The Empty Grave is opening this Friday, October 2nd, and is set to unleash spooky fun in southern Orange County. Built in the former Sears Appliance Center at Laguna Hills Mall, The Empty Grave delivers a unique brand of home-spun scares that have become a haunt staple for Southern California.
The brainchild of lifelong haunt enthusiast, Mike Talorico, Empty Grave is an old-fashioned haunted house experience. There are long, dimly lit corridors filled with that familiar foggy haze. Winding paths that hide monsters around every corner. Yet, everything is done, not with the savage aggression that most haunts are aiming for these days. No, this is a family owned and operated outfit with plenty of heart to spare.
This year the story of a psycho killer at a coffin factory evolves further. Taking advantage of the already industrial setting we begin the maze outside, we will be delving further into the doomed factory. This time, however, guests will be asked to become part of the action. “We’re trying some fun new ideas this year at Empty Grave.” Says Talorico of this year’s incarnation. “Visitors are going to be more involved in the story, becoming more a part of the inner workings of the factory.” While Talorico would’t give specifics on what he meant by “involved” he shied away from calling the new Empty Grave “interactive”. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.” He assured us.
Touring the factory floor and seeing some of the ingenious new ways that Michael has to tell his story, we can say that this promises to be a heck of a lot of fun. Empty Grave will be taking part in the HorrorBuzz OC Death March this year on Sunday, October 18th. Join us, if you dare, for a wonderful time, checking out the very best haunts that the OC has to offer.
The Empty Grave will be running Fri, Sat, Sunday now through November 1st. Tickets can be purchased here through their website. However, If you would like to experiences a collection of the best haunts in Orange County, you might consider the Orange County Death March on Sunday, October 18th. 1 ticket, 3 haunts, a million screams.
Introducing the first annual
Orange County Death March.
The Empty Grave
STOP #1 (5:45pm)
We start the night off at Laguna Hills Mall and The Empty Grave. Mike Talorico has a lovely haunted house set up just waiting for you. The expansive 5,000 square foot maze is choc full of the homespun scares that have made the Grave a must-do during the Halloween season.
Here we will also be treated to a meet and greet with Mike and a lights-on walkthrough of the maze.
From there we will hop in our cars and meet up at the Tustin Market Place for quick bite at a restaurant in the area as we get ready for the next destination.
The 17th Door
STOP #2 (8:00pm)
Next up we will tour Irvine’s The 17th Door. Again with priority access, we delve into the sickening mind of a young girl and journey with her down a path of destruction. One of the most anticipated haunt experiences of 2015, The 17th Door will immerse guests in a terrifying succession of scenarios as we try to survive the dangers that lie within.
Sinister Pointe’s Trust Challenge
STOP #3 (10:00pm)
We end our march with a trip to Sinister Pointe’s Trust Challenge in Brea. A terrifyingly unique experience, where you along with a single guest will encounter a nearly 30-minute fear challenge that will require complete trust from your partner. Upon entering the dimly lit facility, you are escorted upstairs. One at a time you will each enter completely blacked out quarters. Depending on the fear you have chosen, you may encounter evil clowns, the possessed or the living dead!
You will spend an agonizing 10-minutes in this realm attempting to navigate through it in total darkness … alone!
but, there is hope! Your partner will be just outside in a control booth watching your every move on a monitor using infrared cameras located within the world that you inhabit. They will see your every move and everything else possibly lurking beside you. Your goal will be to use your partner’s eyes as they navigate you to collect survival coins. Upon successful survival, the game is then reversed. Your partner will then enter a completely different realm, and you will be responsible for navigating them through the terror.
imagine the ability to see what is about to unfold right in front of your partner’s eyes, yet they have absolutely no awareness of the evil before them. Will you guide them to victory? Or will you use this opportunity to seek revenge? You decide!!!
This is a low-capacity attraction so the majority of us will park ourselves a block away at Branagan’s Irish Pub and head over in shifts.
The ticket buys you priority access to all three haunted attractions for the small price of $50
If you are on the fence about what haunts to do and when, why not join us for three of the best haunts on Orange County? One price, three haunts, endless screams.
See you in the fog!
