Archive for the ‘Southern California’ Category

ScareLA: Halloween Comes Early to L.A.

Sunday, May 19th, 2013

Home to some of the world’s premier haunted attractions such as Knott’s Scary FarmUniversal’s Halloween Horror Nights, and Sinister Pointe, just to name a few; the City of Fallen Angels is finally getting its (our) own haunt convention!

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ScareLA, the first-ever Southern California Halloween convention, will open in downtown Los Angeles on August 10 and 11, 2013. The event celebrates California’s Halloween, haunt, and horror community and fans with two full days of presentations, industry panels, hands-on workshops, and an exhibitor show floor. The ScareLA program will feature sneak-previews and behind the scenes insights into the most anticipated 2013 Halloween events in the region. Confirmed participants include:

  • John Murdy, creative director, Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
  • Brooke Walters, designer, Knott’s Halloween Haunt maze
  • Melissa Carbone, producer, Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, The Great Horror Campout
  • Jason Blum, horror film producer Insidious, Sinister, The Paranormal Activity
  • Jon Braver, founder and director of interactive horror theatre Haunted Play Delusion
  • Key creatives and staff from local haunted attractions such as Reign of Terror, Sinister Pointe, Chambers of the Mausoleum, Blumhouse of Horrors, Blackout Haunted House
  • Participants from renowned home haunts throughout SoCal including The House at Haunted Hill, Boney Island, Boot Hill, and more

“ScareLA will shine the spotlight on everything that makes Los Angeles the ultimate Halloween destination in America,” shares David Markland, who is co-producing the event with Lora Ivanova. Ivanova adds, “Our city is brimming with talent and scary history just waiting to be discovered. Are you curious about hidden urban haunts? Want to get a head start on your Halloween costume? Interested in creating your own attraction or going pro? We have you covered.”

At ScareLA attendees of all ages and skill level will have an opportunity to learn from the nation’s best pro haunters and artists with a full lineup of workshops, demonstrations and classes. From make-up art, costuming, home haunt logistics and tips to pumpkin carving, fans and pros of all ages will get the chance to roll up their sleeves and play. Interactive exhibits, exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities and a show floor full of original Halloween merchandise round out the event’s ever growing schedule of activities.

For more information, exhibitor inquiries and to be among the first to learn when tickets go on sale, visit www.scarela.com. Share, inspire, play – ScareLA.

About ScareLA

Founded in 2013, ScareLA is Southern California’s first Halloween Convention. The event features the diverse and rich local theme park and haunt entertainment industry and solidifies Los Angeles as the ultimate destination for the Halloween season. The event is produced in partnership by CreepyLA, GENIEEffect and Theme Park Adventure, with national-level support from of the best makers, Halloween artists, haunt pros, haunted attraction owners and operators. For more information, visit www.scarela.com.

Killer Summer Camps

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

As the weather warms and summer approaches, it’s time to start planning your outdoor camping trip. If the Crystal Lake cabins are sold out, why not try one of these alternative destinations?

Horror Camp LIVE! (Lancashire, England)

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Horror Camp LIVE returns for its second year in Lancashire, England.

Following it’s unprecedented success in 2012, the terror team behind the event have reimagined the offering with more heart-stopping content than ever before. Forget cosy campfire sing-songs and toasted marshmallows, this is an intense fear-infused fright fest for 18+ adults only.

Located on the grounds of Scare Kingdom Scream Park, at Hawkshaw Farm Park near Blackburn in Lancashire, the event sold out in 2012.

Horror Camp LIVE!, is the world’s first interactive horror camping experience, inspired by movies like The Blair Witch Project, Cabin Fever and Friday the 13th. It is a unique 13 hour scare entertainment experience which mixes live scareactors, indoor and outdoor scare attraction environments, dare-based games, and a horrifying story which manifests around the campers in four dimensions.

This new generation of ex-scream entertainment features psychological torture, sensory deprivation and hands-on simulated assault. All new scareacters for the 2013 event include Hell-Razor, a chainsaw-wielding pig hybrid, Zombo the cannibal clown and Ms. Twitch – a brand-new Camp Mistress from the “Institute of Happiness” who controls the campground with a sickly-sweet smile and an iron fist!

