The only thing better than a haunted attraction? A haunted attraction on a giant boat with its own haunted history. Out of all the haunted houses I visited, Dark Harbor was the sleeper hit for me. After driving 40 miles from the Valley to Long Beach on a Sunday night, the stakes were pretty high—I couldn’t imagine any Halloween attraction feeling worth that drive. I was wrong: After visiting, I’ll be coming back every year.
Starting at the entrance, where you walk through a graveyard, I was wowed by the production design. It only got more impressive in Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse, a new maze this year set in a decayed bayou with Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. Each maze actually exceeded my expectations, but you can’t miss the ones on the ship itself: Lullaby, Infirmary and Feast. You’ll walk through some truly terrifying scenes as you traverse the ocean liner. The dark, cramped confines of the Queen Mary are already pretty spooky even without monsters, and dodging scare actors throughout the kitchen, pool and staterooms adds to the authenticity of the scares. All the mazes here are long, too, and the lines move quickly.
I love a good carnival, and Dark Harbor feels like a carnival for adults (it’s recommended for ages 13 and older). So when you tire of the terror, take a spin on the rides, sip spirits at secret speakeasies (including one in the bowels of the ship) and catch spooky live entertainment (I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the fire dancers). And the food is a fairground dream: Think baskets of fresh churros, pizza, loaded fries, Dubai-chocolate-covered strawberries and cocktails served in fishbowls or green alien sippy cups as long as your arm. The make-your-own-s’mores stations are a fun touch too.
Select nights through Nov 2. Tickets start at $55.