The season of scares is upon us once again and Knott’s has announced their Halloween Haunt lineup for 2016. But there’s so much more news coming out of Knott’s Berry Farm today, including a big expansion for Soak City.

New Scares for Halloween Haunt

13 haunted attractions will terrify guests this year on 24 nights from September 22 – October 31. (You can join MiceChat’s Scary Farm event on October 1st – Info HERE)

Four all-new haunted attractions will debut this year. There’s a little something for everyone.

Black Ops: Infected (New for 2016):

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This one may not sound new, but it is. The laser maze from the last couple years has moved and his been completely reworked. It’s an all new attraction. Armed with laser guns, guests will face off against hordes of zombies in the new Black Ops: Infected interactive maze. Small units of guests will battle the zombie apocalypse through blood soaked city streets and an underground sewer system crawling with nearly one hundred ravenous zombies. This is one of the largest mazes ever created in Knott’s Scary Farm history.

Shadow Lands (New for 2016):

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A fulfilling life ensures a soul safe passage into eternity, but what happens to the souls of soldiers slain in battle? Enter the hair-raising Shadow Lands maze and fight off demon samurais whose souls are cursed to rot within the depths of purgatory. Guests will embark on a quest through a sacred shrine, an ancient Japanese temple and into the midst of the shadow lands.

The Red Barn (New for 2016):

Knotts-red-barnThis maze takes place in a blood-soaked barn filled with carnivorous animals seeking to prey on human flesh. Legend has it the farmer who owns the barn was transformed into a heinous creature that sends his sadistic sons to ensure his legacy. None dare enter the barn, for those who enter never escape.

The Hollow (New for 2016):

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From within the fog, the legendary Headless Horseman and his army of the undead are ready to unleash a reign of terror in the newest scare zone, The Hollow. Guests entering the frightful 6-acre area will be terrorized by the souls of fallen soldiers and local farmers that have escaped their shallow graves.

Standalone Skeleton Key Rooms (New for 2016):

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For the first time, Knott’s Scary Farm will feature standalone Skeleton Key Rooms that are independent from mazes. The four Skeleton Key Rooms will each feature a unique story and theme delivering unparalleled scares, interactive secrets and terrifying surprises:

  • Visions: Guests must investigate the Green Witch Museum in Ghost Town where it is not the building that is haunted, but the various items contained within. Using a Phantom Finder augmented reality device, guests will be able to identify and witness paranormal activity connected to items from the Sarah Marshall Witch Trial.
  • ZOZO: People from all over the world claim to have been visited by the demon ZOZO after a spirit board session. Is the demonic entity known as ZOZO real or are spirit boards just a myth?
  • Slasher: Guests are invited to step into an 80s’ slasher horror film. The masked Angel Maker Killer is on the loose. Every lead has run cold and that’s when you step into the picture. Will you become his next victim?
  • Prey: Navigate a hay maze full of dead ends with only a faulty lantern as your guide. You are not alone. Mutant beasts are lurking around every corner.

Returning To Knotts Scary Farm This year:

Elvira’s Danse Macabre

Back by popular demand, Elvira, the legendary Mistress of the Dark, returns to Knott’s Scary Farm in a spectacular all new show, Elvira’s Danse Macabre, featuring insane dance and comedy performances. The one of a kind performance from the Queen of Halloween will transport guests to a masquerade ball full of music, dance and humor. Knott’s Scary Farm will be the exclusive home of Elvira this Halloween season.

The Hanging: Finding Gory

A live stage show in Calico Square irreverently looks back at the year’s pop culture with killer comedy.  Notorious for its special effects, pyrotechnics and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no-holds-barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year.  A must see parody on the new Calico stage.

PARANORMAL, INC.

Knotts-paranormal-incThe Haunting of Hayden Hill: Paranormal Inc., our favorite new maze last year, will return to Knott’s Scary Farm this season. Featuring high flying aerial stunts and scares, guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff prowl for new patients to torture.

The Dead of Winter: Revenge of the Wendigo

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We like to think of this one as Elsa’s revenge. Deep in the frozen tundra, the realm of a treacherous snow queen has been usurped by her evil minion, the horrific wendigo. She may be dead, but her evil spell hasn’t been lifted: The dead cannibals have risen from their snowy graves as hungry creatures feast on the surrounding villages. During the chaos, the queen’s prized possession, the horrific wendigo, has seized control of her throne, ready to prey upon any unsuspecting visitors who enter the borders of its icy domain.

Trick-or-Treat:

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Take a brave step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell…trick or treat, which will it be?  After surviving her grisly welcome, wander into the Green Witch’s never before seen potion room and bewitched attic. But don’t leave too soon; you’re the special guest at the Green Witch’s deadly dinner party where she and her menacing Tricksters await your arrival.

The Tooth Fairy:

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This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out their bedroom window and into a world of deranged dentistry. Unbelievable special effects include a blackout room through which guests must feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room, and a final encounter with the massive tooth fairy, himself. Say aahhh.