Horror Camp LIVE is open May 24 and 25 and July 26 and 27, 2013.

For full information, dates, prices and to book tickets visit www.horrorcamplive.co.uk.

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Great Horror Campout (Los Angeles, CA)

Great horror campout

From the creators of the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and Ghost Ship comes the Great Horror Campout.

About The Great Horror Campout

This ISN’T your 9-year old son or daughters’ camp, and “Happy Trails” will be a figment of your imagination. This camps only desire is to ruin you! CAMP AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The Great Horror Campout (GHC) is an overnight, immersive experience that puts campers into an interactive horror camping adventure. Whether campers decide to stay in their tents or venture into the darkness, they are fair game. You will be lured out of your tent one way or another. Whether it’s to participate in the “Hell Hunt,” use the restrooms, or just being dragged out by your sleeping bag, even campers whom want to sleep or hang in their tent with friends will find themselves having to go into the dark sooner or later.

Lasting 12 hours (8pm-8am), campers will find themselves confronting every fear that haunted them as children. Located on the 32 acre Los Angeles State Historic Park, campers will have the opportunity to meet a plethora of species that were only thought to have existed in legend.

GHC is suitable for adults 18 and over. The experience begins at 8pm. There will be suitable time for sleeping, however the residents of the woods never sleep. Survivors leave the site at 8am. It is a high scare, high startle content experience. There will be no refunds after a ticket is purchased and a patron has entered the campsite.

The Great Horror Campout runs June 7 and 8, 2013.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://greathorrorcampout.com.

Knott’s Scary Farm Hiring Event: April 23, 2013

Sunday, April 21st, 2013

The start of haunt season is only 5 months away, which means that construction for the theme park haunts is set to begin very soon. For that reason, Knott’s is holding a hiring event to fill construction positions on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Here is your chance to take part in creating one of the best haunts in Southern California!

More to Fear 40th

Halloween Haunt Build Hiring Event: April 23, 2013 (18+)

HELP US BUILD A BETTER NIGHTMARE! Knott’s Scary Farm has immediate openings for seasonal/temporary skilled workers and artisans. Apply for one of the following: Theatrical Carpenters, Construction Carpenters, Scenic Artists/Painters, Audio and Lighting Technicians, Theatrical Crafts/Prop Masters, and Park Decorating.

Requirements:
We are looking for hard-working, team players to assist us in building our annual Halloween Haunt. Minimum 2 years experience required. You must be 18 years of age, a high school graduate, or equivalent, to apply.

To Apply:
We will be interviewing candidates on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m at the Knott’s Berry Farm Employment Center: 8039 Beach Blvd. Buena Park, CA 90620 Employment Center. Come join the construction team that will transform Knott’s Berry Farm into Knott’s Scary Farm. Save time, print out our Job Application, complete it, and bring it with you when you apply.

PLEASE NOTE: Scare Zone is not affiliated with Knott’s Berry Farm. Please visit Knott’s website for more information about current job openings. Good luck!!

Monsterpalooza 2013: THIS WEEKEND!

Monday, April 8th, 2013

Despite the huge number of haunted attractions in the area, Southern California doesn’t have a haunt convention per se. But what we do have is Monsterpalooza, an impressive celebration of the “Art of Monsters,” and it’s an event that gets bigger and better every year. Although you won’t find much about the haunted attraction industry here, the assortment of horror movie collectibles, art, makeup, and merchandise is well worth the visit.

The event is taking place this weekend, April 12-14 this year, and tickets are now on sale. We strongly suggest that you buy your tickets in advance. This event has become incredibly popular, and the ticket line is long and slow (we waited almost 2 hours last year). We hope that Monsterpalooza will find a bigger venue soon; for now, it’s returning to the Burbank Marriott. If you visit in the afternoon on Saturday or Sunday, be prepared for large crowds.

