Knott's Scary Farm 2023: Pulling Out All The Stops For The 50th Anniversary
Knott's Scary Farm has long been one of the famed Southern California haunts this time of year. In fact, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the theme park haunt. To celebrate, Knott's Scary Farm 2023 guests can brave 10 mazes - including three new ones - five reimagined scare zones, and four shows. There are also special Halloween treats, like the raspberry beignets (highly recommend), cereal killer funnel cake, and black velvet cake.
I got a chance to taste some of the desserts, as well as the quirky food choices, like The Swamp Gator Sausage (made with alligator) and the Bat “Shhh” Crazy Pasta with Rabbit Tenderloin. There are also fun cocktails that you can purchase throughout the park, like Clown Tears IPA, Devil's Elixir, Redrum Runner, and the Pickle Hitchin’, which is whiskey and pickle juice in a cored-out pickle.
The decor throughout Knott's is next-level, including the picture-worthy display at the very front of the park. That is far from the only photo op, however; as this year's expanded Tribute Store features a series celebrating 50 years of the popular socal theme park haunt. As usual, there is also some really cool KSF art to peruse and to purchase, as well as other merch, like the limited edition Loungefly x Knott’s Scary Farm Mini Backpack, which are already popping up on resell sites.
Scary Farm has always had great scare zones, and this year is no different. The Guantlet at Camp Snoopy is a reimagining of a fan-favorite scare zone, featuring the King and Queen of the realm, magical jesters, and wizards. Returning scare zones Forsaken Lake, CarnEVIL, and Gore-ing 20s continue to impress. Of course, my favorite is Ghost Town Streets, where you can get lost in the fog, and encounter a host of terrifying entities, like the Ghost Town Bride. All of the performers are so on their game that it’s easy to be completely immersed in the frightening lore.
For those who want less attention in the scare zones, you can purchase a “No-Boo Necklace” for $14.99. New this year are the Interactive Lanterns, which operate not unlike those cool bracelets you get at Taylor Swift concerts. For $39.99, you can carry a lantern like the ghost conductor, which interacts with mazes, and changes color or goes dark in certain mazes and scare zones.
As far as entertainment, The Hanging: Uncancelled is back for the first time since 2019. The fan-favorite pop culture parody show - now located at Wagon Camp - follows The Lawman as he tracks down the vilest villains of the year. There are performances at 7:45pm, 9:30pm, and 11:15pm. From the Scary Farm vault, Dr. Cleaver Returns with performances at the Bird Cage Theatre at 8:15pm, 9:30pm, 11:15pm, and 12:30am.
There are three performances of La Magnifique Carnival du Grotesque - 8pm, 9:30pm, and 11pm - at the Calico Mine Stage. Think circus acts full of fire, carnival acts, and death-defying feats. Unlike other performances, this one is easy to catch as you are walking by from maze to maze. I found myself watching throughout the evening, and would definitely have sat down to watch in its entirety if I had had the time. Instead of Puppet Up! this year, the Walter Knott Theater is host to Music, Monsters & Mayhem, a musical journey “celebrating 50 years of terror and frights.” There are performances at 8:30pm, 10:15pm, and 12am.
Now onto the main event - the mazes. We were able to hit all 10, though, full disclosure, we did have Fright & Fast Lane wristbands (from $145, park admission not included). The returning mazes this year are Bloodline 1842, Mesmer, The Grimoire, Origins: The Curse of Calico, The Depths, Wax Works, and Dark Entities (for its final year). Knott’s Scary Farm pulled out all the stops for three impressive new mazes, The Chilling Chambers, Room 13, and my personal favorite, Cinema Slasher. Below I will rank the mazes, starting with my favorite. Note: There are no bad mazes at Knott’s Scary Farm. This list is more like arranged in order of how much I loved them, rather than best to worst.
1. Cinema Slasher
Knott's says: “Embark on a journey through the Midnight Theater, entering horror film worlds where you must survive the deadly Slasher's rage. Can you escape these movie nightmares, or will you be trapped among decaying corpses in the ruined theatre? The sinister Midnight Theater beckons the brave into Cinema Slasher.”
