Knotts Scary Farm Review 2023
On a warm October night in California, it was time to celebrate 50 Years of Knotts Scary Farm!
Firstly, for those that don’t know, Knotts Scary Farm was the first Halloween "Haunt" event hosted by a theme park and ran for just 3 nights from 26-28th October 1973 with an original scare zone and 3 haunted houses - so a big shout out for Knotts for leading the way for scare attractions that we all know and love today!
This years offering features an amazing 10 Haunted Houses, 5 scare zones and an incredible 4 shows, as well as all of the Knotts Berry Farm attractions in the dark!
New Houses for 2023;
Room 13 - this house is based on a hotel with a dangerous new cocktail - the Devils Elixir. The scenes In this maze were actually breathtaking, the scares were on point and it was actually my favourite maze of the evening, the actors were relentless in this attraction and had a finale scene that had us running to the exit.
The Chilling Chamber was based on Knotts' first ever scare maze and was a homage to some of their past mazes. All in - it was a a tribute maze with some great scares even for those of us that had only been a couple of times, some really good scenes with a grave yard scene paying tribute to mazes of the past!
Cinema Slasher as the name may suggest this maze took us on a journey though the silver screen and into a trio loft of horror films. There were some really cool scenes inside with scene walking through an actual cinema, for me however there seemed to be a lot of dead space, great sets but just not enough actors. I would love to have had a good run through of this, I can see its potential but i was disappointed overall with this maze.
Returning Mazes
Bloodline 1842 - the storyline has changed this year and weapons that were there before to help terminate the vampires inside seems to have been taken away, this maze had scares at all angles from above, down below and right in front of you!! Very good maze with a fun story, however I do believe we were missing actors!
The Grimoire - this is one impressive maze. The maze starts in a campsite in which you go deeper into the campsite when you realise something isn’t quite right! You go through actual tents to begin the scare, once again the opening storyline scene has been cut this year which set up the story so well last year, I do think if people were not familiar with the maze, you may wonder what the story is so I do really think that if it returns for next year, bring back the opening scene! Some really impressive scenes inside with some great jumps along the way!
Mesmer: Side Show of the Mind - I did this maze last year and loved the story telling, the opening scene seems to have actually been dropped completely for this year, which I really did find helped the story. Unfortunately the scares were extremely lacking for our run through, many parts of the maze had no actors. Compared to last year I was really disappointed but know this maze can be great with the correct actors.
Origins The Curse of Calico, the story of the maze starts outside with the sentencing of hanging, you learn about the Green Witch and her fate, this maze was so solid, great storyline of the curse of the witch and some amazing set pieces. Very strong maze that had us screaming for the exit!
The Depths - based in the mines, the miners have been in the catacombs of a sinister seaside town where there are horrors at every turn, some great effects and so ascetically pleasing to the eye here, with a moving boat, some evil sea creatures and you even come face to face with a huge Kraken! Such a great house with some of the best set pieces of the event.
Dark Entities - strange forces have taken over and we joined space station crew, all is not what it seems! Every corner and turn were packed with extraterrestrials and mutants! This maze was strong, with actors everywhere. The set pieces were also incredible sci fi vibes very strong maze with some great set pieces.
Wax Works - I have done this house a few times now, no major changes this year but such a great great run through. The actors were on top form in here. Twist and turns into a wax work nightmare! The set pieces are just incredible actually walking round what looks like a full working wax making facility, we left wondering if we would make it out!
Scare Zones
Ghost Town Streets this is the original scare zone and you can see why! I would go as far as saying that this scare zone is as intense as some of the mazes, the lighting, fog machines and all of the actors, really do have you screaming as they attack from all angles. I can see just why this scare zone is back year after year.
Foresaken Lake this area of the park is set quite centrally, however the lighting in this area was so atmospheric with a great central area ready for terror of a funeral procession, great area with plenty of scares along the way!!
CarnEvil this was a good area with many many clowns ready to pounce to us, their victims! The lighting in this area was great and the actors were on top form using their hiding spots to the best of their ability, and people actually running away from the clowns and them running after them!
The Gauntlet new reimagined zone for 2023 with jesters, wizards and many other horrors inside this scare zone was great, the costumes were fantastic and there was so many places for the actors to hide really pouncing on people when they least expect it. Great addition for this year.
Gore-ing 20’s set on the streets during the 1920’s, this area was greatly themed and the costumes were out of this world, all painted in grey scale, it really was a great addition to the park this year!
Overall an amazingly strong event to honour their 50 years of fear, we did purchase a fright lane pass so that we were able to experience all the mazes and scare zones, with the park opening 7pm - 1am, we were there for opening until closing to get everything done. I wasn’t able to watch any of the shows but talking to locals, they say all were really strong. They also do offer options of a “Boofet” which is a package in which you can get early park admission with meet and greet with some of the characters from the event, with a hearty meal. Select mazes then open 30 minutes before the gates open to the public , I would really recommend this as it’s such good value for money and you can get 3 mazes complete before the park has even opened!
Kotts is such a great Halloween event, there’s no denying their set pieces in every house are just world class, with some of the strongest scare zones I have ever witnessed. Ghost town was a definite highlight for me. I would like to see some of the houses that have had story scenes cut, replaced to give the full immersion! Highlights for me were definitely Room 13 which has been one of my favourite houses this year! Well done to everyone at Knotts for a fantastic event! I can’t wait to come back and see what you have in store for the coming years!