This year’s guests include Eric Roberts, Ace Frehley (KISS), Lita Ford, Tom Woodruff Jr (FX artist), Michael Westmore (makeup artist), and John Murdy (creative director of Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood).

Be sure to check out our coverage of last year’s Monsterpalooza, and visit the Monsterpalooza website for more information.

Go On ‘The Hunt’ With Sinister Pointe

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Sinister Pointe continues to create new ways for Haunt Stalkers to socialize throughout the year. Over the past 2 years they’ve had holiday themed haunts (Christmas and Valentines), held horror swap meets, movie screenings, and even dating games. Now they’re challenging us to new kind of fear based  with “The Hunt”!

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“The Hunt” is not your average Scavenger Hunt. You will NOT be asked to run around town collecting nose hair clippers or ping pong paddles. This is an intense game of POINTS! Over the course of 6 hours, THE HUNT will take you to some of the most haunted and spookiest locations, late at night, within a 30 mile radius. With upwards of 25 locations it will be impossible for your team to get to them all. This is where strategy comes into play. Upon arrival you will be given documents vaguely describing the different location, their tasks and their value in points. Each location you arrive at will contain a task, a brain twister or a “FEAR TEST” that you must complete. This event WILL require you to use your body, mind & soul!

Some locations may be in close proximity to Sinister Pointe, and the tasks may be a bit more simple, but may only be worth a minimal amount of points. Other locations will be a much further travel with a higher difficulty level but the reward for completing the task offers a greater amount of points.

Keep in mind, You do not want your team “THE JOE SCHMO COOL GUYS” to think your so bad ass and can handle anything, travel to the furthest location, only to get there, fail and leave with zero points. You must play this wisely!

Event Details

Each team member will receive:
- Snacks and refreshments upon arrival and return to Sinister Pointe
- Sinister Pointe commemorative event T-Shirt
- Sinister Pointe commemorative event button
- Fancy collectible event documents
- A gas card will be given to the driver/owner of the vehicle to help with the expense. (Amount $20.00)
- Extraordinary grand prizes for the winning team

Tickets Prices:
$75.00 Per Person

Tickets available by phone from 10:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday by calling 714-927-DEAD

Don’t want to pay over the phone? You may also stop in to the Sinister Pointe offices. Please call ahead to make an appointment by calling 714-927-DEAD

Upon purchasing your ticket:
- Provide us with the names of each member of your team. (if any)
- Provide us with a unique team name.
- Provide us your Shirt Size
- We will ask you if you have a vehicle & would you be willing to use this as transportation for your team.

Date & Time:
Saturday, April 20th 2013 (NOW SOLD OUT)
or
Saturday, April 27th, 2013

Day of the event:
- Check in at Sinister Pointe between 6:00pm – 6:30pm
- Introduction and game play begins 6:30pm – 7:30pm
- Departure at 7:30pm
- Return at 12:00am

See who else will be joining THE HUNT! Start or join in on a discussion on THE HUNT event page

All terms, times, prices & instructions are all subject to change.

Please visit www.SinisterPointe.com for more detailed information regarding this event.

Sinister Pointe Presents: The NewlyDEAD Game

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

For those of you “lucky” enough to have  received Valentine roses that aren’t dead yet…well they should be. For all the other useless romantics who were stuck eating Ramen noodles and watching My Bloody Valentine all alone while wishing there’s someone they could stalk, Sinister Pointe hasn’t forgotten about you. On Saturday, March 2nd they invite all “sexy guys & girls” to participate in their sinister version of the dating game – The NewlyDEAD Game.  Guests and participants get to join” television executives” and the horrific family of Sinister Pointe as they attempt to film a brand new dating game show within the walls of Sinister Pointe.  It’s promised to be  1.5 hrs of entertainment so unique and unexpected that “your wig will literally be blown back” (whatever that means). Whether you are single and looking for love or a group of friends just looking to be highly entertained, you will not want to miss this event filled with plenty of laughs, embarrassing moments, spooky surprises and of course PRIZES!

