DC’s ostensibly favorite Southern California home haunts of Halloween season 2020 *

* (Halloween countdown post #15)

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Gothic Hills Cemetery (Sylmar)
‘We all know that so far, 2020 has been rough, to say the least. We’ve been thinking hard about how we could handle Halloween here at Gothic Hills Cemetery and after much discussion, brainstorming and deliberation, we were preparing a plan to go forward safely with our haunt plans. But, with Covid-19 infections skyrocketing here in California with no signs that it will slow down, we have been forced to come to terms with it being a terrible idea to cram hundreds of people through a small maze-like structure, even with masks and sanitation protocols. We could never live with ourselves if a guest or volunteer got sick from our little home haunt.

‘HOWEVER, we’re not canceling Halloween at Gothic Hills Cemetery! We’re going to go full throttle upgrading our yard display this summer. We’ve got lots of cool things on the list and we’re going to work hard to make it spectacular so you can still come by and gaze at the ghosts. Also, we’re not going to let this time go by without making sure 2021 is better than ever. We have a huge laundry list of work to do to improve on last year. We’re going to start working on that NOW.’

 

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The Haunted Lodge (El Cajon)
‘The story goes, Camp Calavera was once a fun and popular campground, but it all changed and people avoid the area once the sun sets. As you enter the lodge, you are greeted by a park ranger who warns you about the strange and evil happenings of the campground and to be careful. Then you meet a haunted camp counselor who tells you about the good ol’ days of the campground only to see the fate of a once loved area turn into evil. He arms you with only a flashlight as he sends you on your way to witness the unholy rituals of the campground. This includes 6th Grade Camp dorms, the Bait Shop, a cavern filled with spiders; to name a few. Once you think you’re home free, you pass by the Azbell Lumber Company and get chased out by crazed chainsaw wielding lumberjacks.’

 

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Prism (Mission Viejo)
‘Prism Haunted House first opened in 2018 by David Fefferman. The haunt expanded to a larger experience in 2019 with plans for it to continue expanding in future years. So far all haunts have been themed around the “Prism Research Group” whose description goes as follows:

‘When a light passes through a prism, it explodes in a brilliant display of all that is hidden within. That is our mission at Prism Research Group, to unlock all the incredible potential hidden within each human. This potential resides in our DNA as data, which can be decoded, manipulated, and even rewritten. We believe in accelerated evolution through research based advancement, or as we refer to it R-Evolution.

‘Our founder, Dr. Johan Sanguis, Ph. D, innovated groundbreaking technologies in information and science to unlock the potential waiting inside each of us. Research is democratized and overhead is minimized through our unique MiCROlab (Medical, Commercial, Residential, Open source) that can be scaled to fit any available workspace, and optimized through open source programming. In the same way leading tech companies harvest big data acquired through crowdsourcing, MiCROlab allows for exponential discovery opportunities. Each MiCROlab can be independently responsible for driving new research, or working iterations against network discoveries. The difference is in our proprietary machine-learning network, which combines available data from popular genetic history services with experimental genetics testing compiled by each MiCROlab. We are incredibly proud of our exclusive gene isolation technique in connection with our global network, now leading the genetic modification conversation.’

 

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The Haunt at Hellizondo (Canoga Park)
‘An elaborate home haunt, located on a corner lot with plenty of room for “indoor” and outdoor settings, loaded with custom-made props and decorations. The short walk-through maze is haunted by monsters of various shapes and sizes, who pop out of cleverly situated hiding place, their species shifting from year to year depending the theme.’

‘2020 Update: In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Haunt at Hellizondo will abandon its walk-through in favor of setting up a yard display at a different location.’

 

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The Haunted Rose (La Habra)
‘Enter “The Haunted Rose”, the abode of Dr. Macabro, a maniacle scientist who’s experiments with necromancy have released unspeakable evil.Open October 29th, 30th and 31st Journey the grounds of this haunted attraction set in a traditional Gothic setting featuring state of the art performance, special effects, and scares guaranteed to make you wish it was all just a nightmare.’

 

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The Haunted Shack (Torrance)
‘The Haunted Shack is not offering a walk-through maze this year, but there will be a front yard display. Trick-or-Treaters are asked to donate at least two non-perishable food items to help feed homeless people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Dates have yet to be announced, but a July 11 Facebook post promised: We’re still brewing SOMETHING up for Halloween this year. I promise it will NOT be the same for sure, but it will be safe. We value YOU, and want you to come back for years to come. Stay tuned!’

