Halloween Horror Nights kicked off at Universal Studios over the weekend officially marking the start to LA’s Haunted House season. We’ve pulled together this essential guide to finding all of the demons in the City of Angels. These haunts are organized by opening date so you can strategically plan as many Los Angeles haunted houses as possible this Halloween (closer to San Francisco? No problem, check out our essential guide to Northern California Haunted Houses).
Table of Contents
Universal Halloween Horror Nights
Attraction Type: Theme Park/Haunts/Mazes
First Date: September 15
Location: Universal Studios
Universal has decided to go in a few interesting directions for Halloween Horror Nights 2017. This year the park has tapped IP including The Shining, Ash vs. Evil Dead, American Horror Story, and Saw. Bonus: Universal is testing out a “haunt-as-trailer” concept. In the Blumhouse haunt, you won’t only get a combo maze of Sinister and The Purge, but you’ll also visit the world of the forthcoming Happy Death Day. Also, the Insidious maze will feature the horrifying creeps of the franchise so far plus the first full view of the “key demon” from next year’s Insidious: The Final Key.
All dates: Sept. 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, Oct. 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 25-29, 31, Nov. 2-4
Drunken Devil: To Live and Di(n)e in LA
Attraction: Immersive Horror Dining Experience
Single Date: Sept. 22
Location: Think Tank Gallery
This single night dining experience will bring together 45 guests who will be joined throughout the night by ghosts of LA’s true crime history. According to event producer Drunken Devil: “guests will sit down for dinner with the dead, as they come face-to-face with Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia; Harvey Glatman, infamously nicknamed the “Glamour Girl Slayer” for his harrowing methods of killing aspiring young models in the late 1950’s; Susan Atkins, one of the most prominent members of the Manson Family (although Charles will not appear, his ominous presence will be noticeable throughout the event); and Richard Ramirez, also known as the “Night Stalker,” who terrorized suburban Los Angeles for years.” The menu for the event has been created by KTCHNLA Executive Chef Felix Barron and includes thematic dishes and cocktails.
Knott’s Scary Farm
Attraction Type: Theme Park/Haunts/Mazes
First Date: September 21
Location: Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s will transform the theme park to include “13 uniquely haunted attractions and mazes, sinister shows, a dozen thrill rides in the dark and more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding in every corner of the park.” Attractions are still being announced as of this writing, but some of what’s been announced include “The Tooth Fairy,” “The Hollow,” “CarnEvil,” and “Fiesta de los Muertos.”
All dates: Sept. 21-23, 28-Oct. 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-31
Queen Mary: Dark Harbor
Attraction Type: Haunts/Mazes/Ship
First Date: September 28
Location: The Queen Mary
The Queen Mary adds a new experience on the ship for 2017: Feast. This maze introduces you to the Chef who’s looking for new ingredients to add to the ship’s stew. That makes seven mazes in all. Also returning, but “newly intensified,” will be Intrepid, Circus, Deadrise, and Lullaby.
All dates: Sept.28-30, Oct. 1, Oct. 5-8, Oct. 12-15, Oct. 19-22, Oct. 25-29, Oct. 31 & Nov. 1
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Attraction Type: Hayride/Haunts/Maze
First Date: September 29
Location: Griffith Park’s Old Zoo
This year the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride’s overall theme is “clowns” and will feature four scare zones:
Purgatory: A haunted village with a Bootique shop, a scary-go-round, food and drink at the Grub Shack, and a 20-foot living fire.
Trick or Treat: *ding-dong* WHo will answer the door?
Haunted Hayride: Slither through the haunted woods of Griffith Park’s Old Zoo.
House of Shadows: Touted as LA’s “only true dark maze.” If you dare, explore this demonically possessed house.
All dates: Sept. 29, 30, Oct. 6-8, 13-15, 19-22, 26-29, 31
Creep LA: Lore
Attraction: Haunt
First Date: October 5
Location: The REEF/LA Mart, 1986 Hill Street, Los Angeles
This year the folks behind Creep LA and The Willows have teamed up with Amazon Prime’s six-episode anthology series Lore. The series hits Amazon on October 13, but the Creep LA experience will start scaring pants off on October 5. According to the press release, victims can expect “real-life historical events that birthed many folk tales which ultimately spawned some of our darkest nightmares to life pulling inspiration and using elements from the show.”
All dates: Oct. 5-7, 12-15, 18-22, 25, 29, Nov. 2-4, 9-12
Urban Death Tour of Terror
Attraction: Haunted Theatre
First Date: October 5
Location: Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre
Urban Death is unlike most Halloween haunts because the horrors tap directly into the primal essence of terror. The maze is a haunt meets performance art with lots of blood and occasional nudity. Leave the kids at home for this one.
All dates: Oct. 5-7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 30, 31
The Backwoods Maze
Attraction: Home Haunt
First Date: October 13
Location: 1912 N Pepper Street in Burbank
The Backwoods Maze is one of the longest-running free home haunts in Southern California. Check out the Instagram account for a sneak peek at what to expect in 2017.
All dates: Oct. 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 & 31
Haunted Rose: The Maritime Horror
Attraction Type: Haunt
First Date: October 29
Location: 12116 Groveland Avenue in Whittier
Haunted Rose is LA County’s only H.P. Lovecraft-themed haunted attraction. Guests enter “the abode of Dr. Macabro” who experiments with necromancy and has released “unspeakable evil.”
All dates: Oct. 29, 30, & 31
Delusion
Attraction Type: Immersive Haunt Experience/Theatrical
First Date: N/A
Delusion is one of the most interesting horror experiences in the country. Unfortunately, the experience is an immense undertaking and requires unique real estate that isn’t always available. The organizers were unable to locate an appropriate space for 2017, but have announced they’ll be back in 2018.