My thoughts: I would go through this maze again and again. I thought I would miss Dark Ride - and I do - but Cinema Slasher is just so fun. It's like walking through an amalgamation of classic horror films, like Friday the 13th ("Camp Gonnagetcha"), I Know What You Did Last Summer, Black Christmas, and Halloween. It's also kind of like Final Girls, in that you walk through a ripped-up cinema screen and into a host of different horror films. Cannot recommend enough.
2. The Chilling Chambers
Knott's says: “Honoring Scary Farm's inaugural maze, ’10 Chilling Chambers,’ began in 1977. This unsettling attraction pays tribute to its past while horrifying today's audience. The Keeper leads you through a foreboding cathedral, encountering classic maze themes. Unleash 50 years of modern terror, reliving the eerie collections and diabolical characters of seasons past.”
My thoughts: Longtime fans of Knott's Scary Farm will freak over this beautifully grotesque homage to mazes from years past. You can see that so much effort and so much detail has been put into this maze. From a gothic cathedral and graveyard and clown-filled funhouse to a room loaded with stuffed animals, each room is more interesting than the last. This maze would be really cool to walk through with the lights on so you could really admire the hard work the Knott's team put into it.
3. Mesmer
Knott's says: “Within the canvas tent lies the secret of the most potent force in the universe: the human mind. Give in and succumb to the hypnotist Mesmer, and his sinister sideshow, as it preys on your hidden fears. Release your inner thoughts and descend into a world of madness, torture, and eerie enlightenment. There you will uncover the grotesque secrets hidden as you brave through the most terrifying show ever created.”
My thoughts: This was one of my favorite mazes last year, and this year it did not disappoint. The basic witch in me loves the room filled with crystals, but there are so many interesting tableau and wild circus scenes that it's like walking through the most fun fever dream. I find the entire aesthetic fascinating and alluring, and the name fits, seeing as I often found myself mesmerized.
4. Wax Works
Knott's says: “Mysterious lights and strange noises have begun to emanate from the eerie abandoned wax museum. The once prominent plastic surgeon, Dr. Augustus Scratch, has been seen tinkering at night, and is now ready to show off his beautiful yet terrifying life-like masterpieces of hot molten wax and bloody flesh.
It’s rumored that blood-curdling screams can be heard echoing through the halls of Wax Works as victims are horrifyingly submerged into a scorching hot cauldron of bubbling wax. Take a closer look at his gruesome works of art, and try to escape his deadly grip or become the newest masterpiece to add to his collection.”
My thoughts: Wax Works is always fun because it's like walking through the movie House of Wax (and, yes, I am picturing the 2005 slasher with Paris Hilton). The troubling and uncanny valley nature of wax figures mixed with the horrifying creations of mad scientist Dr. Scratch solidify Wax Works as one of Knott's Scary Farm's strongest mazes.
5. Room 13
Knott's says: “Violent murders at The Blind Tiger interrupt the Prohibition-era revelry on Memory Lane. A dangerously addictive new cocktail named The Devil’s Elixir seems to be at the root of the mayhem, but where did it come from? The answers may lie at the heart of the extravagant Argive Hotel, where many have checked in… but none have checked out.”
My thoughts: Who doesn't love a haunted hotel? With the retro time period and murderous hotel energy, it is kind of reminiscent of the B340 maze from the late Queen Mary Dark Harbor event. (That's not to say it is a copy - it's definitely got its own flair.) Some giant animatronics lead to a few of the maze's memorable moments. Fun fact: The Devil's Elixir is available for purchase throughout the park.
6. The Depths
Knott's says: “A heavy fog drapes over an abandoned port village where ancient creatures lurk inside the pitch-black underground caves hidden below the seaside shores. The Nightwatch Mining Crew has mysteriously disappeared, and village rumors point to the eerie tunnels the town sits upon. Myths of the terrifying horrors that lurk within the cave have often been whispered, but never confirmed.