 

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Spooky Hollows (Van Nuys)
‘Most years, Spooky Hollows is an impressive combination of yard display and walk-through maze, featuring unbelievably ambitious settings filled with amazing monsters – everything from a swamp with skeletal gators to a sewer tunnel haunted by god knows what. Though not as well known as some of the longer-lived Halloween Home Haunts, Spooky Hollows is awesome stuff!

‘2020 Update: Spooky Hollows home haunt switched from a walk-through to a yard display in 2019; with Covid-19 precluding close contact in tight spaces, Spooky Hollows will present another front yard display, this time with a show explaining the origin of the haunt’s resident sewer dweller, Mr. Sticky. Covid rules will apply: masks must be worn; guests must maintain social distance on the sidewalk while viewing the display.’

 

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Catastrophe Cabin (Glendale)
‘Catastrophe Cabin is a yard haunt that does not feel like a yard – it’s too well disguised by its Halloween overlay. On Halloween Night, its display mimics a walk-through experience. Bathed in eerie red light, the decor and foliage are so thick they create an illusion of entering a Halloween world with pathway leading to a tent where where trick-or-treaters may obtain candy and divination cards from the haunt’s friendly mystical hosts. A second, equally packed pathway leads to the front porch with a spooky photo op for those courageous enough to brave masked monsters lurking behind densely arranged props and skeletons.’

 

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Coffinwood Cemetery (Valencia)
‘Coffinwood Cemetery is a combination of Halloween yard display and short walk-through. Not exactly a maze, it offers a path through the front yard so that you can peruse the tombstones, skeletons, and ghouls (all home made except for the animatronics) before heading into a “mausoleum” – a convincing facade built over the garage, which leads to a single black-lit room with decorations and an electric chair. The haunt runs a few days toward the end of October, including Halloween Night, beginning with a non-scare preview (no live monsters) on the first evening. Even without jump-scares, this home haunt is worth visiting just for the display, which also includes a giant spider atop the roof.’

 

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Desert Decay Manor (Whitewater)
‘Desert Decay Manor is a ghoulish walk-through maze with good sets bathed in atmospheric lighting, but what stands out is the demented characters inhabiting the haunt. The back story is that the Killgore family has for many generations been living and dying in the isolated manor, located in the West Palm Springs Village neighborhood of Whitewater, their lost souls and evil spirits now haunting what has become the borderland between this world and the depths of Hell.

‘The rotating cast of characters provide different experiences, but the overall emphasis is on interactivity. There may be jump-scares, but often as not, the ghouls want to engage visitors in banter ranging from the disturbing to disgusting to absurd – or some combination of the three (such as the excrement-crusted old lady plugging her 2019 glamour calendar).’

 

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Forgotten Hallows (Pasadena)
‘Trick-or-treaters seeking candy walked up a driveway and underneath a canopy, where a burst of fog obscured their vision, a spring-loaded spider attacked, and a human-sized bog monster appeared from nowhere. The candy cauldron was guarded by a silent pair, exhibiting the carefully cultivated immobility of mannequins – until unsuspecting costumed revelers reached for the treats, triggering a startling response from the previously quiescent figures.

‘Note: We have seen Forgotten Hollows listed in Pasadena, but Mapquest shows it in Altadena. In fact, it is only a few blocks away from a popular trick-or-treating destination in Altadena: Pepper Drive, just north of Berendo has several decorated houses.’

 

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Hellsir 666 (Rancho Cucamonga)
‘As Hellsir 666 Cemetery, this melancholy Halloween yard and home haunt offered everything from cobwebbed crypts to Gothic tombstones, carefully landscaped and enhanced with eye-popping lighting design. The set pieces were intricately detailed, with a tomb haunted by sinister spirits who appeared and disappeared at will.’

 

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Perdition Home (Chino)
‘Perdition Home lives up to its own hype as the self-proclaimed “Goriest Home Haunt in Orange County,” but it is much more than a mere gorefest. Featuring a high quota of jump-scares, delivered through some clever hiding places, the amateur walk-through uses impressive murals and production design to bring a new theme to life each Halloween, each with its own distinctive aura – strange, weird, and unusual.

‘2020 Update: The Fleshyard And Perdition Home Haunt are pleased to announce that in this crazy time in the world, THE SHOW MUST GO ON!. We are excited to announce we will be open and maintaining COVID-19 safety policies for our guest, as well as all our scare actors. However this year will be a little different, to better ensure safety regulations, we’ve brought to the table a fully interactional corn maze filled with scare actors waiting to show you a good time. Along with being the only corn maze in SoCal, we are also offering Zombie Paintball on site More Details To Come). Our calendar and flyer will be posted very soon to our Insta as well as Facebook. To ensure safety of everyone please wear face masks if planning to attend. With that being said 2020 is a go and we can’t wait for you all to see what we have in store. More Information coming soon, be sure to stay tuned.’

