The Bottom Line
Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt takes over the theme park after dark with over a dozen mazes and all the coasters running in the dark. Roaming scare characters are more fun than scary. It reminded us of haunted houses we would visit when we were kids - enough to make you jump, but probably not elicit nightmares.
Pros
- A whopping 13 mazes
- Riding roller coasters in the dark
- Roaming scare characters
- Not TOO scary
- Lines were not too long on a Thursday night
Cons
- Some shows are pretty lame
- Long lines on the weekend
- Not recommended for kids under 13
Description
- Address: Beach Blvd exit from the 91 Freeway in Buena Park
- Dates: Sept 21-22, 27-30 October 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28, 30-31, 2012
- Hours: 7 pm - 2 am Fri-Sat, all other days 7 pm - 1 am
- Tickets: presale $36-52, walk up presale $52, Day of event, $57, Admission+meal combos and fast lane tickets also available
- Website: http://haunt.knotts.com/
- Tip: Guests are not allowed to wear costumes
Guide Review - Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt is a more lighthearted experience than the gory Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. The monsters are creepy, but not quite as aggressive, and I felt more inclined to growl back at them than to run, but I suppose if you're timid, some of them are still pretty scary and above all startling. I didn't find the giant candy corn and Tigger with a monster mouth too intimidating.
There are three fog-filled scare zones with different types of ghouls from ghosts to carnival freaks to maniacal monks. The thirteen mazes also have creative themes including murder victims turned to porcelain dolls, Killer Klowns, vampires, axe murderers and aliens. Some of the maze themes are switched out every year, so there's always something new to see. We didn't do all 13 mazes, but the ones we did were not too gruesome. That could just have been a matter of our selection.
The shows are more silly than scary and will appeal to those who like stupid adult humor.
Refreshments, including beer, are available inside the park, and Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant offers a Midnight Breakfast Buffet from 11:30 pm to 3:00 am.
For younger kids, Knott's Camp Spooky Costume Party is a daytime non-scare celebration of Halloween in Knott's Camp Snoopy with a haunted maze, trick-or-treating and themed entertainment for kids 3-11 on weekends in October.
Location: Beach Blvd. in Buena Park, one mile south of the 91 (Artesia) Freeway and two miles south of the 5 (Santa Ana) Freeway
Dates: Weekends in October
Hours: regular park hours
Cost: Included with park admission
Info: www.knotts.com
View Photos of Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
There are three fog-filled scare zones with different types of ghouls from ghosts to carnival freaks to maniacal monks. The thirteen mazes also have creative themes including murder victims turned to porcelain dolls, Killer Klowns, vampires, axe murderers and aliens. Some of the maze themes are switched out every year, so there's always something new to see. We didn't do all 13 mazes, but the ones we did were not too gruesome. That could just have been a matter of our selection.
The shows are more silly than scary and will appeal to those who like stupid adult humor.
Refreshments, including beer, are available inside the park, and Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant offers a Midnight Breakfast Buffet from 11:30 pm to 3:00 am.
For younger kids, Knott's Camp Spooky Costume Party is a daytime non-scare celebration of Halloween in Knott's Camp Snoopy with a haunted maze, trick-or-treating and themed entertainment for kids 3-11 on weekends in October.
Location: Beach Blvd. in Buena Park, one mile south of the 91 (Artesia) Freeway and two miles south of the 5 (Santa Ana) Freeway
Dates: Weekends in October
Hours: regular park hours
Cost: Included with park admission
Info: www.knotts.com
View Photos of Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.
