 Before we get started with our review of Ward 13 I just wanted to send a special thanks to Todd, Scott and Jennifer from Evil Twin (Evil Triplet?) Studios. Not only do they put on one of the most amazing haunts we've ever been to ... anywhere, but they are genuinely good and awesome people who happen to love scaring the crap out of people. And what could be better than that? If you missed our interview with Scott and Todd be sure to check it out here. Written by Gregg Condon (non cell phone pictures courtesy of Evil Twin Studios)  The Evil Twins themselves ... This past Saturday was pretty much circled on our calendar since we experienced their Raymond Hill Mortuary haunt last year, and their mini-haunt at ScareLA this year. While this year's haunt isn't as gory or traditionally scary as last years, it brings with it an originality and energy that is very rare to find, especially in Southern California with our sheer number of haunted attractions. But Ward 13 manages to somehow rise above delivering a unique and engaging event all while being rather freaky and awesome.  The basic story of Ward 13 is that this is a secret ward of Raymond Hill Sanitarium for the criminally insane, which is of course affiliated with Raymond Hill Mortuary. And we all know their reputation isn't the best. So it's definitely a continuation of what they've already built on. But instead of simply going with a similar theme and experience as last year they've totally changed it up, made it even more interactive and added some things that we've never seen in a Haunt before, and that's really rare and awesome. Our journey begins within the doors of the Asylum where something has definitely gone wrong and the patients have taken over the asylum. You go in with your group of no more than 6 people which definitely means you get some amazing interaction with the talent and the amazing sets. From the first minute of this event you know it's something totally different and unique and again, something I really don't want to spoil for you. The walk-through plays with your mind as well as your soul and what follows is a good 15-20 minutes of fun, scares, amazing sets, great talent and a cohesive and engaging story that will leave you wanting more.  Be sure to take your medicine The maze isn't a traditional maze and there are definitely some physical elements and small spaces you will have to go through. But if you have physical limitations there are ways around that as well. Throughout the maze you are taken through different rooms including waiting rooms, dr offices, patient rooms and the most awesome element we've ever experienced in a maze, which we will definitely not be spoiling for you here. Check back after the season and we'll give full details. All of that eventually leads you into Ward 13 itself.  Ward 13 is basically what you'd expect from a highly secure and secretive psychiatric facility where bad things are always happening ... =) ...but there are some surprises in store for you so beware of the dark places.  We spent some time talking with the creators this past Saturday night and their passion for entertainment and this haunt is tremendous and they promise they'll be bringing something new for 2016 and beyond. Thank you again to Evil Twin Studios for having us out and being awesome to us as always. See below for all the information on Ward 13 and be sure to get your tickets. It gets very busy and for good reason.  Evil Twin Studios 2015 haunted attraction will make nightmares come true at a new location in South Pasadena. This Halloween season, sanity comes to die at WARD 13. Since its earliest days, rumors about the Raymond Hill Sanitarium have circulated. Rumors of neglect. Rumors of abuse. And most disturbing of all, rumors of an undocumented area where finding a cure was secondary to exploratory experimentation. This was the one thing patients feared more than death... WARD 13 1020 El Centro St. South Pasadena, CA 91030 (Entrance on Fairview Ave, see map below) Remaining event nights and Operation hours 7:00-11:00 PM Friday, October 23 Saturday, October 24 Friday, October 30 Saturday, October 31 TICKETS ONLINE: $15.00 AT THE DOOR: $17.00 PURCHASE TICKETS NOW Online ticket sales end at 6 PM on haunt nights. Tickets will be sold at the door on haunt nights until 11 PM or until we sell out. For at the door sales, we accept cash and all major credit cards. Front of line passes are available at the ticket booth on haunt nights for an additional $10/ticket. Proceeds from Evil Twin Studios' WARD 13 benefit the South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF). For more information and tickets, visit www.eviltwinstudios.com Evil Twin Studios WARD 13 Criminally insane. Pathologically dangerous. Mentally twisted. And those are just the doctors.