Did the crew meet their demise at the hand of vicious creatures that live within the cave? Journey into the ominous caverns, and follow the crew’s path into The Depths, discover if the superstition revolving around the cave is true or not. But be warned! All who have entered have never resurfaced.”
My thoughts: The Depths is a water sign's dream, with spooky mermaids, underwater creatures, and effects that make it look like you yourself are trudging through water (one of my all-time favorite haunted house techniques). For those that frequent Knott's Scary Farm, The Depths won't necessarily be new or exciting, but it's still good enough that you don't want to skip it. It's a great way to start off a night of scares.
7. The Grimoire
Knott's says: “Turn the page, and enter the world of an ancient relic whose dark stories exist purely to turn your greatest nightmares into a reality. Try to escape the horror of the evil creatures released by the mysterious book, or have your soul eternally trapped within the pages of the next chapter!”
My thoughts: The set pieces of this one are really impressive - from a World War II bunker to a 1950s Leave It to Beaver type atmosphere (with a nasty twist), there is so much to take in. I particularly love all of the camp scenes that make me think of IP like Fear Street and Are You Afraid of the Dark? It can feel a little confusing, because breezing through the Fright Lane line means missing pre-show information, but it's still a wild ride with plenty to look at.
8. Bloodline 1842
Knott's says: “Enter the battlegrounds of the war-torn streets of the steampunk Neo-Victorian city of Valdonia, as your clan’s perilous journey takes you into the heart of a raging war between your brethren, the immortal Daybreakers and the bloodthirsty Valhymphri.
The vampires have sacked the entire city, and destroyed everything in their path. Creep through the shadows and avoid the raging vampires as your clan traverses through the rubble-filled catacombs and blood-soaked walls. Armed with only your wits and courage, find the remaining Daybreakers, and help them destroy the King of the Valhymphri… for the last stand is here! Blood and Blessings!”
My thoughts: I actually prefer that this year wasn't a shooting game-style maze like previous iterations. The steampunk Neo-Victorian sets are stunning, and without the laser tag of it all, you had a bit more time to really soak it all in. I wish I could've hung out in there longer, and say, been able to grab a drink in that old bar with the monsters.
9. Origins: The Curse of Calico
Knott's says: “Pierce the veil of time and discover the secret of the evil fog that hangs over Knott’s Scary Farm in Origins: The Curse of Calico. Unearth the sinister paranormal activity that plagues the town as Sarah Marshall is put on trial for her suspected crimes of witchcraft. All will be unveiled when the Green Witch rises up and curses the townsfolk, transforming all who have accused her into a wicked horde of malicious creatures with an eternal quench for the living.”
My thoughts: I love witches, so, of course, I love Origins: The Curse of Calico. The fog, the lights, the smoke, the animatronics, the high-flying witches - what's not to love? In previous years when I've had time, I've gone through this maze twice in one night. It's fun not only to follow the narrative of the condemnation and then revenge of Sarah Marshall, but also to get to walk through the lore of Knott's Scary Farm Ghost Town Streets.
10. Dark Entities
Knott's says: “Teleport beyond earth, and into a realm where the darkness is absolute. In the depths of space, a lone station faces terror beyond all imagination. An extraterrestrial mutation has invaded the station, and it’s on the prowl for new hosts. The unearthly inhabitants’ force increases as it feeds on its unwilling victims. Escape the dark entities before its deathly force eliminates all living form aboard the station. There’s nowhere to escape when time is running out!”
My thoughts: The fact that this is number 10 is literally just because I love the other themes more than I do aliens and outer space, but are no comment on the actual quality of this maze itself. In its last year, Dark Entities continues to spook with gore reminiscent of beloved horror classic The Thing. I'm excited to see what new maze Knott's comes up with next, but this one will be missed.
If the mazes aren't enough to get your heart pumping - there are also plenty of thrill rides open during the event, like GhostRider, Supreme Scream, and spooky versions of the Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride. If you haven't been on GhostRider in a while, do yourself a favor. That's one hell of a wooden coaster.
Knott's Scary Farm runs select nights now through October 31, 2023. Check out their website to buy tickets and learn more about the event.
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