Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2011 Report
Sept. 29, 2011
Cornstalkers: Here's another maze that is improving year after year. There are some interesting "interior" scenes, but the best stuff happens in the very narrow rows of corn, where things can come at you from almost anywhere - very atmospheric and claustrophobic. Plus, scary scarecrows are scary. And the Boss Monster is bitchin'. I hope they keep Cornstalkers around for awhile longer... because it shucks me up. (I kill me.)
Sleepy Hollow Mountain: Great last year, even more enjoyable this year. I believe that the scenes in the sawmill at the top of the first lift might be new? Wouldn't swear to it, though. Whatever. Between the pitch-black interior sections, the Headless Horseman animatronic, the pumpkins, the live spooks all over the place, the rapid water flow, and every other delicious detail, Sleepy Hollow Mountain is a star of the Haunt and I don't care how cold it may be - you'll only get a little wet - DO IT.
Lockdown: Mix up some prison-riot chaos with monsters, wailing sirens and a pounding industrial/noise soundtrack and you've got yourself one hell of a badass maze. Think those bars are going to keep that freak from coming at you? WRONG. Lots of scares, lots of attitude, lots of fun. (I think "Endgames" needs a little more "Lockdown" mojo to really hit its stride.) But the best thing about Lockdown is that it leads you right into...
Delirium: If you've had the chance to listen to Daniel Miller speak about this maze, you know this attraction is a bit of a passion project, gestating for several years. It may have taken time to get the green light, but the wait was worth it; this is the best KSF Haunt maze I've ever seen. First of all, look at that portal. That is a work of art.
There's no story behind this one, just a series of random, fever-dream-like sequences. Some of them are gross, some are chilling, some are both. You won't encounter too many Scareactors in here, and that's just fine. Delirium is more about mood than "Boo!" although don't think you won't do any screaming.
There's one room in particular that sticks with me and it involves cockroaches. A lot of cockroaches. And then there's that thing in the floor... and the maggots... and that black passageway that you have to squeeze through...
We loved this maze so much, we went through it (and Lockdown) twice. Again, this whole thing belongs in some kind of effed-up museum. A work of art through and through.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If Universal Studios Hollywood's HHN is the shiny new Mercedes-Benz of the SoCal Haunt scene, Knotts Scary Farm is the fully-restored 1967 Pontiac GTO, maybe not as refined, but loaded with horsepower, heritage and hand-crafted charm. My only suggestion? Hire more ghouls. Gotta keep those mazes jumping.
That said, DO NOT MISS The Haunt. If only for Delirium. It's THAT good.
Thanks again to the entire KBF staff for another night to remember!
All Rights Reserved
home random notes ride reviews special features photo shoppe privacy policy