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 We go to a LOT of Halloween events. This is, without a doubt the busiest time of year for us when it comes to events that we cover. So it takes a LOT to impress us sometimes, it's just the nature of the season. But Saturday night we had our first visit ever to the Ghost Train at Griffith Park and it's easily one of our favorite events of the year so far. Photo's by Coastermatt Video and Words by Gregg Condon Before we get started we wanted to give you some info on the Ghost Train. You can find all the information about the event here. It's strictly run by volunteers and it is a $15 donation. But it's TOTALLY worth it. You can read more about where the donations go and the causes they support on their website. The event is also a family event, so don't go in expecting to get scared, but do go in expecting to have a tremendous amount of fun on the ride which is about 25 minutes long. Our suggestion, get to the event early or towards the end of the evening, it get's busy. And there are families who know how to do this event. We saw people with folding chairs waiting in the line eager to do the ghost train. We'll start off with our video of the train ride, which even with cutting down a few things is about 18 minutes long. We also had to cut out a couple of songs due to copyright but hopefully it's not TOO noticeable. ;) The entrance to the Ghost Train     The loading area, very well done and starts the fun off with a great little song.  Get off my lawn!!!  Feed me Seymour!!    Awesome graveyard scene near the load/unload. You get to pass by this twice.    Dead Men Tell No Tales    Dia De Los Muertos  Lots of great lighting, which is no surprise as this is the same group that does the lighting at ScareLA.   Clever play on words ...    Our conductor   Awesome Tesla Coil!!   Blocks should say "Creepy Bear".  Clowns selling fireworks, always a good idea   Hi everybody, can you pick me up on your way back around? I've been here awhile     Is it just us or does the guy in the picture look like Neil Patrick Harris?  There's only 2 weekends left to experience the awesomeness that is the Ghost Train, so be sure you head out to Griffith Park and have a great time. You won't be disappointed. Grab your kids, nieces/nephews, brothers/sisters, whoever. Just remember, this is a family event, so go expecting to have a great time, don't go in expecting to get scared. But it's definitely a can't miss event. We can't wait to go back next year!!  It's now the middle of October, and Halloween is just a few weeks away. There are, for most events, only 3 more weekends of fun left, so it's crunch time and you may have to pick and choose. So we figured we'd run down the events we've already done to help you all out. These include Scary Haunts, Family Fun and more. We'll be adding to this over the weekend as we'll be experiencing one of our favorite Haunters, Evil Twin Studios and their all new Ward 13. We'll also be experiencing the Ghost Train for the first time, so look for more on those next week. Click on any of the titles below to see our reports. Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest The transition of Fright Fest from an event that was pretty much attended by those already at the park into a destination Haunted evening is continuing this year with some tremendous improvements. We also heard last night that the Aftermath maze will be leaving after this year so you only have 9 nights left to get into one of our favorite mazes from any event. Check out our walk-through of the maze below.
Magic Mountain's Fright Fest was also just voted the best Halloween Event by USA Today readers. Congrats on this well deserved honor. Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Not to be outdone, Great Adventure in New Jersey stepped up their Fright Fest this year with all new mazes, new shows and what looks like a pretty incredible parade. Check out Chris' report from Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure.
We also should have some more Fright Fest fun from Six Flags Great America soon. Knott's Scary Farm The granddaddy of them all is once again amazing. With the addition of the Scary Farm Pass it fives fans the chance to go on repeat nights and see things we may not see by just visiting once per night.
Be sure to check out our opening night report. . Knott's Spooky Farm Not content to rest on just doing scary stuff, Knott's has expanded their daytime event for families. Check out our look at the event from this past weekend.
Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Studios Hollywood What some will say is the best Halloween event around, and who are we to argue. Movie quality sets, amazing talent and a chance to walk around the backlot.
Halloween Horror Nights gets VERY busy so be sure to check out our Survival Guide as well as our update from opening night of the event which includes our maze walk-through highlight videos. . Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Studios Orlando Not to be outdone, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando may have the same name as the one in Hollywood, but the results, at least from Renée's report appear to be vastly different.
Who says we can't have two great events on both coasts. Howl-O-Scream - Busch Gardens Tampa Howl-O-Scream is one of those events that we seem to hear gets better and better every year, and this year certainly appears to be no exception.
From the rides, to returning characters and all new mazes, check out Renée's opening night report. Queen Mary's Dark Harbor One of our absolute favorite events of the year, Queen Mary's Dark Harbor knows how to bring the fun, the scares and with their vast array of characters they can always keep you laughing.
Whether you like to just sit and watch sliders, take pictures with scary Drag Queens or get scared, Queen Mary's got it all. Check out our report from opening night. Boo at the Los Angeles Zoo For those with children or who want to have some halloween fun without all the scary stuff, the LA Zoo has got an event for you.
Of course you've got the animals, but add in pumpkin carving, hay mazes, music and more and you've got an amazing event. Be sure to check out our report. Ward 13 - Evil Twin Studios We haven't done this one yet (that's tomorrow) but judging from what we've heard so far and our visit to their haunt .last year we have no doubt this will once again be at the top of our list for 2015. Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with the creators of this amazing event.  Drunken Devil - Sinister Soiree This freshman event brings the fun along with the scares and ends the way every maze should, at a bar.
Set in the swinging city of New Orleans this event is sure to provide a tremendous amount of fun and scares. Check out our opening night report. LA Haunted Hayride This is still one of the most unique events in all of Southern California and it's expanded to New York this year.
Be sure to check out our pictures and video from the recent media night. |
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