Knott's Scary Farms

PA105834, originally uploaded by lead.salad.

Last night Jeff and I went to Knott's Scary Farm with my coworker Marleen and her boyfriend Terrance in Orange County (O.C.). By day, Knott's Berry Farm is a large amusement park catering to the L.A. area and much of Southern California. By night it is transformed into a freak show teaming with monsters, haunted mazes and banks of creepy fog. Oh, and about 50,000 terrified teenie-boppers.

This was Knott's Scary Farms 35 annual Halloween Haunt making it the first amusement park in the country to transform itself into a haunted ghost town. Since they started the trend many other have followed suit including both Disney and Universal Studios. Knott's however still boasts the title of largest in the country. Unfortunately, it can also boast the title of most crowded and longest lines.

The park had 13 haunted mazes set up with a variety of themes. Again, the long lines kept us from seeing most of them, including the Doll Factory, Beowulf and the Grudge II which I would have liked to have seen. We were able to get into Lost Vegas, Lore of the Vampire (my favorite), Black Widow Caverns and Red Beard's Revenge.

Actual rides were out of the question. Two hour lines were the norm and since the park opened at 7 (with an hour wait to get in) and closed at 2am even the most efficient park goer would be hard pressed to get more than 4 or 5 attractions in.

The detail they put into the park was impressive. Nothing was overlooked including the skeletal transformation of the main fountain, the menacing movie titles at the theater and even the subtle thumping heartbeat you feel when wandering over a grave stone at the cemetery, which few found as it was well off the beaten path. (No pun intended). The professional monsters were true professionals and at times even worked in tandem. One to distract you while the other scared the pants of you.

The experience itself was worth the hefty price of tickets at $46 a piece (with advance purchase) but unfortunately Knott's Scary Farm does itself in by selling WAY too many. To make it worth the cost of admission they need to cut ticket sales by a good 25% at least.