Knott's Scary Farm 2024

[Jake S]

Wax Works will most likely see it's last year this season. Bloodline needs some work for sure. It's never quite hit for me.

My assumption, based on how these things have gone in the past, is that this is it for Wax Works and Origins: The Curse of Calico. Both are entering their fifth year, which is typically how long Knott's runs a maze before 86ing it. Not sure if Curse of Calico will be exempt from this because it's a lore-heavy house (Trick 'r Treat ran in some form for seven years).

Of course, we don't know if they'll stay at 10 mazes this year. Prior to last year, Knott's hadn't had more than 9 mazes since 2015 (when it had 11). The high watermark is 2007-12 when they had a staggering 13 mazes every year. I have no idea how they staffed those mazes.

 

[ParksandSights]

If they are gonna add a maze I would guess it would be in Fiesta village, since there's nothing over there, except that 2 scare zones lead that way. Idk if they just like having that area haunt free to give people a break, or they just can't find a space for a maze. Could they fit one behind the carousel, next to the lake, or are Jaguars supports (and noise) preventing that?

 

[deadbydawn]

My assumption, based on how these things have gone in the past, is that this is it for Wax Works and Origins: The Curse of Calico. Both are entering their fifth year, which is typically how long Knott's runs a maze before 86ing it. Not sure if Curse of Calico will be exempt from this because it's a lore-heavy house (Trick 'r Treat ran in some form for seven years).

Of course, we don't know if they'll stay at 10 mazes this year. Prior to last year, Knott's hadn't had more than 9 mazes since 2015 (when it had 11). The high watermark is 2007-12 when they had a staggering 13 mazes every year. I have no idea how they staffed those mazes.

I think you may be correct with your assumptions. I don't know how they could change Origins to keep it fresh for another few years (a la "Lights Out"), but it also commands some pretty long lines still so it could remain for another season.

If they are gonna add a maze I would guess it would be in Fiesta village, since there's nothing over there, except that 2 scare zones lead that way. Idk if they just like having that area haunt free to give people a break, or they just can't find a space for a maze. Could they fit one behind the carousel, next to the lake, or are Jaguars supports (and noise) preventing that?

I suspect Fiesta Village may still be off the table. For one thing, they are trying really hard to build mazes either backstage, or out of the normal park guest's view and that area doesn't offer a ton of space. I also think by having a dance and/or open area it gives people a chance to spend some money on that bar they opened over there. Just my two cents. I would love to see a scare zone back in Fiesta Village at the very least, though.

 

[Jake S]

I suspect Fiesta Village may still be off the table. For one thing, they are trying really hard to build mazes either backstage, or out of the normal park guest's view and that area doesn't offer a ton of space. I also think by having a dance and/or open area it gives people a chance to spend some money on that bar they opened over there. Just my two cents. I would love to see a scare zone back in Fiesta Village at the very least, though.

Yeah, I think they've got a good thing going by having that large open area where people can hang out, listen to music and spend $18 on a beer. The only thing it's missing, other than more than one or two places to buy that $18 beer, is some sort of a scare zone.

 

[Lc.]

Any of you know when they typically send out auditions to be a Knotts Scary Farm scareactor?

 

[CallahanChan]

Any of you know when they typically send out auditions to be a Knotts Scary Farm scareactor?

I think I’ve heard it sometimes happens in early spring. Like April or March.
I auditioned for Ghost Town Alive last year April, and scare actor audition was after that. But that’s my guess. Hopefully someone knows more info than me.

 

[Wesker69]

Any of you know when they typically send out auditions to be a Knotts Scary Farm scareactor?

Auditions for Scary Farm the past 2 years (2022/2023) have been in June. You'll be able to apply to audition online "soon". By soon, I mean within the next two weeks.

Also, just a heads up, The Depths replacement has been extended outside of the warehouse like Bloodline. So you're looking at a bigger/longer experience.

As for the Dark Entities replacement, I'll get back to you on that.

And back to Bloodline, it was a physical hit. By that, I mean we got hit by guests repeatedly thanks to those guns during its debut season. Plastic gun hurts more than a fist. I skipped out on returning to Valdonia even with the knowledge of gun removal & changes. It was awful, but also fun. I'll spill all the blood about it some other time. I am curious to see if it gets tweaked again.

 

[deadbydawn]

And back to Bloodline, it was a physical hit. By that, I mean we got hit by guests repeatedly thanks to those guns during its debut season. Plastic gun hurts more than a fist. I skipped out on returning to Valdonia even with the knowledge of gun removal & changes. It was awful, but also fun. I'll spill all the blood about it some other time. I am curious to see if it gets tweaked again.

