REVIEW: knott’s scary farm

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

review: knott’s scary farm

It could be argued that if there was one focal point of inspiration for Southern California haunters, it would be Knott’s Scary Farm. Since Halloween of 1973, Knott’s Berry Farm has been transforming into Knott’s Scary Farm for the delight and scares of visitors from far and wide. The theme park becomes filled with dense fog, spectral lights, and a multitude of horrifying scare actors. The themes and characters of the mazes are all created by Knott's, and therefore their creative teams are able to let their imaginations run wild with very impressive results.

Upon entering the theme park we were immediately chased by Knott's most notorious scare actor, The Bride, who creepily followed us through the fog with her candle whispering “Shhhhhhhhhhhh”. The Scary Farm actors were all in top form and seemingly enjoying themselves as they frightened anyone who crossed their path. The themes, actors, sound, lighting, and art direction were all exceptional. One new addition that we really enjoyed was the amped up use of subwoofers in the floors of the mazes - which helped create a much more immersive experience.

Most of the mazes were repeats from previous years, but we didn’t mind because they are all amazing. This year's new maze, “Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind”, was our least favorite. Its circus theme was less engaging compared to our favorites: the Lovecraftian “The Depths”, the demented museum world of Wax Works, and the bizarre Pumpkin Eater.

Of note was the (not advertised) Halloween theme of the Calico Mine Ride. During your trip into the Calico mines your experience will be akin to “The Witch’s Keep”, a seasonal re-skin from the previous decade. The mines are lit with a plethora of beautifully decorative colors as you hear echoes of the Witch in the caves throughout. We weren’t too sure what the narrative of the ride was, but that made it more fun and a nice surprise during our night.

Knott’s Scary Farm is a fantastic way to start off the Halloween Season. The combination of original characters and narratives, mixed with a highly skilled creative team and cast, always makes for a greatly enjoyable evening. We highly suggest Knott’s Scary Farm if you are going to choose one theme park to enjoy this Hallween season.

VC

September 26, 2021

Hauntsofla.com

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