Knott's Scary Farm 2017 Announcement Event

Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA

You feel that?  You feel the fog in the air?  The snap in the wind?  The ominous spirit in the breeze?  Do you feel the veil of Halloween slowly descending?

No?  Well, of course.  It's approximately 257º at 80% humidity these days, and not exactly Halloween ambiance (although in Southern California, that's actually about the exact ambiance of the start of Halloween season every year).  But last night, Knott's Scary Farm held their annual announcement event, where they laid bare everything fans can expect from this year's Halloween Haunt. 

This will be the 45th year of the event, and there was plenty of exciting news for both new attractions and returning but upgraded features.  All of this was wrapped up in a wonderfully fun and excitingly produced hour-long presentation with slick media packages, impressive theatrical choreography, and plenty of excitement from the folks who put Knott's Scary Farm together every year!  The announcement event has become a must-see in and of itself, and this year was the best yet.  Major kudos to everyone involved in putting the entire show together.  Here's a look at last night's shennanigans...

Pre-Show

As is the custom, guests and media alike were welcome into the Charles M. Schulz Theater by a cavacade of veteran street monsters eager for fresh victims.  Particularly fun to observe were those coming in through the ground level entrance, bound within a tight foyer, sitting (or strolling) ducks for the monsters. 

Lovely Lucy may look beautifully sweet, but she will steal your soul.

Death stalks in front of the theater entrance while Double Dee and Seaweed lurk just out of sight.

Guests who escape the first trio were met with Lucy and Calamity Jane.

Hanging around? Dad is too.  This longtime legend of Camp Snoopy Streets is back for another year (but in Ghost Town this year).

And of course, it's not Scary Farm with The Bride, who has become an unofficial event icon almost as recognizable (and certainly more terrifying) as the Green Witch herself!

Once the show got underway, the monsters were immediately put on spotlight--literally.  A dramatic unveil of various monsters creeping up the aisles and onto the stage led to the dramatic introduction of evening emcee, Jeff Tucker.  And with that, the announcement event was on!

Take your seats, everyone! It's almost time to begin!

Guests were encouraged to share their attendance on social media, which was then posted on the projection screen before the show.

The show began with the ghouls coming out en masse.

As has become the case every year at this event, the big question was: How's Jeff making an entrance this year?

Well, tonight, he was the law man.  Laying down what would be happening at Scary Farm.  Are we ready for a Haunting?  Yes.  Yes we are!

General Announcements

Right from the start, Jeff warned the audience that the pace of the event would move quickly, because there was plenty of information to share.  First up: housekeeping items.  Scary Farm season passes are on sale now.  In addition, this year, Fright Lane, the maze front-of-line upcharge available to all guests, would come paired with Fast Lane, enabling guests to skip the line on rides as well.  No Skeleton Key this year.  Elements from past Skeleton Key Rooms have been incorporated into this year's actual mazes in order to give all guests equal access to all experiences.  In addition, Haunt merchandise would begin sales tonight.

But the most interesting "general" announcement was a new family-friendly Log Ride overlay that would run day and night.  The Timber Mountain Log Ride: Halloween Hootenanny will feature a fun and festive dress up and include a new song by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.  This sounds like a fun addition to Knott's Berry and Scary Farm for the fall season, and it takes on a new park mantra of making the entire park a Halloween attraction, rather than isolate the holiday to mazes or specific areas only.

Jeff wasted no time getting people pumped up and psyched about Scary Farm.  His energy was infectious, and he did a masterful job directing the communication of news.

In past years, Fright Lane only provided front of line to the mazes and access to the Skeleton Key Rooms.  This year, it lets you skip the line at rides too!

The first big announcement was the Log Ride Halloween season makeover.

In previous years, when the Log Ride has been a Scary Farm attraction, it has undertaken a sinister and frightful transformation.

That is not the case this year.  The overlay will be fun and spooky, not scary.

This means no live scare actors to startle riders, which is probably better anyway, since safety concerns limit how many monsters could be stationed throughout the ride and what they could do.