Voodoo – Order of the Serpent

 

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The haunting legend of Papa Legba continues as guests follow him on his foreboding journey to conjure the serpent demon goddess in the outskirts of New Orleans. Trudge cautiously through the cursed swamps of the Deep South, where creatures search the murky bogs for their next bloody sacrifice and demons curse the innocent with Voodoo hexes.

The Gunslinger’s Grave: A Blood Moon Rises

Knotts-Gunslingers-GraveDeadly howls and a full blood moon mark your impending doom as werewolves overrun the crime stricken old west town. Walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path of retribution against the Skinwalkers.

The Deadly 7 – Roving Mischief Makers

a sadistic crew of terrifying monsters representing each of the seven deadly sins, return to the fog of Knott’s Scary Farm this year. Together they prowl the darkest corners of Scary Farm’s midways and scare zones serving their master, The Green Witch.

160 Acres of Scare Zones

The most famous scare zone in any theme park is Ghost Town Streets at Knott’s. Everyone’s favorite atmospheric area will return along with a Boardwalk filled with evil clowns, and huge sections of the park given over to all sorts of creepy crawlers.

Ghost Town Streets is the original and largest, most terrifying scare zone that started it all.   Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog, while the notoriously startling sliders, lunge from every fog-filled corner of the land.

Fiesta De Los Muertos fuses dance music, colorful costumes, and larger than life stilt walkers in a dance party scare zone.  It’s the ultimate late night celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

On the Boardwalk, clowns crave your undying attention in the CarnEVIL scare zone.

New this season, the Hollow scare zone will terrorize guests as the ominous Headless horseman prowls the fog-filled streets along with his army of the undead, treacherously blending into the shadowy night as they frighten all whom they encounter.

Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00pm – 1:00am select Thursdays, Sundays, and Halloween Night and 7:00pm – 2:00am Fridays and Saturdays.  With more than 1,000 monsters roaming the park and lurking in the fog – whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…

Knotts-Haunt-2016

If you’ve been to Knott’s Scary Farm, you know how amazing it is, if you’ve never been, you are missing out. But the VERY best way to experience the haunt is the MiceChat way. On the evening of October 1st, we’ll bring you an epic Scary Farm event which includes an all you can eat “BOO-ffet,” pre-scare tour of a maze, meet and greet with the designers, early entry into the haunt, front of line for all the mazes, early entry into the Elvira show, and a night of fun with your fellow MiceChat readers. ALL of that amazing VIP treatment for one cost saving price. If you’ve always thought you’d be too scared to do Haunt, give this event a try, there’s strength in numbers (even if you sit out the mazes and following along for the food, friendship and fog). SIGN UP (and Information) HERE

Soak City Expansion Set for 2017

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Knott’s Berry Farm has announced an expansion of their water park for next summer.

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Orange County’s largest water park will debut two water slide towers featuring exhilarating attractions geared for families and thrill seekers. Shore Break will tower over seven stories and offer six different thrilling water slide experiences. Four of the slides on the 60-foot tall tower will start with guests climbing inside an Aqua-Launch chamber where they will wait anxiously for the floor to drop out from underneath their feet, sending them into a high-speed, almost vertical free fall through a series of flat loops and S-curves in a translucent flume. Shore Break will also feature dueling tube slides that will zip riders through an enchanting series of drops and turns. The height requirements for Shore Break slides are 48 inches. The Wedge slide tower will take the location of the current Pacific Spin and will be an open air family raft ride. Up to six guests at a time will descend down navigating twists and turns and surprise drops. Height requirement for The Wedge is 48 inches or 40 inches when accompanied by a supervising companion. Guests will be able to experience both water slide towers when Knott’s Soak City Water Park opens for the summer season in May 2017.

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The expansion project will also include updated shaded seating areas, cabanas and a remodeled Longboard’s Grill to the water park. Construction is set to begin on September 12 and a grand-reopening is scheduled for summer 2017.

Coaster Campout

Knott’s Berry Farm will host its second annual Coaster Campout on August 27th, with 100% of event proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Coaster Campout is an opportunity for guests to camp out for one night at Knott’s Berry Farm in the Park Pavilion Picnic Center. The donation includes admission to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City Water Park for August 27th and 28th, a wake-up call from Snoopy, early ride time in Camp Snoopy and Fiesta Village on August 28th, complimentary parking for both days and a continental breakfast on Sunday morning. Interested in camping out? You can find more info at Knotts.com HERE.

 

There’s a lot going on at Knott’s. While Ghost Town LIVE, one of our favorite new entertainment options for 2016, is coming to an end, Haunt is on the way, a bigger Soak City will be splashing into summer 2017 and you can spend the night at Knott’s to support charity.  A little something for everyone . . . down on the farm!

Dusty Sage
Dusty is the founder and CEO of MiceChat.com. When he's not visiting theme parks and writing, editing or speaking about Disney and theme parks worldwide, Dusty is involved in multiple Disney related projects and charities. He helped save and restore the charming Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago, launched the Dick Van Dyke Foundation, and is the curator of Walt Disney's historic 1930's estate in Hollywood. If you've got news or photos to share with the MiceChat community, or would like to book Dusty for an upcoming event, please contact [email protected]