REVIEW: Ghostwood Manor presents "The Wreck of the Crimson Dagger"
October 24, 2024
REVIEW: Ghostwood Manor presents "The Wreck of the Crimson Dagger"
To be honest, we are massive fans of haunted mazes crammed into driveways. There nothing quite like a well executed idea tastefully done within extreme limitations. We have seen it with places like The Farm but also for the past few years with Pasadena's Ghostwood Manor. This haunted maze has continued to be most people's highlight of the season with its unbelievable use of space, lighting, sound installation, and most importantly - owner Stephen Taylor's astounding ability to bring his imagination to life.
Taylor is always full of surprises and for this season he completely abandoned his beloved Ancient Egyptian maze "The Pharaoh's Hall". Instead, he has created from scratch "The Wreck of the Crimson Dagger", a lifesize, sunken ship resting at the bottom of the ocean. The exterior is a sight to behold not only for its size but also for its life size canons and skeletons, one of which is placed several stories above the maze itself. This skeleton, high above, is pointing out from the foremast towards the eternal abyss, amongst the treasure, seaweed, and bubble-spewing clams. This highly detailed exterior really builds anticipation as you approach this massive ship.
The interior is small and tight, however Taylor has somehow built a multiple room journey through which you experience pneumatic triggered fish and sharks, ghostly pirates, and an octopus whose tentacle is playing a mesmerizing tune with floating pots and pans. These moments are all enhanced by an incredible, soothing soundtrack that mixes underwater bubble ambient sounds with whale songs that you can enjoy under the aquatic lights that ripple throughout. In the end you find the Captain’s Quarters which is centered around Captain Bill himself - a mechanically controlled, massive marionette that swings and moves as he mysteriously looks out the ship’s windows into his watery grave.
This haunted maze is unique for many reasons. First, it does not have any scare actors and instead completely relies on telling a story through ambiance and set building. This is usually a massive risk yet somehow Taylor has been able to pull this off with different themes - which is a feat in itself. Second, Taylor is using the confined space of his driveway yet somehow he has figured out a way to totally transform it into a multi-level experience that truly immerses you into a complete world of fantasy.
At its heart, Ghostwood Manor's "The Wreck of the Crimson Dagger" really encapsulates what Halloween haunt building is all about - having a completely insane idea that seems impossible and turning that dream into a reality. This haunt is not only incredibly done but is something that won’t take up too much time out of your night. It is a rare haunted maze that anyone can go to regardless of their scare tolerance as there is no gore or people jumping out at you. We really can't emphasize enough that if you are in the Pasadena area you must go and experience this sunken ship and its mysterious ghostly world for yourself before it sails away forever.
VC
October 24, 2024
Hauntsofla.com
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