UPDATE: Per HorrorBuzz, Jon Cooke confirmed live actors at night but not during the day.

The concept art presented was pretty adorable.

The attraction will run day and night, and it seemed like the ride would take on different attributes before and after dark!

The ride will also feature a new, custom song performed by park favorites Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.

It's sure to be a charmingly entertaining attraction!

There may be creatures in the ride, but they're around to have fun.

Coffin Creepers?  They seem nice.

At night, a visual totem of Halloween Haunts past will return in the form of a skull projected onto the mountain itself!

And this was the point where the highlight of the night was spoiled, as the merchandise announcement also revealed the names of the two new mazes previously unannounced--Pumpkin Eater and Dark Ride.  This year's shirt, with its glow-in-the-dark characteristic, looks cool, though!

Returning Mazes

Then it was onto the returning mazes for this season--six in all.  Voodoo, Paranormal Inc., The Tooth Fairy, The Red Barn, Special Ops: Infected, and Shadowlands all return.  Pretty much all of them will have some sort of slight adjustments this year too, so that even returning guests from last year will receive new experiences.  This is excellent news, as it demonstrates the park's commitment to overall quality and maintaining freshness to its attractions.  All of these mazes have been at or near the top of guest rankings at some point or another, and it seems like the days of Knott's Scary Farm having weak link mazes may be numbered.

I totally dropped the ball and did not get a picture of Jeff announcing Tooth Fairy, but this longstanding Daniel Miller-designed mainstay is back for another year.  The finale has been reconfigured with a live actor replacing the animatronic Tooth Fairy popping out of the end of the maze and a new finale scene in general.  I would imagine this will be the last year this maze is offered, though.  With other locations receiving new mazes in very recent years, Tooth Fairy ought to cycle out next year.

Also back for a sophomore year is Daniel Miller (and Gus Krueger) designed The Red Barn, a tale of murderous hicks.  This year, guests will be "pulsed" through in a manner designed to heighten suspense and intensify the feeling of being chased.  There will be a new bungee scare and new video effects.  Also, the maze will feature actual chainsaws!  It sounds silly to hype this, but Knott's hasn't really had chainsaws for years, and even last year's chainsaw finale was noticeably from a prerecorded sound effect.

Jon Cooke-designed Paranormal Inc. is back for a third year.  New characters have been added to the morgue room, taken from last year's Zozo Skeleton Key room.  Journey through this twisted old hospital, where demonic spirits are waiting to torture and terrify you.  Or as Jeff Tucker put it, just like a visit to Kaiser!

Voodoo: Order of the Serpent is back this year, and it's... backwards!  Yes, the maze has been reconfigured to run in reverse, which might help guests waiting outside during the first half of the season transfer from the warm, humid September air outside into the warm, humid swamp air inside the previously-last-but-now-first scene.

Last year's clear consensus hit, Shadowlands, returns again.  This Jon Cooke masterpiece has added new creatures in the forest, plus a second show room, and enhanced the space around certain iconic scares last year to work more intimately.  While I'm not sure if a second show scene will hurt guest flow and increase traffic and back-up (if there's one thing Jon does love, it's pre-shows), I know the maze will be terrific, because Jon Cooke right now is like first decade Pixar: he just cannot miss with his creations!

Speaking of Cooke, Special Ops: Infected returns for a second year over behind Mystery Lodge.  This year, there will be more guns (which hopefully means higher capacity), more zombies, new missions, additional special effects and interactive targets, and a new "boss zombie" in the final sewer room.  Last year's Infected was a huge hit and insanely fun, but also the longest wait of the park.  It's likely to be the same this year, so do this one early to get it out of the way.

Scare Zones

Everyone knew that Knott's would return with the same four scare zones as the previous year, but what most did not know was the enhancements and tweaks coming to these areas.  Ghost Town will see the arrival of new creatures and characters, including a new nighttime and sinister machination of famous resident Sad Eye Joe, while Boardwalk will see a maze inspired by the area and blur the lines between streets and maze by having monsters overlap both.  Fiesta De Los Muertos is taking a serious turn away from the dance party vibe and more toward an atmospheric scare zone.  And perhaps most dramatically, The Hollow is receiving a significant upgrade in attention with the investment of a theatrical storyline, pop-up show segments, and even a "fiery finale!"

