REBEKAH GREEN
PRIDE STAFF WRITER
With every Halloween comes opportunities to get your scare on and face your fears (if you dare to) with Halloween themed attractions. Haunted Trail, Haunted Hotel and The Scream Zone are three of San Diego’s well-known places that are sure to make your blood run cold. These events are annual running from as early as late September all the way until Halloween night.
San Diego’s Haunted Trail has guests take an eerie nighttime trail trek with shocking surprises awaiting daring visitors. Trail officials emphasize that the trail is not for children under 10, and they do not recommended it for those who are prone to seizures or have heart problems due to the use of strobe lights and intense scares. The Haunted Trail opened back in September, and will remain open Oct. 12 – 16 and Oct. 19 – 31. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays the trail is open from 7 – 11 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the trail is open from 6:30 – 11:45 p.m. and this time will also apply on Halloween night. General admission prices are $15 on Sundays through Thursdays and $17 on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Haunted Hotel is the San Diego Halloween haunted house attraction that has been around the longest and therefore has built notoriety. The attraction takes its guests down a “Hellevator” below the hotel and into terrifying themed rooms with zombies, ghouls and even Freddy Krueger himself. This attraction is open Oct. 12 – 16 and Oct. 19 – 31. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays the hotel is open from 7 – 11 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays the times are 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. and on Halloween night the hotel is open from 6 p.m. – midnight. Due to special effects and scares, the Haunted Hotel is not recommended for those who are prone to seizures or have heart problems. For more information such as an in-depth FAQ of the three San Diego Halloween attractions and various ticket price options, see www.hauntedhotel.com (from this site there are links redirecting to the specifi c pages for the Haunted Trails, Haunted Hotel and Scream Zone).
The Scream Zone, held at the Del Mar Scaregrounds, opened on Sept. 30 and will remain open to guests eager for scares Oct. 13 – 16 Thursdays through Sundays and Oct. 20 – 31 each night. The Scream Zone times are Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m. – midnight and 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. on the other opening days. The three attractions are the Haunted Hayride, The House of Horror and The Chamber. The Haunted Hayride takes guests on a haywagon ride beyond the Del Mar Race Track and up close and personal with various ghouls and creatures. The House of Horror has visitors venturing through a house with themed rooms and a terrifying twist ending (this attraction is not recommended for children under 10). Finally, The Chamber takes guests into a labyrinth of frightening proportions featuring what the Scream Zone’s website states is “the largest ‘spinning tunnel’ in San Diego.” Prices depend upon the patron’s choice of haunt (or haunts, if you dare). The triple haunt (which includes all three attractions) is $27.99. A double haunt includes the Chamber and the House of Horror or the Haunted Hayride and costs $18.99. A single haunt consisting either of the House of Horror or the Haunted Hayride is $14.99. There are also group sales and military discounts available for visitors. For more info on the prices and directions, visit www.thescreamzone.com. According to The Scream Zone website, 509 visitors haven’t made it through to the end of the House of Horror. Think you can?
Photo courtesy of thescreamzone.com