Horror Movie Night 4D - ZombieLandIn addition, later in the evening they’re hosting another legendary “Horror Movie Night 4D” at 10:00pm with a showing Zombieland. Any guest that attends both the “NewlyDEAD Game” and the “Horror Movie Night 4D” will receive a VERY SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION SINISTER POINTE COLLECTIBLE!

While we’d prefer that they had offered an actual Valentine’s themed haunt this is still sounds like it could be a fun way to spend the night. Who knows, the one you’ve always said you’d die for may end up being there and ask will you to prove it.

To help spread the love Scare Zone Haunt Stalkers can receive $5 off  when buying tickets online and using the discount code: newlydead.  In addition, if  you are a single guy or girl and want the chance to be a contestant on the game show then send them an email at: Casting@sinisterpointe.com (contestants must be 18 or older)

Learn more about Sinister Pointe Productions and their events at www.sinisterpointe.com

Rumor Zone: The Haunted Play – Las Vegas?

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

In a recent Facebook post – our friends at The Haunted Play Presents: Delusion have been hinting around with the idea of doing a Vegas version of their show. With their show’s mix of magic and horror we think that The Haunted Play could be strong compliment to Vegas’s unique haunt season offerings such as Goretorium, Freakling Bros.,  The 13th Floor Experience and Penn & Teller (scary we know).

In his recent trips to explore the possibility, Haunted Play creator Jon Braver, believes that there is great amount of potential there, yet he realizes that the Vegas audience is quite different from L.A. (Hollywood) crowd. In addition, for a Vegas production  he received the suggestion to make it more of a flow-through event (i.e. get more people through, quicker!). From a purely business perspective it makes sense. From a Haunted Play perspective that means a loss of intimacy and doesn’t coincide well with Jon’s goal to make it a high price ticket event which will allow a truly unique, interactive and intimate experience.

Perhaps, they can find the right balance with either a space that allows for  two groups to tour simultaneously or enter more frequently after each other. In L.A. the challenge is that the mansion location requires some backtracking through scenes, so to keep groups from colliding they have to keep them spaced apart thus limiting the number of “tours” they can offer each night. In addition, the mansion is located in a residential neighborhood so they have to stop shows by a certain hour which isn’t an issue in Vegas.

The Vegas version isn’t confirmed but they are currently scouting locations so it seems that there is a strong likelihood we’ll see see some Delusions in Vegas.

Back in L.A., The Delusion Mansion (talk about your fixer uppers), which has been their home for the last two years, is currently for sale. It seems that bids are coming in around the $900K. It’s believed that owning the mansion would serve as a viable investment property as it’s frequently used for film shoots throughout the year and of course Delusion from mid-Sept to mid-Nov.

This doesn’t mean they’re planning to move out of L.A. (pending the new owner’s willingness to rent the home for an extended period of time) but they are also considering opening another show in Pasadena (L.A. suburb). This could be good whereas they will be able to create a completely new kind of experience within a new house/mansion. Pasadena has some very old historic and creepy neighborhoods and houses including the famous Michael Myers house from Halloween so they should fit right in.

We also don’t know if Neil Patrick Harris will be contributing his creativity to the show again but we’ll keep you  posted as we hear more.

My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Happy Valentine’s Day Haunt Stalkers!

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Here’s a little Valentine’s treat for all of you:  a video walk through of the 2009 HHN maze “My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever” .

The idea to use this movie theme for a maze was a good idea, but unfortunately, it never fully delivered the scares and was one of the weaker 2009 offerings. This was thought to be a late addition after the plans to have a Wolf Man maze fell through. Like all the other HHN mazes, this maze did have very detailed sets and a strong linear story, which closely followed the plot of the 2009 remake. The mine shaft sets were well detailed and added to the foreboding sense of claustrophobia. However, one of the biggest issues had to do with the scare timing (you’ll see in the video), which was affected by the very elaborate sets that were hard for the scareactors to quickly “reset”  with the streams of people going through. Perhaps, had they added the 3D effect to this maze to complement its theatrical namesake, that would’ve upped the fear factor some. Nonetheless, it was still fun and an unique maze for HHN Hollywood.

