# Knott's Scary Farm

Knott's Scary Farm or Knott's Halloween Haunt is a seasonal Halloween event at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It is an event in which the theme park is transformed into "160 acres of horror", via a series of roaming monsters, terrifying haunted houses and 'scare zones'. As of 2010, it was said to be the first, largest and longest-running Halloween event to be held at a theme park.

## Haunted attractions

* Origins: The Curse Of Calico
* Mesmer: Sideshow Of The Mind
* The Grimoire
* Cinema Slasher
* Room 13
* The Chilling Chambers
* Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman
* Widows

## Attraction history

| | Year | Mazes | Scare Zones | Shows | Notes |
| 1 | 1973 | The Monster Maze Satan's Saw Mill The Ghostway Express | Ghost Town | | |
| 2 | 1974 | The Haunted Shack The Devil's Log Ride Calico Phantom's Mine Ride Transylvania Railroad Stagecoach Ride through Wolfman Country | Ghost Town | | |
| 3 | 1975 | Terror Mountain Knott's Scary Tales Trail of the Tortured Haunted Mine Transylvania Railroad Trail of the Headless Horseman | Ghost Town The Gory '20s Fiesta de Fiends | The Hanging | |
| 4 | 1976 | Trail of the Tortured Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Trail of the Headless Horseman Knott's Scary Tales Transylvania Express Gasoline Alley (Thru Sleepy Hollow) | Ghost Town | Dead Man's Hanging | |
| 5 | 1977 | Ten Chilling Chambers (first standalone walk-through maze) Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Gasoline Alley (Thru Sleepy Hollow) Transylvania Express The Ghost Coach Witch's Twist Bump the Ghoul Knott's Scary Tales | Ghost Town | The Hanging | |
| 6 | 1978 | The Trail of Terror Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Knott's Scary Tales | Ghost Town | | |
| 7 | 1979 | Chilling Chambers of Horrors Black Bart's Trail of Terror Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Knott's Scary Tales | Ghost Town | Monsters' Revenge | |
| 8 | 1980 | The Tomb of Terror Dr. Alucard's Chamber of Horrors Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Knott's Scary Tales | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging | |
| 9 | 1981 | The Trail of Terror Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Knott's Scary Tales | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging | |
| 10 | 1982 | The Terrifying Trail of Jack the Ripper The Mysterious Corridors Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Knott's Scary Tales | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging Elvira, Mistress of the Dark | |
| 11 | 1983 | The Realm of Darkness Corridors of Mystery Terror Mountain Haunted Mine Transylvania Taxi | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging Elvira's Second Year, New Show! | |
| 12 | 1984 | Caverns of Doom The House of Red Death Terror Mountain Haunted Mine | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging Elvira's Ghoul Review | |
| 13 | 1985 | The Terrifying House of Doom Creep House Trail of the Doomed Terror Mountain Trails of Terror Dragon's Caverns Sorcerer's Lair | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging | |
| 14 | 1986 | Mystical Maze of Madness The Best Little Horror House Conviks Haven The Last Train to Terror Nightmare Mountain The Dark Forest of the Sorcerer | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging Elvira's Shock & Rock Spooktacular | |
| 15 | 1987 | Curse of the Sphinx Kingdom of the Dinosaurs Metro Madness Realm of the Sorcerer The Slaughterhouse The Enemy Within The Fourth Dimension The Return of Zulu | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging | |
| 16 | 1988 | Bait's Motel Camp Hatchet Head Revenge of the Dead The Dark Threshold of Doom Toxic Terror Uncle Ernie's Madhouse | Ghost Town | Midnight Witch Hanging Elvira's Shock & Rock Revue | |
| 17 | 1989 | Bait's Motel Camp Hatchet Head Revenge of the Dead Terror Mountain The Dark Threshold of Doom Uncle Ernie's Madhouse Which Maze | Ghost Town | The Hanging Elvira's Rock'n Horror Show | |
