty’s Forest, 14861 Ramona Ave, Chino, CA 91710
- When: Thu. Sep. 30 - Sun. Oct. 31 (Thu. - Sun. nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Perdition Home Haunt and here for Westcoaster coverage of The Fleshyard ]

Last year, Perdition Home Haunt and The Fleshyard combined for a commercial haunt collaboration called Harvest of Horrors. That endeavor has been rebranded as “Dark Harvest” and once again returns to Frosty’s Forest for a month-long run. The old-school, bloody style of both Perdition and The Fleshyard will be on full display as guests must survive a daunting and seemingly endless trip through the corn fields, where depraved maniacs roam. Separated so far from civilization, there’s no one to hear the screams…

Fear in 3D: The Experiment
- Where: The Shoppes at Chino Hills, 13920 City Center Dr, Chino Hills, CA 91709
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct 31 (select nights)

At Fear in 3D, guests are The Experiment. Visitors will come face-to-face the creepiest sights and scariest creatures that will surely keep them up at night. This haunted house walk-through attraction uses 3D glasses and special painting and blacklight techniques to make every scene pop. This year, Fear in 3D has been completely renovated to offer fresh screams… IN THREE DIMENSIONS!!

(Photo courtesy of Fear in 3D.)

(Photo courtesy of Fear in 3D.)

Mansion of Lost Souls
- Where: Promenade Temecula, 40820 Winchester Rd, Temecula, CA 92591
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct 31 (select nights)

Long ago, the sound of laughing children and happiness filled this revered doctor’s family home. However, to this day nobody knows just what happened to the family. Although, some stories say that he lost his mind. Some say it was a a psychotic patient who tortured the family before brutally murdering them all, one by one. Others talk of demons, and the possibility that someone became possessed. What we can tell you is that we still hear the tormented souls screaming, and trapped within the walls of this place. For a short time we are giving those brave enough, a chance to tour this massive house of terror. We cannot promise that you all will make it through, but we will pray for your survival.

Hallow’s Eve Inc presents Deadwater State Penitentiary
- Where: 32040 Riverside Dr, Lake Elsinore CA 92530
- When: Sat. Oct. 2 - Sun. Oct 31 (select nights)

Once the home of the most notorious and violent criminals, Dead Water was forced to close in 1963 when word leaked out of the wardens’ most evil and nefarious methods of correction. Heinous methods of torture were found out to be more prevalent and common than not. Shortly after its closure, the prison was purchased and secretly run by an anonymous source who once again assured the public things would be different. Dead Water’s reputation started to recover until the fall of 1965 when Dr. Franklin became hired on as chief medical surgeon who had other intentions for human suspects that society disregarded and who would not be missed outside these cold, layered brick walls. Prisoners were sent to Dead Water under the guise of promised rehabilitation, however, the doctor, being slightly mad himself, chose to experiment on the inmates like lab rats. His goal: to create a viable, insanely disturbed army of prisoners he controls to overtake the prison guards and wreak havoc on the public at large. Tip from the warden: steer clear of the Dr. at all cost.

Into the Black
- Where: Haven City Market, 8443 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Into the Black ]

After a couple years’ hiatus, Boneyard Effects’ Into the Black returns at the Haven City Market, which just hosted a successful run of HorrorWorld TCM. The devil-worshiping Black family once again invites guests into their halls of the occult. This intimate maze only sends small groups in at a time, guaranteeing the coziest of horrors.

All Saints Lunatic Asylum
- Where: 22521 Shawnee Rd, Apple Valley, CA 92308
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Enter the remnants of an asylum that was forced to close fifty years ago and left to deteriorate.  Unfortunately, this mental hospital wasn't quite abandoned, for the patients and doctors who where there still roam the hallways, ready to wreck havoc onto any unsuspecting guests who dare enter!

Fear Farm
- Where: 6275 Sundown Dr, Phelan, CA 92329
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sun. Oct. 17, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31

No, not the 13th Floor Entertainment one in Arizona. This Fear Farm is a little closer to home, near Apple Valley, and contains 2 mazes, a haunted hayride, scare zones, food, and entertainment. Last year, Fear Farm was open for a drive thru experience, but this year, they’re back to regular monster-to-person scares!

County Line Fright Asylum presents The Evil Within
- Where: 34285 County Line Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399
- When: Fri. Sep. 24 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

This typical neighborhood home, that you pass by without a moment's glance, is where pure evil lurks. Within these very walls, a twisted serial killer brings his gruesome thoughts to life. While trying to catch this killer the local police department has exhausted all their resources, but with your help, the killer can be caught. As you sneak into this unsuspecting home, you will realize that you made a grave mistake. Little did you know, the moment you stepped a foot onto the property, you went from being the hunter to the hunted.