Review by reader Joe Price
Firstly, for those that don’t know, Knotts Scary Farm was the first Halloween "Haunt" event hosted by a theme park and ran for just 3 nights from 26-28th October 1973 with an original scare zone and 3 haunted houses - so a big shout out for Knotts for leading the way for scare attractions that we all know and love today!
This years offering features an amazing 10 Haunted Houses, 5 scare zones and an incredible 4 shows, as well as all of the Knotts Berry Farm attractions in the dark!
New Houses for 2023;
Room 13 - this house is based on a hotel with a dangerous new cocktail - the Devils Elixir. The scenes In this maze were actually breathtaking, the scares were on point and it was actually my favourite maze of the evening, the actors were relentless in this attraction and had a finale scene that had us running to the exit.
The Chilling Chamber was based on Knotts' first ever scare maze and was a homage to some of their past mazes. All in - it was a a tribute maze with some great scares even for those of us that had only been a couple of times, some really good scenes with a grave yard scene paying tribute to mazes of the past!
Cinema Slasher as the name may suggest this maze took us on a journey though the silver screen and into a trio loft of horror films. There were some really cool scenes inside with scene walking through an actual cinema, for me however there seemed to be a lot of dead space, great sets but just not enough actors. I would love to have had a good run through of this, I can see its potential but i was disappointed overall with this maze.
Returning Mazes
Bloodline 1842 - the storyline has changed this year and weapons that were there before to help terminate the vampires inside seems to have been taken away, this maze had scares at all angles from above, down below and right in front of you!! Very good maze with a fun story, however I do believe we were missing actors!
The Grimoire - this is one impressive maze. The maze starts in a campsite in which you go deeper into the campsite when you realise something isn’t quite right! You go through actual tents to begin the scare, once again the opening storyline scene has been cut this year which set up the story so well last year, I do think if people were not familiar with the maze, you may wonder what the story is so I do really think that if it returns for next year, bring back the opening scene! Some really impressive scenes inside with some great jumps along the way!
Mesmer: Side Show of the Mind - I did this maze last year and loved the story telling, the opening scene seems to have actually been dropped completely for this year, which I really did find helped the story. Unfortunately the scares were extremely lacking for our run through, many parts of the maze had no actors. Compared to last year I was really disappointed but know this maze can be great with the correct actors.
Origins The Curse of Calico, the story of the maze starts outside with the sentencing of hanging, you learn about the Green Witch and her fate, this maze was so solid, great storyline of the curse of the witch and some amazing set pieces. Very strong maze that had us screaming for the exit!
The Depths - based in the mines, the miners have been in the catacombs of a sinister seaside town where there are horrors at every turn, some great effects and so ascetically pleasing to the eye here, with a moving boat, some evil sea creatures and you even come face to face with a huge Kraken! Such a great house with some of the best set pieces of the event.
Dark Entities - strange forces have taken over and we joined space station crew, all is not what it seems! Every corner and turn were packed with extraterrestrials and mutants! This maze was strong, with actors everywhere. The set pieces were also incredible sci fi vibes very strong maze with some great set pieces.
Wax Works - I have done this house a few times now, no major changes this year but such a great great run through. The actors were on top form in here. Twist and turns into a wax work nightmare! The set pieces are just incredible actually walking round what looks like a full working wax making facility, we left wondering if we would make it out!
Scare Zones
Ghost Town Streets this is the original scare zone and you can see why! I would go as far as saying that this scare zone is as intense as some of the mazes, the lighting, fog machines and all of the actors, really do have you screaming as they attack from all angles. I can see just why this scare zone is back year after year.
Foresaken Lake this area of the park is set quite centrally, however the lighting in this area was so atmospheric with a great central area ready for terror of a funeral procession, great area with plenty of scares along the way!!
CarnEvil this was a good area with many many clowns ready to pounce to us, their victims! The lighting in this area was great and the actors were on top form using their hiding spots to the best of their ability, and people actually running away from the clowns and them running after them!
The Gauntlet new reimagined zone for 2023 with jesters, wizards and many other horrors inside this scare zone was great, the costumes were fantastic and there was so many places for the actors to hide really pouncing on people when they least expect it. Great addition for this year.
Gore-ing 20’s set on the streets during the 1920’s, this area was greatly themed and the costumes were out of this world, all painted in grey scale, it really was a great addition to the park this year!
Overall an amazingly strong event to honour their 50 years of fear, we did purchase a fright lane pass so that we were able to experience all the mazes and scare zones, with the park opening 7pm - 1am, we were there for opening until closing to get everything done. I wasn’t able to watch any of the shows but talking to locals, they say all were really strong. They also do offer options of a “Boofet” which is a package in which you can get early park admission with meet and greet with some of the characters from the event, with a hearty meal. Select mazes then open 30 minutes before the gates open to the public , I would really recommend this as it’s such good value for money and you can get 3 mazes complete before the park has even opened!
Kotts is such a great Halloween event, there’s no denying their set pieces in every house are just world class, with some of the strongest scare zones I have ever witnessed. Ghost town was a definite highlight for me. I would like to see some of the houses that have had story scenes cut, replaced to give the full immersion! Highlights for me were definitely Room 13 which has been one of my favourite houses this year! Well done to everyone at Knotts for a fantastic event! I can’t wait to come back and see what you have in store for the coming years!
Review by reader Joe Price
Links:
Knotts Berry Farm website
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