| 18 | 1990 | Bait's Motel Encounters of Darkness The Fear Threshold of Doom Terror Mountain Revenge of the Dead Uncle Ernie's Madhouse Timothy L. Eerie Time Machine | Ghost Town | The Hanging Elvira's Rock'n Horror Show | |
| 19 | 1991 | Bait's Motel Encounters of Darkness Revenge of the Dead Terror Mountain The Body The Fear Threshold of Doom Uncle Ernie's Madhouse | Ghost Town | The Hanging Elvira's Truth or Scare | |
| 20 | 1992 | Kingdom of the Lounge Lizards Lair of the Vampyre Mother Noose's Scary Tales Revenge of the Dead Temple of Sacrifice Terror Mountain Toxichem Uncle Ernie's Madhouse | Ghost Town | The Hanging Elvira Dead, White & Blue | |
| 21 | 1993 | House of Maniacs Jaws of Death Lair of the Vampyre Mother Noose's Scary Tales Nightmares Santa Claws Mountain Temple of Sacrifice Toxichem | Ghost Town | The Hanging Elvira's Shock N' Rock Revue | |
| 22 | 1994 | Carnival of Death Cavern of Carnage House of Maniacs Industrial Evil Lair of the Vampyre Mother Noose's Scary Tales Nightmares Santa Claws Mountain Slasher of the Dark Toxichem | Ghost Town | The Hanging | |
| 23 | 1995 | Carnival of Death Cavern of Carnage Curse of the Werewolf Dominion of the Dead Ghost Town Dead and Breakfast House of Maniacs Industrial Evil Nightmares Santa Claws Mountain Slasher of the Dark | Ghost Town | The Hanging | |
| 24 | 1996 | Camp Gonnagetcha Carnival of Death Curse of the Werewolf Cavern of Carnage Dominion of the Dead Ghost Town Dead and Breakfast House of Maniacs Kingdom of the Lounge Lizards Nightmares The Underground Toon Terrortory | Ghost Town The Gauntlet | Cyber Insanity Day of the Dead Procession Dead Monsters of Rock Dr. Cleaver for President Laser Monster Madness The Deadly Dating Game The Hanging | |
| 25 | 1997 | Bigfoot's Revenge Camp Gonnagetcha Curse of the Werewolf Dominion of the Dead Ghost Town Dead and Breakfast Nightmares The Inquisition The Underground The Underworld Unearthed Toon Terrortory XXV (25) Years of Fears | Ghost Town The Gauntlet | Cyber Insanity III Day of the Dead Procession Ed Alonzo's Magic & Mayhem Elvira's Dead Legends of Rock - Live! Laser Monster Madness The Deadly Dating Game The Hanging | |
| 26 | 1998 | Alien Attack Bigfoot's Revenge Camp Gonnagetcha Deadman's Wharf Dominion of the Dead Horrorwood Hotel Nightmares: The Awakening The Inquisition The Underground The Underworld Unearthed | Ghost Town The Gauntlet | Day of the Dead Procession Ed Alonzo's Magic & Mayhem Electric Nightmares Elvira's Haunted House Party" The Hanging The New Deadly Dating Game | |
| 27 | 1999 | Alien Attack Bigfoot's Revenge Camp Gonnagetcha Deadman's Wharf Dominion of the Dead Elvira's Nightmare Horrorwood Hotel Tales from the Inquisition The Underground The Underworld Unearthed | Ghost Town The Gauntlet | Day of the Dead Procession Ed Alonzo's Magic & Mayhem Electric Nightmares Elvira's Ghost Stories Spooktacular Tony Angelo, The Haunted Hypnotist The Hanging | |
| 28 | 2000 | Alien Attack Army of the Underworld Camp Gonnagetcha Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns Deadman's Wharf Elvira's Nightmares Gothic Graveyard Horrorwood Hotel The Crypt Keeper's Tales from the Inquisition The Underground Voodoo Witch Project | Backwoods CarnEVIL Ghost Town The Gauntlet The Swamp | The Hanging Elvira's Shock N' Rock Revue | |
| 29 | 2001 | Alien Attack Army of the Underworld Blood Bayou Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns Curse of the Spiderwoods Elvira's Red Moon Massacre Lore of the Vampire Malice in Wunderland The Cryptkeeper's Horrorwood Fright FestEvil The Underground | CarnEVIL Ghost Town The Gauntlet The Swamp | The Hanging Elvira at 20, Almost Legal | |
| 30 | 2002 | Alien Attack Army of the Underworld Blood Bayou Curse of the Spider Fright Festival Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns Malice in Wunderland The Underground The Inquisition Lore of the Vampire Red Moon Massacre | CarnEVIL Ghost Town The Gauntlet The Swamp | The Hanging | |
| 31 | 2003 | Army of the Underworld Asylum Blood Bayou Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns Curse of the Spider Hatchet High Lore of the Vampire Malice in Wunderland Red Moon Massacre Temple of Sacrifice The Inquisition Underground | CarnEVIL Ghost Town The Swamp | The Hanging | |