Ghost Town is Ghost Town... it's where Knott's Scary Farm Started, and it's still top billing when it comes to scare zones.  This year, new characters like an undertaker (perhaps The Undertaker?) will roam the streets, while Sad Eye Joe, famous poor peak-in chap behind bars, will become Mad Eye Joe, vicious prisoner with a mean streak.

Fiesta de los Muertos is hunkering down and getting serious this year. Gone will be the nighttime dance party (thank goodness), replaced with a renewed focus on better atmosphere, a new lighting package to enhance the ambiance, and hopefully, additional theming.  The Fiesta monsters have always taken their stepchild status in stride by injecting their twisted senses of humor into the scare zone.  It should be fun to see how this year's iteration pans out.

Carnevil returns with clowns, clowns, clowns.  The big news was its pairing with its own maze, and after the announcement, it was revealed that said maze (Dark Ride, more details below) would see monsters overlap with Carnevil monsters.  A new demented soundtrack will also grace guests' ears, which is good news, because the music in Carnevil is also so sinisterly fun!

Finally, this year, The Hollow appears to be receiving very serious attention in the form of an interactive theater element.  Those who wander through will find themselves in the middle of a war between three covens, each led by one of the witches of the scare zone.  Through the night, there will be story moments and an exciting finale.  Scary Farm producers also hinted at improved lighting and general atmosphere.  And with a large influx of veteran talent transferring to Camp Snoopy Streets this year, it looks like this could be the making of a watershed season for this part of the Halloween Haunt!

Shows

As has been the case the last few years, there will only be two shows this year: The Hanging and an Elvira show.  As was announced at Midsummer Scream, however, this will be the final year that Elvira performs at Knott's Scary Farm.  And like the retirement of the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland, this time, they really, actually, truthfully mean it!

This year, the title of the marquee show is The Hanging: Fake Noose.  Excellent wordplay, gents.  Excellent.  But here's hoping they actually take the bold route and go after Donald Trump this year, instead of being overly polite as they have the past two years with rather tame characterizations.  After all, the best satire is biting satire, and this applies regardless of whether you're a fan of a particular target or not.

This will also be the final year of Elvira at Scary Farm, which is sad to longtime fans but probably welcome relief to those who've always been 'meh.'  She'll perform twice a night all season long, and there will probably be a sense of a nostalgia tour this year. 

New Mazes

Of course, as fun as all the preceding news was, people were really here for the new maze announcements, and this year, there will be three new ones for guests to sink their teeth into.  Even though one of them is a reimagining of a popular veteran maze, it will be a brand new and uniquely different experience.  Dark Ride (Cloud 9 Ballroom), Pumpkin Eater (Camp Snoopy), and Trick or Treat: Lights Out (back stage in the same location as past years) promise some new and chilling and twisted thrills, and by the sounds of them, I can't wait to experience them!

First up, Dark Ride, a Jon Cooke creation!

"Journey through an abandoned carnival ride where cruel characters still linger in the shadows in the NEW maze, Dark Ride."

"The carnival attraction has become a refuge for sideshow freaks and now those shunned performers have created an ominous world where they plan to unleash terror on those who enter."

The circus troupe accompanying the announcement added a really fun touch to the proceedings.

Since it is a Jon Cooke maze, there is sure to be great integration of technology to enhance and support the maze.

This is the long-awaited return of a clown maze at Knott's, which has been missing for a number of years now.

Scary Farm officials also noted unadvertised Easter eggs scattered throughout the event.  Hopefully, this means a cameo by The Amazing Thingie within this maze!

Also new this year and complementing The Hollow is Pumpkin Eater, a demented creation from the sick mind of Daniel Miller.

