I love everything about October, especially in a year that offers a bonus Friday on the 13th in 2023. So, Friday the 13th and Halloween this year make the spooky season even more special. And one of my favorite things to do, when the ghosts and ghouls frequent your local Target aisle, is check out the local haunts. Here in Los Angeles, you have many horror events to choose from. The beauty of Halloween however, is that most cities and towns across America all have a few choice spots to get creeped out at. As a service to all our readers, please leave suggestions in the comment section below that may lead to haunting holiday discoveries for others
The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride in Griffith Park is one such place. Strangely, I had never been before. However, I’d heard it was a must if you are in the Los Angeles area. And frankly, I’ve been here much too long not to have attended the hayride to hell. I can finally say I’ve experienced this cool, creepy outdoor frightful attraction. And thanks to The Boogeyman‘s Home Video release, JoBlo headed out into the night for some fright and fun. Once we arrived, our own Ryan Cultrera (host of Where It Was Made) and I made our way to bask in the holiday joy of The LA Haunted Hayride.
One of the most satisfying elements of this attraction is the location. Surrounded by trees and a natural park setting, just walking to the entrance increases the creep factor. Once Ryan and I arrived at where the nightmares lived, we immediately found our first mission: The Boogeyman photo booth experience. With the upcoming release, I’m a sucker for this kind of experience. Allowing fans to get an extra bit of fun. I dig a personal experience connected to the movie. And that nightlight is super cool!
Next up, we took the famed hayride itself, and it was so satisfying that we went twice. For those who haven’t been here, it is a hayride. And yes, it’s pretty damn creepy when you have the residents of this terror-fueled trip coming from all sides of the vehicle. Having it all occur under the night sky makes it all the more spooky. My favorite portion of the ride is a character flying around on a harness circling above. That legitimately gave us a jolt. If you’ve never been, it’s such a fun and original way to enjoy a spook house that I recommend it.
To finish things off, Ryan and I made our way to the three creatively creepy mazes. We had a blast! The spooky outdoor event is perfect for satiating all your horror fan’s needs. After Ryan and I took a ton of pics, I enjoyed a delicious cup of Catfight Coffee – a company founded by musician Acey Slade (Misfits, Dope, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Till Lindemann of Rammstein). And we finally finished up a frightfully fantastic evening of all things that go bumpity bump in the night. The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride is now open if you are in the Los Angeles area. And of course, get ready for The Boogeyman, which is out on Blu-ray and DVD now! Check out our exclusive interview with director Rob Savage here!