Knott's Haunt 2010 Review

Earlier this month I made my annual pilgrimage to the Knott's Berry Farm Haunt, and I thought this was one of the stronger years. It seemed really tired last year, and many of the mazes were sorely in need of a face lift. It seems like they noticed because there were several great changes to the park. I won't go into great detail about all of the mazes, but there were a few stand-outs.



Sleepy Hollow Mountain: The Log Ride has finally changed themes from the very tired Pyromaniax. It was so exciting to see new decor and monsters! If you're a pumpkin enthusiast, you'll love the dozens of glowing jack-o-lanterns, and the moody, misty woods were perfect for setting a believable Sleepy Hollow theme.

The Labyrinth is always good for pretty things - pretty costumes, pretty decor, and silly, tittering spooks. It's not scary, but it is fun to walk through. The stairs and uneven terrain help with the outdoorsy, fairy forest theme.

Virus Z in Fiesta Plaza. As we were walking through I said It's exactly how I always pictured the Zombie Apocalypse! The maze starts out in an abandoned 1950's-style diner and winds through a zombie-filled suburban town. It wasn't the scariest maze, but it was the most satisfying. How often does something deliver exactly what you'd hoped for?

The Corn Stalkers is a good one for me, but only because I've never seen a real-life corn field. I love the smell of the hay bales that stack up taller than my head; the thought of really being in a spook-filled corn field is plenty of scare for me.

While it is nowhere near the bottom of my list of favorites, I do have to say that Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre was better this year. It didn't make me roll my eyes and sigh the way it did last year.


I just wanna talk! Image courtesy of Knott's.

And a dishonorable mention to the Black Widow's Cavern (Calico Mine Ride). Every year, I cross my fingers and hope that the giant spider in the middle of the cavern will finally move or do something, and I am always disappointed. As a spider-enthusiast, I'm sad to say that it is really time for this one to go. Knott's is pretty good about changing it up, so I hope to see something new in the Calico Mine next fall.

If you've never been to Knott's for the haunt, or if you haven't been in years, but are thinking about it, I think this is a good year to get back into the Haunt Groove. The Virus Z zombie maze alone was worth it for me, and the Sleepy Hollow log ride got me in the mood for the rest of autumn...if it ever shows up.