TOP 3 HAUNTED THEME PARK EXPERIENCES

MAE STAFF WRITER, MICHAEL PENDELTON, 10/25/24

#3 HOWL-O-SCREAM 

Howl-O-Scream arrives on September 27 to transform the once peaceful SeaWorld San Diego into a sinister, spine-chilling playground of terror. As night falls, a carnival of horrifying creatures surrounds you. Howl-O-Scream features haunted houses, scare zones, and live shows designed to frighten visitors with actors in elaborate costumes. While the Halloween themed rides areMy experience with the Howl-O- Scream I felt like it was good rides were fun and the actors generally leave you alone but there's something really creepy about a monster just standing there staring at you, directly, fo rlong periods of time.

#2 HAUNTED TRAILS

Haunted Trails has become a tradition in San Diego advertising “outdoor horror that is simply too big to house indoors! " Located in San Diego's world famous Balboa Park, The Haunted Trail is a stroll through the park you will never forget. Make your way out of the eXperiment Maze before entering the mile long trail through the grove of twisted pines and gnarled oaks. Visitors watch your back, you never know which way the scares will hit you from! The worst part, or best part depending on how you look at it is that the Haunted Trail is outdoors, in the dark in what feels like the middle of nowhere. It's like a horror movie has come to life. 

#1 KNOTT'S SCARY FARM

Knott’s Scary Farm is the longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event in Southern California. With over 50 years of nightmares, unimaginable scares and innovative thrills, Knott’s Scary Farm has left "no tomb unearthed, no crypt un-rattled and no fear untouched." Knott’s Scary Farm is a the favorite of all the haunted theme parks and events because not only do the actors actually care about scaring people. They will follow you through out the park, on to rides, and if you try to run from them, they will chase you. Don't be surprised if you end on a terrifying rollerocaster ride with a literal monster sitting next to you, staring at you the entire ride.