Six Flag’s Magic Mountain is the coaster capital of the world. Literally. There are more coasters here than in any other theme park in the world. Los Angeles is a Halloween Town. We always have been. Maybe it’s our roots in show business and make-believe. Maybe it’s our penchant for just having a good time. It would stand to reason then, that the Six Flags theme park in Los Angeles would be the flagship for Six Flag’s Fright Fest annual Halloween event.
The effort has been a years-long task. Each year justifying more and more budget being allotted to competing in a world class Halloween Market. It is finally beginning to pay off with three all-new mazes this year, a new scare zone, and plenty of entertainment options.
Unlike its fellow haunt parks, Six Flags Magic Mountain doesn’t close to make the changeover from day operations to haunt park. Instead, announcements are made as the sun descends, warning of impending scares. Then promptly at 7pm the creatures come crawling out, the fog starts to collect, and the real fun begins.
While scare zones and shows are included in admission, a special wristband is required to gain access to the mazes. Regular entry to the mazes
SHOWS
Voodoo Nights
Spirited DJs, rockin’ go-go dancers, and a light display guaranteed to add a bit of delight to your fright.
High Sierra Hypnotist
Prepare yourself for a mystical, edge-of-your-seat, comical stage show.
SCARE ZONES
Scare Zones are a staple at theme park haunts. Free-form vignettes of themed scares. Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest is one of the best places for this type of haunt experience and they offer a few new
Demon’s Door
Welcome to HELL…be prepared for your mind and body to be completely taken over by the evil spirits that await you.
Opening the park is Demon’s Door. This demonic scare zone can only be fully appreciated at night. As soon as the black lights come on and the lighting takes effect, this is a remarkable zone to people watch and to get a good scare.
Nightmares A Twisted Fantasy
This evil nightmare has never been so edgy as your favorite bedtime stories take on a new and twisted tale.
Our favorite scare zone in the park, one of the best scare zones in all of so-cal, Nightmares features a wildly colored canopy of trees and webs populated by the best collection of scare actors at the event. That not to mention the evil witch offering some pretty edgy spa treatments. (She’s the best)
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”100″]Witches Lair
Enter a wicked haven for cauldrons, broomsticks, spells and magic! The sisterhood has risen.
A new scare zone for 2018, Witches lair is a collection of fences and foliage around which evil skulks at every turn. Situated in the center of the pavilion just outside the new Justice League attraction, this zone feels a bit misplaced. If you can ignore the surroundings, the actors will transport you, while, at the same time, bringing your nightmares to life.
City Under Seige
Back by popular demand. The unruly comic-like characters run rampant in the streets of DC UNIVERSE.
Situated in the D.C. Universe area of Magic Mountain, City Under Siege brings high-energy clowns and monsters. This is a high-energy scare zone with actors that tear it up. Again, some of the best scare zones in any theme park haunt.
The Shadows
Eerie whispers, long windy howls and mysterious gory creatures lurk among us.
TERRORtory Twisted
Steam-spewing mechanical beasts relentlessly hunt down their victims.
Exile Hill
The dead have risen and are looking for new souls to take on this dark and sinister hill.
The monsters, zombies, and creepy crawlies of Exile Hill are back. They are good, they are all coming for your blood, but as we breezed through the area there were only a handful of those amazing actors out there working the crowds. The Hearst is out, the monsters are out, but something seemed off. Understand though, that this is live, interactive theatre. It’s nothing if not organic.
HELL FEST
Experience the maze from the new movie, Hell Fest, where all of your screams come true…Will you make it out alive?
The weakest of the new mazes, Hell Fest is a retheming of Vault 666. Veterans of Fright Fest will spot the similarities immediately, but first-timers will more than likely have a great time here. Hit this one first folks. In all fairness, I will say that the talent in this maze was on point. They seemed to have received a bit more training on technique and variation of scares.
CONDEMNED
If you’re looking for the newest real estate listing, enter if you dare and attend an open house at the recently abandoned home of a habitual collector of things.
The Toyz of Terror is gone, in its place is an all-new, fully themed haunted house that raises the bar for Fright Fest. We enter the dilapidated manor with a once-stately tower beckoning visitors. Now, well, it’s a fixer-upper. What’s worse is that the former residents have never really left. Creepy, stinky and more advanced than anything that Fright Fest has tried before, Condemned is Universal-style detail with Knott’s style scares. One hell of a lot of fun.
RED’S REVENGE
Red’s revenge is back, exactly as it has been since opening. Now, that’s not exactly the worst thing. The maze is a good one, and Magic Mountain’s first attempt at really immersive walkthroughs, which needs to be respected. It would be nice, however, to see a little bit of refreshing now that the standards have been raised. Even if the layout can’t be touched, I would be eternally grateful if the sound design in the first room could be perfected so that we could understand the prologue video. Maybe throw a few scents in here, like pine trees, burning wood, or other earthy delights. Regardless, this is still worht checking out.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”119″]
AFTERMATH 2 CHAOS RISING
Aftermath 2 Chaos Rising. Easily the largest single maze at any theme park haunt. While I believe this one still has a few really good years ahead of it, they would get even more mileage out of this awesome maze if they just spent some time updating the through line and directing the talent to do more than rush us through. “Go! Go! Go! Hurry! Hurry!” To where? A quick fix. A voiceover in the final, biohazard tent saying something like, “Finally you are safe!” Or better still, have the actors convey that sentiment at the end.
There are some jaw-dropping set pieces but you can’t appreciate it on account of the rush you are in. Alas, still worth checking out.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”106″]WILLOUGHBY’S HAUNTED MANSION
The classic Willoughby’s Haunted Mansion, situated atop the mountain is a classic. In fact, it is a tradition that should not be removed from Fright Fest. Ever. Instead, it would be nice to see some updates to the expansive interior sets. Some training for the actors wouldn’t hurt either. Still, I could envision a new room being “discovered” on to the mansion every year ala Reign of Terror Haunted House, offering a new surprise every year, even if it is minimal.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”102″]
SEWER OF SOULS
Dare to enter a foul-smelling wretched wasteland, sure to raise a few hairs…luring you in and then leaving you to fend for yourself. If not your favorite maze, definitely number two.
One of the best new mazes of the year, Sewer of Souls totally won us over. The journey begins in eye-popping blacklight sets as we wander past a pile of poo crawling with roaches. Yep, we go there to bring you the news folks.
What ensues is a brilliantly executed series of funhouse effects, scares, and gross-out humor. There is also a sharp eye for lighting design in here as a mix of incandescent and blacklights blends seamlessly and at the right times.
One of our group actually demanded to go through again. It was that fun. This one goes into my top 10 of the year, no joke.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”104″]
My advice to the Six Flags mothership; Magic Mountain is headed in the right direction. Keep investing in this park’s Fright Fest. The three new mazes are worthy additions to the roster and THANK YOU from the bottom of my cold dark heart for getting rid of Chupacabra.
My advice to haunt goers; Six Flags Fright Fest is the perfect place to start kids on the haunts. Not because it lacks scares, no. It’s because it is a phenomenal value. You could pick up your pass FOR THE ENTIRE REST OF 2018 AND FOR ALL OF 2019, hang out until the monsters come out, and see how the more skittish in your party react. If they are down, by the wristband. If they re boujee, buy the front of line access to the mazes for a little more.
Six Flags Fright Fest continues to maintain their stellar makeup and scare zone standards. Now the mazes are finally catching up.