Corona Haunt presents Tales of Halloween
- Where: 3161 Nutmeg Dr, Corona, CA 92882
- When: Thu. Oct. 21 - Sun. Oct. 24, Thu. Oct. 28 - Sun. Oct. 31

The kids at Corona Haunt have been terrifying their neighbors for a decade now, in all the best way. This team consistently combines large-scaled sets, cutting edge theatrics, talented scareactors, and relentless frights to offer one of the best home haunt experiences in the I.E. This year, they’re literally reaching higher with a haunt that promises at least seven or eight full sized sets and a collection of stories that will keep guests up at night. Definitely go check them out!

Pirates of Cindy Court
- Where: 1788 Cindy Ct, Corona, CA 92882
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Pirates of Cindy Court ]

There are plenty of Halloween yard displays themed to pirates these days, and many of these are tributes to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean. But there may be no more extravagant and unbelievable PotC yard haunt than the nicknamed Pirates of Cindy Court, which has exploded in two short years into one of the most elaborate and richly detailed Halloween displays in all of Southern California. Visitors can easily spend quite a while admiring all the details derived from the classic attraction, and this stop is definitely worth a note for anyone doing a Riverside haunts run!

Gothic Hills Cemetery
- Where: 11109 Middleborough Rd, Riverside, CA 92503
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sun. Oct. 31 (nightly)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Gothic Hills Cemetery ]

Gothic Hills Cemetery has moved! Formerly in Sylmar, they have now joined the Inland Empire line-up with a location that’s actually pretty close to Castle Park. This great home haunt has leaned heavily on a more theatrical experience in the past, using an impressively technology-laden production to create quite an immersive experience. Last year, like many home haunts, they were forced to do a yard display instead, but that didn’t stop them from continuing to fundraise for local charities with their canned food drive and donation collection! This year, they’re back with another yard display to ingratiate themselves with the new neighbors.

Reichland Asylum
- Where: 3900 Bandini Ave, Riverside, CA 92506
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Reichland Asylum ]

The patients of Reichland Asylum have rotted in these long abandoned halls.  The doctor has been conducting hideous experiments. Once a year the doors open for the brave to take their chances exploring the asylum. Who will survive the terrors, and who will be broken like so many others?

Reichland Asylum.jpg

Pirates of Magnolia
- Where: 5121 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92506
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (Fri. - Sun. nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Pirates of Magnolia ]

Known locally as “the fire house,” this prominent residence in the Woods Streets neighborhood of Riverside has stunned neighbors the past couple of years with this realistic Pirates of the Caribbean-style fire effects and high octane swashbuckling battle scenes that have attracted crowds each October weekend. What started as a small PotC display has grown over the years, as the owners have added new scenes and effects, but it’s the fiery windows that have some literally calling 911, thinking the house is actually being consumed by an inferno (coincidentally mirroring the fire marshal’s initial reaction to Pirates of the Caribbean in 1969! Traffic and parking can be challenging, so bring patience and careful eyes. This stop is also great to pair with the nearby Reichland Asylum for those visiting at the end of the month.

Haydenville Haunter presents The Mitchell Campbell House
- Where: 23291 Park Lane Ct., Moreno Valley, CA 92553
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sat. Oct. 23, Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Haydenville Haunter ]

Some home haunters stick with the same theme each year and evolve it. Others try to make things difficult for themselves and construct a new story each year. Darren Talmadge falls in that latter category. Two years ago, he built a whole western town for his walk-through. Last year, a swamp offered frights in a hybrid yard display and outdoor walk-through. This year, journey through the grisly home of a demented serial killer and witness his butchery. Just try not to be the next victim!

The Dreich Society presents Fear Fest Grindhouse
- Where: 1130 E. Highland Ct, Ontario, CA 91764
- When: Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Dreich Society ]

The Dreich Society continues its cinematic-themed haunts with the final installment of its Fear Fest maze trilogy. This one is a tribute to those campy-gory grindhouse films of years past that amp up the gore, horror, and violence, and it’s sure to make for a horrific haunt experience!

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Hellsir’s Bumpin’ Pumpkin Patch
- Where: 10522 Lemon Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
- When: Sat. Oct. 9 - Sat. Nov. 6 (Thu. - Sun. nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Hellsir Cemetery ]

Hellsir is a haunt of many talents. Although they’ve put up an elaborate cemetery display for several years, Hellsir planned to sit last year out. But when it became clear that Halloween season was in danger due to the Coronavirus, they literally whipped together a detailed yard display themed to The Purge in just the span of a month! This year, Hellsir goes family-friendly with a grooving pumpkin patch display that will be fun for kids and adults. When you can go from graveyard to riotscape to kid’s display, that’s when you know you’ve got range!

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Samhaim’s Lot
- Where: 6351 Semillon Pl, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
- When: Fri. Oct. 15 - Sat. Oct. 16, Fri. Oct. 22 - Sat. Oct. 23, Thu. Oct. 28 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Samhain’s Lot ]

Just literally down the street from Hellsir is one of the most elaborate and traditional Halloween yard displays around. With tributes to slasher classics like Halloween, modern hits like The Walking Dead, and even just old-fashioned Halloween themes like witches and sorcery, Samhain’s Lot is Halloween come to life in a loving craft to the holiday. The details and presentation are staggering, and one could easily spend a good half hour or more admiring all the little wrinkles to this yard haunt!

