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The undead have once again risen at Dorney Park, which is currently holding their annual scream-fest named
Halloween Haunt. The event is now in its 12th season at the park, and has added some new attractions again this year to keep things fresh. Visitors flock to the event with the promise that they may get the fright of their life, and the park has made sure to deliver on that!
In total there are eleven haunted attractions, two live shows, special food and beverage offerings, roaming monsters, decorations throughout the park and fog... plenty of fog!
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The evening officially kicks off again this year with the Overlord's Resurrection, where the man behind the evening's terrors demands a sacrifice from his skull-faced minions. This year the performance includes a lot more dancing, and later in the evening the show is named Terror Rising. The latter shows are a bit different than the one that kicks off the night, longer and with more focus on the performers. The stage is located in front of Hydra, not far from The Pour Haus, a new food and beverage stand this year that offers various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Gotta beat that fear somehow!
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New this year on the main Midway is Steamworx, and sort of scare zone that focuses less on jump scares and more on a creepy environment. The park made some major infrastructure changes to the midway earlier in the year to support Grand Carnivale, and is using that to their advantage through the new lighting and sound systems.
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There are a lot of different characters to be found within Steamworx, but like I said their goal is not to jump out at anyone to give them a scream. The combination of the actors, lighting, music and dense fog work wonderfully with a lot of really giant set pieces that Dorney Park built for the zone. The main midway has always been a complicated area for Haunt, due to its size and it being a main thoroughfare - I think Screamworx is a nice compromise between what the park and its guests need and want.
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Replacing Age of Darkness this year is The Lair, a vampire themed scare zone that's honestly more like a maze than most scare zones. It's located right where Age of Darkness' torture chamber was, but the sets have been totally redone and now feature a full gothic castle feel.
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I was quite surprised at how great the inside of the area looks, above are some views of a giant courtyard the park built in the middle of the path - complete with several vampires (one on a throne), a water fountain and other decorations. Nice and creepy in there!
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The lighting and mood of The Lair is wonderful, and since it's technically a scare zone there is no long wait to get into it. I definitely suggest going through it more than once to really take it all the scenery that's packed into it!
The park has also added a new bar area near the exit to The Lair, aptly named Stake & Ale. The location features a selection of specialty drinks and other adult beverages... in case you still need a little more help to take on the haunted houses!
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Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt features numerous returning haunted houses and scare zones as well. Above is Tourist Trap, the park's most recently added full indoor haunted house, which still remains quite popular.
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I'd also like to point out that Necropolis, another scare zone that's really much more like a giant outdoor haunted house, was really strong this year. The park reorganized some of the path, opening up areas to wander around, but then keeping guests in a tight path (for good scares) at other points. Near the end of the zone is the above tunnel, completely lined with skeletons and bright lights that make it hard to see what's coming next... and who is hiding at your feet.
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Another returning favorite is Blood on the Bayou, still the favorite haunted house of many visitors. It joins Chamber of Horrors, Trick Or Treat: Lights Out, Urgent Scare, and Blackout as returning mazes. Other scare zones that are back this year include CornStalkers: Barn Bred and Blood Fed and CarnEvil.
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The ever popular Blood Drums show is back on Center Stage, with pulsing beats that can be heard throughout the lower part of the park. Still drawing a large crowd for each performance, the show again includes an awesome fire act that's not to be missed.
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One of the coolest additions this year can be found on the midway near the Musik Express, and that's this demon baby in a stroller. The baby carriage zooms through the area on its own, acting as one of the most efficient scare actors I've ever seen. Guests are both freaked out and mesmerized by the baby, who has glowing red eyes and occasionally spits up water at those nearby. Make sure you stop by the area to see it in action, it's rather hilarious and creepy all at the same time!
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While we've focused on attractions that open once the sun goes down, the park did bring back the Pumpkin Spectacular on the lower midway, near where Monster Jam Thunder Alley is operating. The park has added even more pumpkins to the massive display this year, and it's best to take a walk through the area before the sun goes down.
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And if you're hungry during the event, we suggest checking out this year's Fright Feast. Located at the recently added Parkside Pavilion, the meal offers dishes such as garlic parmesan chicken breast, hamburgers, pumpkin ravioli and dirt cups for dessert. Delicious!
Halloween Haunt runs each Friday and Saturday through the end of the season, and this year that includes the weekend of November 1st and 2nd. There's also a bonus haunt night tomorrow, October 13th.
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