This is just my personal take, but Bloodline flat out missed the mark for me somewhere. The idea of the maze featuring the laser tag style guns is a fine in theory, but the execution never really worked out. Groups were either too large, or the guns themselves didn't really work. I think Special Ops stuck the landing a little better with that interactive element. The steampunk theming wasn't particularly my favorite, either.

The sets and actors in Bloodline have been great though. It's sort of unfortunate it was designed for the "run and gun" thing because now that it's just a normal walk through maze, it felt obvious that something was missing. Paired with the lack of talent on some nights and you have these large areas with not a ton going on. I'd love to see it get some tweaks since it probably has another couple of seasons left.

 

[downunder]

@Wesker69 I salute everyone who does scare acting at Haunt, you are legends.

Knott's Network is saying that there'll be a Haunt Midnight Breakfast Buffet at Mrs Knott's from midnight to 3am on select nights (Fri to Sun, Sept/Oct) and includes a commemorative Scary Farm t-shirt. I like this. Lol it will take some of the load off the iHOP.

 

[CallahanChan]

@Wesker69 I salute everyone who does scare acting at Haunt, you are legends.

Knott's Network is saying that there'll be a Haunt Midnight Breakfast Buffet at Mrs Knott's from midnight to 3am on select nights (Fri to Sun, Sept/Oct) and includes a commemorative Scary Farm t-shirt. I like this. Lol it will take some of the load off the iHOP.

That’s interesting. Did Knott’s Network mention that on their YouTube channel?

 

[deadbydawn]

That’s interesting. Did Knott’s Network mention that on their YouTube channel?

Looks like it was mentioned via social media. I’m going to assume it was included in a PR release for the restaurant’s 90th anniversary.

 

[downunder]

Correct. It was a post on facebook. First bit of haunt news in a while lol. It gets a mention here:

Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant Celebrates 90 Years!

“The Famous Fried Chicken Led to the Creation of Southern California’s First “Themed” Amusement Park” The story of Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant begins in the 1920s when Walter…

knotts-network.com

 

[Wesker69]

This is just my personal take, but Bloodline flat out missed the mark for me somewhere. The idea of the maze featuring the laser tag style guns is a fine in theory, but the execution never really worked out. Groups were either too large, or the guns themselves didn't really work. I think Special Ops stuck the landing a little better with that interactive element. The steampunk theming wasn't particularly my favorite, either.

The sets and actors in Bloodline have been great though. It's sort of unfortunate it was designed for the "run and gun" thing because now that it's just a normal walk through maze, it felt obvious that something was missing. Paired with the lack of talent on some nights and you have these large areas with not a ton going on. I'd love to see it get some tweaks since it probably has another couple of seasons left.

As I said, I'll spill all the "blood" on Bloodline whenever I get around to it (hopefully not like my still yet to be posted HHN 2005 essay I promised).

In other news, here is that glimpse of "The Depths" replacement I mentioned & how they extended it like Bloodline.


Very curious to see it from the opposite view. Due to "Dark Entities" location behind Bloodline, that replacement will be shrouded in mystery until media night.

 

[Wesker69]

Update: After inquiring within, there has been no visible exterior movement with the Dark Entities replacement as far as facade or extensions go. In other news...


ATTENTION ALL ASPIRING MONSTERS
here is the info you were looking for:


Here are the audition dates:


After you apply online & choose your date/time, the actual audition process is fairly simple. They have you grouped by time slot.

- check in & wait
- you'll stand on a designated number
- *act/scare like ______*
- individual scare (last year had a human in 2 different squares to be the "park guest")
- the anxiety of waiting while they decide
- if you make the cut, they'll offer you a role. ***TAKE IT!***
- next you'll do the paperwork/processing part before you leave. They'll also schedule your wardrobe fitting too

Welcome to the club. You're officially a monster! One of us, one of us. See you in the fog.

 

[deadbydawn]

Good luck to everyone who auditions this year!

 

[DTH]

That breakfast buffet sounds awesome, I'll probably hit it at 2am while all zonked out from the night. I wonder if it'll be successful though, I figure most people would just be in a rush to go home. Usually there's a line for funnel cakes and Starbucks at the end of the night, but a full on meal? We shall see, especially if priced right.

 

[deadbydawn]

That breakfast buffet sounds awesome, I'll probably hit it at 2am while all zonked out from the night. I wonder if it'll be successful though, I figure most people would just be in a rush to go home. Usually there's a line for funnel cakes and Starbucks at the end of the night, but a full on meal? We shall see, especially if priced right.

They used to do this in the 2000's and I think it was pretty popular.