See more haunt and theme parks videos from Sharp Productions  - here

Terror Trucks Delievers Haunts to Your House

Tuesday, February 12th, 2013

As kids most of us would have birthday parties themed to Transformers, GI JOE, Pokemon,  Hello Kitty, etc. As grown ups many of us have turned to hitting the local night club, bar, or throwing a house party with friends. For us haunt stalkers, unless our birthdays are during haunt season it’s kind of hard to have a haunted house party.  Wouldn’t it be great if we can turn up our parties a notch and treat ourselves (and guests) to an actual haunt experience from the comforts of our own home? Well, in our quest to fine unique haunt experiences we’ve come across Terror Trucks, a company that offers that manufactures and operates “Xtreme Haunted Walk Through Attractions“.

Terror Trucks will roll out for public and for private events. They say that these are intense attractions designed to submerge guests into an unforgettable experience, assaulting all of their senses, fears and phobias. These attractions are not for cry babies or the faint of heart and they are not equipped with “Chicken Exits”. These Terror Trucks are extremely large custom designed and built trailers that are fully self contained and completely automated. Since the entire attraction is built inside of a trailer they can be transported to any venue anywhere in the nation. This reminds us a little of Freakling Bros Trilogy of Terror in Vegas, which housed their incredibly themed and  terrifying haunts inside some unassuming trucks.

Now we’re not outright endorsing this company but we do think that concept sounds is fun. If any of you have experienced a Terror Truck we’d love to hear how it was.

Take a closer look inside  the Terror Trucks and their themed offerings:

BURIED ALIVE is one of our most popular Terror Trucks and one of the most feared. After entering this attraction you are lead into an open grave. If you are afraid of the creatures that lurk underground, if you are bothered by the smell of rotting flesh and if you are afraid of being buried alive, alone and left in the dark, then the first moments of this Terror Truck will leave you looking for the exits. Only in this attraction there are no “Chicken Exits”. After you find your way out of the grave you will find yourself lost and disoriented underground. If you can fight off the the dark, damp, rancid surroundings and fight your way through the small claustrophobic corridors that seem to never end and the intense pounding resonating through your body then you might be one of the lucky ones that find their way out, but you will never forget the experience of being BURIED ALIVE!

This is one cold blooded Terror Truck! Once you step inside our COLD STORAGE attraction to chill out you’ll soon feel the cold sweat on your body as you realize that the doors to the room you are in will not hold back the the mob of frozen zombies trying to break it down. Your only chance to escape is to first squeeze your way through our meat locker occupied by some of our previous visitors, but that is just the beginning. Step carefully on the thin ice and try not to breath in the moist smell of decay that fills the air. All of your senses will be overwhelmed and the feeling of discontent will resonate throughout your body. But before you leave you will have to endure the feeling of being alone and out in the cold. In the end, when you think you have survived, you better look down at your feet, because this attraction comes with a free toe tag.

Christmas Haunts Return for 2012

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

The holidays are almost upon us, so what better time to being planning your Christmas haunt stalking?

Although there are not a whole lot of scary Christmas activities out there, the list does seem to grow every year. When we hear of more Christmas haunts, we’ll be sure to bring you the details.

Las Vegas

The Screamont Experiment will re-open December 1st all decorated up with slay bells for the holidays. This multi-level 35,000 sq. ft haunted attraction is loacted inside The Las Vegas Club on Fremont Street and  was designed by the maniacal mind of The Amazing Johnathan. It certainly is not a cover up for some sort of biological disaster in the north tower of the hotel.

Goretorium hasn’t announced any special holiday plans, but the year-round haunt will continue to terrorize through the holiday season and beyond. Click here to see more of our coverage of Goretorium.

