If the sun sets behind Disneyland’s Matterhorn, I imagine it casts its shadow on the industrial complex that houses the Orange County original haunt Mabel’s Six Feet Under. Back for its third year, there is no higher praise I can give the independent haunt then to say this: it has some really great, intense, and original scares.
Before we get into the bulk of the review, here’s an interview with Mable’s 6 Feet Under Creator Carolyn Carpenter.
But we are ahead of ourselves. Like all great hotels, we should our tour in the majestic lobby. The maid doesn’t smile, and honestly, she doesn’t really clean, as all the cobwebs covering the ceiling and walls demonstrate. It’s stormy, the TV is broken, and the antique lighting flickers. The bellman tries to warn you off, prevent you from venturing deeper, but thankfully Otis, the elevator operator, is there like a demonic “Willy Wonka” to take us on a quick, multi-story tour. You’ll swear you were getting off on the same floor you started, but sure enough, it’s not, and that’s something you’ll need to quickly understand about this hotel. Its haunted all the way to the walls. The pathways really change, and it’s really up to you to find your way out, if Mable lets you escape. Which is unlikely.
If you have visited in the previous years, you might be in for some horrific surprises. In the past, I would have been very happy to recommend this maze as a more “family accessible” offering. It has always had some good scares, but it also had some great humorous components. This year, many of those have been traded out for better scare opportunities. The talent inside is beyond on point, choreographing each group’s movement from scene to scene without making it feel as you are being rushed through the experience.
The strong balance between living monsters and animatronic elements has been maintained, and some new mechanical additions are impressive in both size and scare factor. Most impressive, as always, is the fact that they are all are custom creations. They reinforce the idea that the maze is a combination of the bright and colorful childhood fantasies from Mable’s past, and the terrifying demonic reality her spirit has become.
If you feel like I’m being evasive about the maze details, I am. I really don’t want to give any of the great surprises away. As in years past, we were fortunate to experience this gem opening night, with several “jaded” members of the haunt community. I heard the same thing from almost all of them…This one actually “brought” the scares. No small accomplishment with that group.
Carolyn and her team should be very proud of the changes they have made this year. This third year offering is not only one of the best mazes in the Orange County area (which says a lot, considering all the local competition, including Knott’s Scary Farm), but that it is, at least in my opinion, in the running for one of the best mazes of 2017. (Editor’s note: Agreed)
Mable’s 6 Feet under is open 7-10 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, and on Halloween, and 7-11 pm Friday and Saturday nights, all the way through November 4th (haunters weekend)
It’s right between Disneyland and Anaheim Stadium in the Business Expo Center at 1960 S. Anaheim Way, Anaheim, CA 92805.
For more information visit their website at: https://www.mables6feetunder.org/