| 32 | 2004 | Army of the Underworld Asylum Blood Bayou Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns Curse of the Spider Hatchet High Lore of the Vampire Malice in Wunderland Red Beard's Revenge Red Moon Massacre Temple of Sacrifice Terror Vision | Ghost Town The Swamp The Gauntlet | Ed Alonzo's Magic and Mayhem The Hanging | |
| 33 | 2005 | 13 Axe Murder Manor Asylum Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns Cavern of Lost Souls Curse of the Spider Feary Tales Hatchet High Lore of the Vampire Red Beard's Revenge Red Moon Massacre Temple of Sacrifice Terror Vision in 3-D | CarnEVIL Ghost Town Silver Bullet Mining Town The Dark Realm The Gauntlet | Hacks The Hanging | |
| 34 | 2006 | 13 Axe Murder Manor Asylum Cavern of Lost Souls Dark Realm with Lazer Rage Feary Tales in 3-D Hatchet High Lore of the Vampire Lost Vegas in 3-D Red Beard's Revenge Red Moon Massacre Terror Vision in 3-D The Grudge 2 | CarnEVIL Ghost Town Silver Bullet Mining Town The Gauntlet | Dead Idol Festival of Freaks Hacks Haunted Hypnochick Putz Prank Party The Hanging | |
| 35 | 2007 | 13 Axe Murder Manor Beowulf: Labyrinth into Darkness Black Widow's Cavern Dark Realm Lazer Tag Feary Tales Killer Clown Kollege Lore of the Vampire Lost Vegas Pyromaniax Red Beard's Revenge The Asylum The Doll Factory The Grudge 2 | CarnEVIL Ghost Town Silver Bullet Mining Town The Gauntlet | Festival of Freaks Hacks Inferno The Chipper Lowell Experience The Death of Dr. Cleaver The Hanging The Rocketz | |
| 36 | 2008 | 13 Axe Murder Manor Alien Annihilation Black Widow's Cavern Club Blood Corn Stalkers Killer Clown Kollege Labyrinth Lost Vegas Pyromaniax Quarantine The Asylum The Doll Factory The Slaughterhouse | CarnEVIL Ghost Town The Gauntlet | Dr. Cleaver's Big Election Fangs: A Vampire Show Festival of Freaks Inferno The Chipper Lowell Experience The Hanging The Hypnochick | |
| 37 | 2009 | Alien Annihilation Black Widow's Cavern Cornstalkers Club Blood Dia De Los Muertos Labyrinth Lockdown: The Asylum Pyromaniax Quarantine Terror of London The Doll Factory The Slaughterhouse Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre The Stepfather Scare Scene | CarnEVIL Ghost Town The Gauntlet | Bloodlust Festival of Freaks Inferno The Chipper Lowell Experience The Hanging | |
| 38 | 2010 | Black Widow's Cavern Club Blood Cornstalkers Dia De Los Muertos Fallout Shelter Labyrinth Lockdown: The Asylum Sleepy Hollow Mountain Terror of London The Doll Factory The Slaughterhouse Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre Virus Z | CarnEVIL Ghost Town Necropolis: City of the Dead | De' Anna the HypnoChick Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem HACKS! presents Die, Die, Die! The Hanging Inferno The Chipper Lowell Experience Steel Drum Corps present Bang Zamora's Sideshow of the Bizarre | |
| 39 | 2011 | Cornstalkers Delirium Dia De Los Muertos Endgames: Warriors of the Apocalypse Fallout Shelter Invasion Beneath Lockdown: The Asylum Sleepy Hollow Mountain Terror of London The Doll Factory The Slaughterhouse Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre Virus Z | CarnEVIL Ghost Town Gypsy Camp Necropolis: City of the Dead | The Hanging: Calico and Aliens Putz' Prank Party Zamora's Side Show of Horrors Street Drum Corps Presents Bang! Haunt Wonders of Technology Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem Red Moon Dance Company Presents Cursed! | |
| 40 | 2012 | Delirium Dia De Los Muertos Dominion of the Dead Endgames: Warriors of the Apocalypse Fallout Shelter Pinocchio Unstrung Slaughterhouse Terror of London The Evil Dead Trapped Trick or Treat Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre Virus Z | Ghost Town Necropolis Carnevil Gypsy Camp | Ed Alonzo's Funhouse Elvira Visits the Haunt Museum (Autographs) Tonga Tiki Terror The Hanging Games The Witching Hour Mephisto's Mechanical Mayhem Blood Drums Cursed Zamora's Sideshow of Torture Unearthed | |