 

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Pirates Cave Haunt (Orange)
‘Haunting since the year 2000, The Pirates Cave is the work of the father and son team of Dave & Jacob Larson, who typically present a combination of yard display and walk-through. Dave Larson, who used to building haunted houses in his parents’ garage, explained the origins of Pirates Cave to the OC Weekly: “I always enjoyed Halloween as a child, and really appreciated those houses that decorated and made it extra special. I want to do that for my community. It’s the only holiday where people will come visit your home and actually walk up to your door. Why not make it something fantastic? It’s also our chance to be Disney Imagineers for a season, which is what my son plans to do some day.”‘

 

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Restless Souls Manor (Palmdale)
‘This Halloween home haunt sets itself above the competition, with an immersive, improvisational approach and set pieces and decor as stunning as expensive any Halloween theme parks. The walk-through is 6 rooms long. Victims enter in small groups to enhance the scare experience; you can take your time, pausing to appreciate the decor (though this may make you more vulnerable to the dangers lurking within). There are jump scares, but Restless Souls Manor offers a “no scare” option: a flashing baton to ward off the spirits as you approach.’

 

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The Farm Haunt (Castaic)
‘The residents of Glendale have finally ridden themselves of the Norton family. With the locals getting tired of the going’s on at The Farm and all of the unexplainable disappearances, the locals finally forced the family out of town. Rumor has it the Norton family has taken up residence up north in Castaic with Eli’s cousin, Dr.Diablo. Dr.Diablo is the proprietor of “Dr.Diablos Caskets And Curiosities” which he serves as the local physician, undertaker, and collector of the strange. Coming October 2020 you will venture into world of Dr. Diablo and the Norton family.’

 

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1870 Haunt Manor (Anaheim)
‘Thankfully this twisted team can’t be stopped and they’ve got some big plans (18′ tall plans to be exact!). This group of seasoned haunt vets has put together a fully immersive elaborate display to fright and delight audiences. The display will be claiming victims…ahem…guests….from October 1-31 from 6:00-11:00 pm. This home haunt is located at 1870 N. Cymbal Pl. in Anaheim.’

 

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Cabra (Pacoima)
‘You will journey into the Alvarez Farm as you go on the hunt for the mythical and dangerous Chupacabra. You will come face to face with the beast while you travel through farm land and forests. Are you brave enough to face the beast?

‘FA Vision Productions has worked really hard to incorporate safety measures through out their event to ensure that you are safe, yet still have fun. Face Masks will be required. They will be routinely disinfecting and spraying down their props in high traffic areas. Hand sanitizer will also be provided, and for an extra safety precaution, everyone will be provided gloves before entering the haunt. Just because they know many people jump back onto walls when they get scared.

‘Also, you have to walk-thru Alone.’

 

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Candy Shop Take Over (Santa Clarita)
‘On Halloween night, 6 teenagers went Trick-or-Treating and stopped at the old candy shop. Their hopes were to get some free candy from the old man. They gave him 6 tries before things took a turn for the poor old candy man. Do you dare stubble upon the old candy shop in hopes of some free candy? They might still be lurking inside the candy shop for you.’

 

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Corona Haunt (Corona)
‘DISCOVERED IN THE EARLY 1900’S, SHADOW TRAIL WAS HOME TO WILDLIFE AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. AFTER A FREAK ACCIDENT IN 1940 LEAVING HUNDREDS OF GOLD MINERS DEAD, THE TRAIL HAS BEEN SINCE PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
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‘LEGEND HAS IT, THE MISSING MINERS WHO DID NOT MAKE IT OUT, ARE NOW PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF SHADOW TRAIL.
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‘SOME EAGER HIKERS WHO HAVE LUCKILY MADE IT OUT FROM THE TRAIL, EXPLAIN THAT THIS IS NO USUAL HIKING TRAIL. STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AFTER DARK. THINGS ONE CAN’T EXPLAIN.

‘SHADOW MOUNTAIN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST OR DAMAGED MEMBERS OF YOUR PARTY. THESE TRAILS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING.’

 

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Del Amo Scary Walk (Compton)
‘Walk-through yard haunt open to all ages on Halloween and one or two additional days which varies year to year.’