Evil Dead: The Musical

  

Tired of seeing the Nutcraker year after year? Then how about a Boomstick, chainsaw and zombies.  What’s the show that people keep returning to again and again, sometimes yelling the lines along with the actors and sometimes interacting with lines of their own? You might think ROCKY HORROR, but in this case you’d be WRONG. It’s EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL, the camp comedy that is painting the town BLOODY! Critics, fans, theater lovers, theater haters, and just about anyone who happens to find themselves at the show all agree – this is the best thing since sliced veins! Hot chicks! Dancing zombies! A guy with a chainsaw for a hand! Come get your “groovy” on! 

We hear this show in a 4D experience with a “splatter zone” so be sure to check your seats before you buy!

New York

Nightmare (Before Christmas): The Experiment is coming back to town. New York City’s Nightmare haunted house producers, the Psycho Clan, are ready to spread some holiday fear.

This event is described as a “sensory assaulting theatre experience,” the 50-minute interactive show  it runs December 7 through December 23, 2012, at Los Kabayitos Laboratorio at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center (CSV), 107 Suffolk Street between Rivington and Delancey.

Studies have shown that the anxiety of the holiday season, coupled with seasonal depression, heightens the neurotransmitters associated with feelings of fear.  The Psycho Clan plans on exploiting those levels of fear for an adrenaline rushing 50 minutes of twisted holiday pleasure, with NIGHTMARE (BEFORE CHRISTMAS): THE EXPERIMENT. This year has been expanded with all new experiments while taking old ones to a more intense level in this terrifying (and entertaining) examination into the limits of fear. The Experiment takes place in a small lab putting the audience through 10 intense experiments testing a broad range of common fears that people experience. The audience plays the subject in a case study for research on the threshold of fear. Will YOUR limits be hit?

NIGHTMARE (BEFORE CHRISTMAS): THE EXPERIMENT has been created by the Psycho Clan members: Timothy Haskell, John Harlacher, Paul Smithyman and David Hinkle.

Performances are on December 7,8,9,14,15,16,18,19,20,21,22 and 23 all at 7 and 9 pm, as well as Family Friendly performances on December 22nd, and 23rd at 3 pm

Tickets for NIGHTMARE (BEFORE CHRISTMAS): THE EXPERIMENT are $30 for regular performances, and $15 for the family friendly performances on December 22nd and 23rdat 3 pm and are available at www.hauntedhousenyc.com, or by calling 212.352.3101 or at the box office 1-hour prior to each performance.

 

Times Scare hasn’t announced any special holiday plans, but the year-round haunt will continue to terrorize through the holiday season and beyond. Be sure to check out our review of Times Scare before you go.

 Southern California

Delusion is extending it’s run due to popular demand, “one final time”! As we’ve shared in our review, Neil Patrick Harris and Jon Braver have created some horrifying magic together as Delusion: The Blood Rite is adding 6 more dates to spice up the holidays between Thanksgiving and Christmas: Nov 30, Dec 1, 2, 7,8 and 9.  Special VIP tickets will be made available giving fans an exclusive behind the scenes tour with creator/director Jon Braver and a chance to join the action in a unique way. If you still haven’t experienced it be sure to go see it ASAP!

Sinister Pointe reopens this December to bring back their “Not So Merry” holiday haunt. They’ll be open December 7, 8, and 9 as well as December 14, 15, and 16 (7-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 7-11 pm on Sundays).

Sinister Pointe is spreading a little Christmas FEAR to all you horror fiends with a NOT so merry haunt. SP will be adding a little dark Xmas flare to our existing haunt with  a few new surprises and a horrible holiday theme. This event is rude and crude! Expect inappropriate behavior, language and insults. If you are easily offended then this specific holiday event is NOT for you!!

It sounds like they are bringing back the drunken Santa and perverted bunny. Read our haunt report from last year’s holiday event to see what we’re talking about. Tickets are $17 for general admission.

Texas

Moxley Manor is open in December for their 3rd annual NightScare Before Christmas! The Holiday season has a new twist with NightScare Before Christmas at Moxley Manor Haunted House. A Nightscare Before Christmas will have all the screams that were heard throughout October, only now it is our Elves that have taken over Moxley Manor in our Christmas themed haunted house.