| 41 | 2013 | Delirium Black Magic Dominion of the Damned Endgames: Warriors of the Apocalypse Forevermore Mirror Mirror Pinocchio Unstrung The Gunslinger's Grave Trick or Treat Uncle Willy's Slaughterhouse The Witch's Keep Trapped: The New Experiment | Ghost Town Necropolis Gypsy Camp Fiesta de los Muertos CarnEvil | The Hanging: It Stinks Blood Drums Carny Trash Cursed Elvira's Sinema Seance Possessed | |
| 42 | 2014 | Voodoo The Tooth Fairy Dominion of the Damned Black Magic Forevermore Pinocchio Unstrung The Gunslinger's Grave Trick or Treat The Witch's Keep Trapped: Lock and Key Special Ops: Infected | Ghost Town Gypsy Camp: The Cursed Caravan CarnEvil Fiesta de los Muertos | The Hanging: Everything is Gruesome Elvira's Big Top | |
| 43 | 2015 | Voodoo: Order of the Serpent The Tooth Fairy Paranormal Inc. Black Magic Forevermore Pinocchio Unstrung The Gunslinger's Grave: A Blood Moon Rises Trick or Treat My Bloody Clementine The Dead of Winter Special Ops: Infected - Patient Zero | Ghost Town CarnEvil Fiesta de los Muertos | The Hanging: Straight Outta Calico Elvira's Asylum | |
| 44 | 2016 | Voodoo: Order of the Serpent The Tooth Fairy Paranormal Inc The Gunslinger's Grave: A Blood Moon Rises Trick or Treat The Dead of Winter: Revenge of the Wendigo The Red Barn Shadow Lands Black Ops: Infected Skeleton Key Rooms: Prey, Slasher, Visions, Zozo | Ghost Town CarnEvil Fiesta de los Muertos The Hollow | The Hanging: Finding Gory Elvira's Danse Macabre | |
| 45 | 2017 | Voodoo: Order of the Serpent The Tooth Fairy Paranormal Inc. Dark Ride Pumpkin Eater Trick or Treat: Lights Out The Red Barn Shadow Lands Special Ops: Infected Halloween Hootenanny | Ghost Town CarnEvil Fiesta de los Muertos The Hollow | The Hanging: Fake Noose Elvira, Mistress of the Dark | |
| 46 | 2018 | Special Ops: Infected Shadow Lands Paranormal Inc. Trick or Treat: Lights Out Pumpkin Eater The Red Barn Dark Ride The Depths Dark Entities Halloween Hootenanny | Ghost Town CarnEvil The Hollow Forsaken Lake | Awaken the Dead Conjure Hacks! Cutting Room Floor The Hanging: Shhh... It Happens | |
| 47 | 2019 | Dark Entities Dark Ride Halloween Hootenanny Origins: The Curse of Calico Paranormal Inc. Pumpkin Eater Shadow Lands Special Ops: Infected The Depths Wax Works | CarnEVIL Forsaken Lake Ghost Town The Hollow | Awaken the Dead Conjurers The Hanging: Witches' Revenge Puppet Up! Uncensored | |
| | 2020 | Canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic | — | — | — |
| 48 | 2021 | Dark Entities Dark Ride: Castle of Chaos Halloween Hootenanny Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind Origins: The Curse of Calico Paranormal Inc. - Case #13 - The Haunting of Hayden Hill Pumpkin Eater The Depths Wax Works | CarnEVIL Forsaken Lake Ghost Town Gore-ing 20s The Hollow | Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque Doce de La Noche Into The Fog Invitation to Terror Puppet Up! Uncensored Wicked Drums Conjurers - Magic and Mirth at the Birdcage Theatre | |
| 49 | 2022 | Bloodline 1842 Dark Entities Dark Ride Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind Origins: The Curse of Calico Pumpkin Eater The Depths The Grimoire Wax Works | The Hollow Gore-ing 20s Forsaken Lake CarnEVIL Ghost Town Streets | Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque Conjurers: Dark Magic Puppet Up! Uncensored | |
| 50 | 2023 | Bloodline 1842 Cinema Slasher Dark Entities Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind Origins: The Curse of Calico Room 13 The Chilling Chambers The Depths The Grimoire Wax Works | Gore-ing 20s Forsaken Lake CarnEVIL Ghost Town Streets The Gauntlet | Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque Dr. Cleaver Returns Music, Monsters, and Mayhem The Hanging: Uncancelled |
| 51 | 2024 | Bloodline 1842 Cinema Slasher Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind Origins: The Curse of Calico Room 13 The Chilling Chambers The Grimoire Wax Works Widows | Gore-ing 20s Forsaken Lake CarnEVIL Ghost Town Streets The Gauntlet | Conjurers Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque The Hanging: The Errors Tour Yours Cruelly, Elvira XXperience | [53] [54] |
| 52 | 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD |

## History

The concept was introduced to the park's operations committee in a meeting in September 1973 by George Condos and Martha Boyd of the marketing department, and Bill Hollingshead and Gary Salisbury of the entertainment office. Bud Hurlbut, who built and operated (as a concessionaire) the Calico Mine Ride, the Timber Mountain Log Ride and other rides, decided that having static props wasn't enough, so he put on a gorilla suit and scared guests as they rode on the Mine Ride. Originally a three-night affair, running October 26–28, 1973, Halloween Haunt was an instant hit, and by the next year, the event sold out nightly. Knott's Berry Farm was originally modeled after Calico, California, a ghost town that was a result of the California silver rush. Already having a dedicated Ghost Town section in the theme park, this area would become the designed area for the original Halloween Haunt, eventually expanding to the entire park.
The 1980s would continue to be a success for the theme park, and popular culture icons were employed to represent the event. In 1981, actor and singer "Weird Al" Yankovic joined the cast, as did Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson in the following year. Elvira was prominently featured in many Halloween Haunt events until 2001. According to postings on her Myspace page, Cassandra was released from her contract by the park's new owners due to their wanting a more family friendly appeal. The 1990s would show a different approach to Halloween. Humor was added to many facets in the theme park and Knott's turned from the explicit horror to black comedy. This continuing balance of horror and humor has been a key to the continuing success of Knott's Halloween Haunt.
On August 4, 2020, Knott's announced that the 48th Scary Farm season would be cancelled in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which caused the closure of theme parks in California in March at the request of California Governor Gavin Newsom and was deferred to 2021. The theme park was not open at the time of the announcement.
By the time the annual, six-week-long event celebrated its 50th year in 2023, it had become the largest event of any theme park.
On November 2, 2023, Cedar Fair announced plans to merge with Six Flags, forming a new company and retaining the Six Flags name. Described as a "merger of equals", former Cedar Fair management will remain in control of the new company, which will be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. On July 1, 2024, the merger was successfully completed.

## Park transformation

While Knott's Berry Farm is a year-round theme park, the entire acreage is modified to fit the Halloween motif. Rides and other attractions are converted into macabre themes. Seasonal workers are cast as a variety of monsters, roaming the 160-acre (0.65 km$^2$) park in terrifying scare zones, amidst haze produced by giant fog machines.
The controversial "Hanging" live show was a staple of the Haunt that lampoons celebrities and people in the news through a series of staged hangings. The Hanging had been an annual event since the 1979 Halloween Haunt, but went on a brief hiatus after the 2019 season until it returned in 2023 relocated from the Calico Mine Stage where it took place from 2016 to 2019 (previously performed in Calico Square next to the saloon until the Calico Mine Stage was built) to the Wagon Camp Theater located across from the park gates. As of 2023, the park has 10 mazes, 5 scare zones, and 4 live shows.

### The Green Witch

Some characters have developed a special appeal, such as the legendary, iconic, and infamous villainess herself Sarah Rebecca Anne "The Green Witch Of Calico" Morgan-Marshall.
Back in 1973, Diana Kirchen-Kelly was chosen to don the role of the first Green Witch under the name of Spooky Sarah when Haunt began. After Diana left the Haunt in 1976, the Green Witch role was passed to Barb Best Becka, then to Karen Aikman, and then to Charlene Parker in 1982.
The Green Witch character became the most famous of the 1,000 "monsters" at Knott's Scary Farm, and Charlene Parker served in that role for over three decades (1983-2017). Tall and thin, she had a reputation for "gliding" rather than walking, and was continually able to catch guests by surprise. Some would fall over backwards onto the ground, and leave a wet spot on the pavement where they fell... This ability gave her "serious street cred" among her fellow "monsters." Sweepers at Knott's would just sit and wait near her, knowing that it would not be long before she would scare a group of guests so much that they would toss their food up into the air. In the age before cell phones, Knott's Guest Relations referred to her as "the Number 1 cause of separated parties." People would come to the Guest Relations office because their group had scattered after being "scared by a green witch." Parker was the subject of two feature articles about her in the Orange County Register, as well as the travel blog of the Los Angeles Times, and other publications, as well as appearing in Knott's commercials.
In September 2021, Sarah was replaced by The Conductor as the new face of Knott's Scary Farm.

## Awards

Knott's Scary Farm has won Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for Best Halloween Event twice, in 2005 and 2007.