 

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The Dreich Society Presents: Fear Fest 1941 (Ontario)
‘We are passionate home haunters who love to create highly detailed and innovative Halloween attractions. Formed in 2001, we began as a small, one room haunt. After years of experience, in 2015, we rebranded ourselves as The Dreich Society.’

 

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Gershon Dungeon (Santa Ana)
‘The Gershon Dungeon is on a small plot of earth in Tustin, CA. It is said that every year around Halloween spirits and ghosts can be heard coming from the dungeon beneath the earth. According to the legend, a cruel woman named Guinevere Holt inhabited the land in the 17th century when it was a large orange grove plantation. Over the years, numerous buildings have been constructed on the property and all but the current one have been destroyed in unexplainable ways.

‘Over the centuries, strange sights and sounds have always occurred near this spot. But it was not until 1991 that the evil was unleashed. While a pool was being dug a man unknowingly caved in what was once intended to be the eternal grave of Guinevere and her many victims. The man died suddenly and the cause of death was never determined, but one very unusual thing was noted by a team of doctors, it seems that they were unable to close his eyes after they pronounced him dead. They believed he had simply been frightened to death.

It has been said that if you take the elevator down to the Gershon Dungeon, you can actually hear the distant voices calling out and see their spirits in the darkness locked in their cells. The legend states that ever since that fateful day in 1991, the restless souls of the undead have roamed the corridors of the dungeon below and the earth above searching for unsuspecting mortals to add to their legion.’

 

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Millmur Manor (La Habra)
‘SPOOKTACULAR Home Haunt taking over “North Chills” on Arbolita Street in La Habra, CA! Brought to you by the twisted mind of Roger Miller.’

 

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Samhain’s Lot (Rancho Cucamonga)
‘October 3rd-October 31st 🎃 6pm-10pm. Lights on everyday-fog & sound on Fri/Sat.’

 

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Haunted by Memories Manor (South El Monte)
‘Haunted by Memories Manor made its debut in 2009. Since then it has grown every year, eventually becoming a pretty effective scare show including a decorated yard and/or a walk-through in the garage. Themes range from generic Halloween Horror (Halloween 2016’s yard display werewolves, maniacs, and a “walker” using a walker – i.e., a groaning zombie torso holding itself up by its hands, poised awkwardly over the metallic device) to specific (Halloween 2017’s walk-through titled “Alice’s Twisted Fairytales,” an amusingly demented trip down the rabbit hole).’

 

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Garden Path of Doom (Altadena)
‘The Garden Path of Doom is an aptly named home haunt that requires costumed ghouls to ascend a twisted, treacherous cobblestone path that curves around a yard full of gravestones and up to a house haunted by motion-activated monsters. Along the way are several clever touches, including a talking mannequin, achieved not with wireless radio but an old-fashioned voice tube. The scare factor is enough to intimidate the tiniest trick-or-treaters, but their parents and older compatriots will be suitable impressed as well. The proprietor informs us that the Garden Path of Doom has been haunting decades.’

 

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The Opechee Haunt Presents: “TOUR” (Glendale)
‘Buckle up. Press play. Things are about to get very, very eerie.

‘Partake in a live message chat before getting behind the wheel of your car and setting off for a dark, sleepy neighborhood whose foreboding shadows hide a sinister story.

‘This is a driving attraction featuring multiple stops, specific addresses will be revealed to guests once tickets have been purchased.

‘All guests are embarking on the experience from the safety of their own vehicles, wearing masks if windows are to be rolled down. Each time slot features one vehicle only, so there will never be any groups even experiencing the attraction at the same time.’

 

 