Victoria Manor Haunted House
- Where: 9976 Bonita Vista Rd, Apple Valley, CA 92308
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Highly themed, with projection effects, intense actors, and a lengthy, open-air layout, this semi-professional home haunt is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it features three mazes on one property! Two have live scareactors; a third does not. And Victoria Manor is one of the few “home haunts” that starts right at the beginning of October, providing plenty of chances to enjoy the screams!

Desert Decay Manor
- Where: Chaparral Rd and Calico Ave, Whitewater, CA 92282
- When: Fri. Oct. 29 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Desert Decay Manor ]

Nestled in the foothills of the West Palm Springs Village, the Killgore family has resided on these hallowed grounds for generations. Some left trying to escape the family curse of a horrific untimely death. Gravely, they always come home, to dwell within the halls and walls of the manor, hoping to never be sent to the depths of hell which loom so close to their souls. Some turned murderous, some became victims. All are ghostly apparitions that remain here with their secrets to haunt the living in their attempt to take the souls of all who enter and send them to hell in their place. This year will mark the final year of the “Desert Decay Manor” before this longstanding home haunt moves on to a new chapter in the story.

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San Diego County

Howl-O-Scream at Sea World
- Where: 500 Sea World Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
- When: Fri. Sep. 17 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Busch Gardens has held its Howl-O-Scream event for years over on the East Coast, but the event comes out west for the first time this year at Sea World San Diego! The inaugural event will feature three mazes:

  1. Nightmare Experiment - this lab's secret project has descended into chaos, with the experiment's subjects driven into their worst nightmares by the sadistic staff

  2. Death Water Bayou - the air is heavy with a stifling, muggy heat, and something is lurking among the gravestones and voodoo dolls… get out before the Swamp Witch strikes

  3. Simon’s Slaughterhouse - this meat-packing plant has been taken over by the animals, and the only way out is through the butcher’s blades

The park will also offer six scare zones—Deadly Toys, Graveyard, The Sirens, La Llorona, First Fright, and The Hauntings. There will also be four roaming haunts, ensuring no respite throughout the park. Guests can also enjoy The Vampire Circus dark comedy and cabaret show.

The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park
- Where: Balboa Dr & Juniper Rd, San Diego, CA 92101
- When: Fri. Sep. 24 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of The Haunted Trail ]

San Diego’s longest-running Haunted Attraction returns to Balboa Park this season with its famous Haunted Trail and its eXeperiment Maze. Produced by the same group that creates the Haunted Hotel and Scream Zone (which is sadly not operating this year), The Haunted Trail features a menagerie of horror themes (and some IP’s) bundled into a sprawling outdoor walk-through filled with creatures and creeps. It’s a hugely popular San Diego mainstay, and it’s sure to be buzzing for its return this year after last year off!

The Haunted Hotel’s Disturbance in Mission Valley
- Where: Mission Valley Center, 1288 Camino Del Rio N, San Diego, CA 92108
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Disturbance ]

After a year off due to the pandemic, the Haunted Hotel’s Disturbance is back at the Mission Valley Center (in the parking lot near the Target) and brings Disturbed, a three-haunt experience to San Diego County! The Haunted Hotel is a take on the classic attraction, while Kill-Billy Chaos takes guests into the dark backwoods of murderous hillbillies. 3-D Freak Fest features chaos and clowns and colorful cacophony.

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The Haunted Amusement Park
- Where: 14011 Ridge Hill Rd, El Cajon, CA 92021
- When: Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 31 (select nights)

Formerly Scotty’s Scare Trail, this haunt takes place in the old Marshal Scotty's Playland amusement park. The park has long since been abandoned, and this haunt takes guests through its decrepit ruins, where shady residents still reside…

Scareventures presents Red Harvest, part of Fright Nights at Alesmith Brewing Company
- Where: 9990 Alesmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126
- When: Fri. Oct. 22 - Sun. Oct. 24, Thu. Oct. 28 - Sun. Oct. 31
[ Click here for Westcoaster coverage of Scareventures ]

The creator of the Haunted Lodge is back with a new offering this year, and it takes place at a brewery! Scareventures has been enlisted to create a terrifying haunted attraction at the space of Alesmith Brewing Company as part of their Halloween festivities, and the attraction will run seven nights this year across the last two weekends of October. Those who don’t want to have the booze scared out of them can still enjoy the establishment, and there are family-friendly amenities available.


Again, we'll update this post throughout the season as we become aware of other haunts or receive more finalized information.  But we hope this serves as a nice tool for you to plan your own haunted attraction explorations all across this SoCal land!

Architect. Photographer. Disney nerd. Haunt enthusiast. Travel bugged. Concert fiend. Asian.