*

p.s. Hey. ** Quinn R, Hi, Quinn! Great to see you! Things are okay in Paris, and, yes, fall has fully landed, but the COVID situation is pretty bad, and full quarantine is being threatened, so it’s a bit stressful too. Yes, Tetsumi Kudo was quite an interesting artist, very peculiar and curious always, an influential cult figure kind of guy. Oh, man, I’m so sorry about your dad. That’s very rough. Dead parents … it’s strange, or maybe not strange (?), how heavy losing your parents is. I wasn’t that close to mine — they both died about 8 years ago — but my mind keeps drifting into confusing thoughts about them being dead. There’s something profound about the thoughts, but they’re unresolvable, which is very strange. Anyway, I feel for you. But happy news for sure about Brooklyn, new job, excellent boyfriend. Romance is so nice. I’ll check to see if the Chicago Review piece is online. And great about the upcoming Evergreen pub. I always look at that, so that’ll be easy. Congrats! Right now I’m mostly caught up in non-creative stuff, or not deeply creative — scheming/fundraising for Zac’s and my new film, advising Gisele re: her soon to premiere new theater piece. I’ve agreed to write a big something or other piece about the artist Mike Kelley for a forthcoming book, and I need to start concentrating on that. So hopefully inspiration will jet back into me. Oh, yes, I do like Stephen Wright. Wow, I haven’t thought him in ages. I really liked ‘M31’. I’ll revisit him, maybe do a post. Thanks for the reminder and tip. You hang in there until I next see you, hopefully pronto, and enjoy the romantic love. ** Ferdinand, My pleasure on both fronts, sir. ** Misanthrope, Doofiness is a form of beauty. Maybe that’s just me. Yeah, I always have a mental double take when you remind me of Kayla’s age. I did assume she was much younger. Selfie the zombie version of you please. It’s true that late in his life my father acknowledged that my writing had found a form of success, but he also continually criticised my weird, sick books and told me I should write normal, wholesome books and how much better a writer he was than me (he self-published a memoir), so I think ‘proud’ of me is pushing it, ha ha. ** David Ehrenstein, Hi. I hope you do keep writing for LARB. It’s a great venue. It’s one of my go-to sites. Very fine piece, btw, kudos. ** _Black_Acrylic, Yes, I agree about Stuart Brisley. I’d actually never heard of him before I put together that post. ** john christopher, Hi, jc! I did get ‘Dangerous Fun’ just yesterday! In fact I’m holding it my left hand at this very moment (I type one-handed). It’s great, so much fun, and I love ‘Pinhead’s Promise’. And the writings and images are terrific in general. Thank you so much send for sending it to me. It has given my Halloween a big boost. Nice that you got the Ceravolo book. I hope you like it. But, ouch, my sincere condolences about the guy. It does physically hurt. So weird, right? Here’s to the hurt being overwhelmed by accumulating joys, mini and major. Congrats on the money gig. And thanks so much again! ** Brian O’Connell, Hi, Brian. I would have been surprised if the post actually scared anybody, but I’m not a good judge since I’m not very scareable on that kind of front. I’m glad so many artists stood out to you. The US election is even scarier than COVID’s full on return assault here, which is saying something. I feel a weird combination of optimistic and terrified. Which I think is rather common. I liked a couple of Francois Ozon’s early films, although never completely, but I became less and less interested by them, and I haven’t seen the last handful or more of them. Based on the trailer for that new one, it looks like the exact opposite of something I would be interested to see, so I’m about 99% sure I won’t. I’m good, stressed like everyone here about the possibility of getting quarantined again, and hoping hard that won’t come about. If it doesn’t, I’m going off to the city of Rennes for a day to advise Gisele Vienne on her new theater piece, and Zac and some friends and I are going to EuroDisney, and do some work. That’s the plan. You? How’s your week looking? ** Bill, Thanks, happy you dug it. No doubt the BlB will enter your sphere somehow. Do you know this site? It’s not impossible that the BlB and/or ‘Synchronic’ or ‘Possessor’ could pop up there. ** Gus, Hi, Gus! I love ‘Beat Boy’! I’ve been playing it a lot. I feel like you’ve found this kind of perfect location betwixt the sonic/textural different areas you’re working with that’s expansive but solid and kind of magical. Yeah, it’s fantastic! I’m going to get ‘Small Birds’. Has it gotten a great response? Seems like it must be. Do you perform the work, in a live or ‘live’ sense, I mean? Thank you! I’m so happy to have your work in my head. Canberra … I can kind of picture it based on your description. When I was growing up, there were still LA suburb/farmland combos. The sending a novel around and seeking readers is awkward, but it’s unfortunately part of the deal, at least until/if one goes the literary agent route. So I say go for it, weirdness and all. I don’t know ‘Muscle’ at all. It sounds completely weird and like kind of a must. Huh. I’m going to chase that down. Thanks a lot for passing that along. Paris is very wobbly, might end up with us being totally quarantined again very soon, which is making everything feel pretty tentative at the moment. Not great, but I’m maxing out the relative freedom for now. I send my best back to you. I hope your week goes well, and certainly share any of it you feel like expelling in this direction. ** Right. Today I give you the last (for this year) haunted attraction round up post, this one focused on my very favorite sub-genre, the homemade home haunt — see: Zac’s and my next film, which is entirely about one — and centred on/in the world’s Mount Zeus of haunted attractions aka Southern California. If you’re near there, I highly recommend you scour the point and mark your maps accordingly. If you’re out of reach like me, I recommend perusing and dreaming like I am doing. See you tomorrow.