"Daring guests will attempt to survive the wrath of the murderous 7-foot tall creature that haunts the old woods surrounding The Hollow in this year’s NEW MAZE, Pumpkin Eater.

"The notorious creature is on the prowl, hidden within the dark
confines of the haunted town he once terrorized. To escape the sinister Pumpkin Eater’s wrath all who enter must go on a quest through the silent town of victims, face a cave of crawling insects and solve the labyrinth of thorns that blocks the only way out.

Daniel confessed to being fascinated by the old nursery rhyme, "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater."  What's it really about?  Murder.  Because that is always solid haunted attraction subject fodder.

Last but not least, venerable favorite Trick or Treat receives a total redesign in Trick or Treat: Lights Out.

"Scared of the dark? Returning more sinister and twisted than ever before, guests are invited to step inside the Green Witch’s haunted home and venture through its dark pathways in Trick or Treat: Lights Out.

Armed with only a faulty flashlight, brave visitors must face the terror of the Green Witch’s house completely in the dark. Featuring new state-of-the-art effects, unexpected scares and other eerie surprises, Trick-or-Treat is back to terrorize like never before."

The Green Witch is back to tear victims apart!  This reimagined Trick or Treat will utilize technology and lessons gained from the Prey Skeleton Key Room last year, which used lanterns that could be controlled via infrared technology to turn on, dim, or turn off.  In Trick or Treat, this promises to amp up the psychological terror and force guests to rethink how they proceed through a maze and monsters to rethink how they scare.  It's another Jon Cooke creation, so though the concept might be prone to traffic build-up, it will most undoubtedly be another incredible production.  I, for one, am glad that Trick or Treat is not going away and is instead being transformed into a legitimately new experience!

Wrap Up

And with that, the announcement event concluded its main portion of the program.  After season passholders were ushered out of the theater, however, the media had a chance for a Q&A session with Knott's Director of Entertainment, Ken Parks; Producer and Production Manager, Eric Nix; and Design Specialists Jon Cooke, Daniel Miller, and Gus Krueger.  Although there were some absurd questions ("Will there be a maze with only women in it?"), the session proved pleasantly insightful over the process the maze designers and the event producers engage upon when coming up with the next Scary Farm. 

Afterward, it was outside on the theater balcony level for a nice reception, featuring fantastic food and beverages and general fun socialization.  Knott's always treats its media members wonderfully, and this was no exception. 

With that, it was time to wrap things up.  You may have noticed the cool sets corresponding to each new maze in the background.  They're another excellent creation of the Knott's props and paint and production department, and I would not be surprised to see these mobile sets be the photo op backdrops for this year's Scary Farm right at the entrance.

Cue the balloons!

Buried under a sea of them.

After the event, media members had a chance to ask various questions of the Scary Farm and park team.  It was... interesting.

The event certainly got Dan pumped for Haunt, though!

Outside, we were graced by the presence of more monsters.

They're more than ready to get freakishly uncomfortable with you!

This was a truly fantastic and impressively put-together event that definitely accomplished its goal of getting fans excited for this year's Halloween Haunt event (I will always think of it as THE Halloween Haunt, capital H and all).  Tickets are available now at the Knott's Scary Farm web site, including the Scary Farm season pass, which allows unlimited admission to Scary Farm all season.  The event runs select nights (generally Thursdays through Sundays) from September 21 - October 31.  Is it Haunt yet?  Well... soon, it will be!

Last but not least, Horror Buzz's Norm reminds you that there's no greater joy than stuffing a sweet, juicy, flavorful [boysenberry] meatball right into your mouth. 

Absolutely delicious.

(Oh, and speaking of Horror Buzz, they're offering a really cool "Passport to Fear" promotion that will give purchasers a "golden ticket" of sorts to special Horror Buzz events at several of Southern California's best haunts, such as Knott's Scary Farm but also Fright Fest, Dark Harbor, and even Winchester Mystery House.  These events include behind the scenes tours, special access and early guest previews, and food and bevvies.  It's a pretty cool deal, and I'd definitely recommend it for any haunted attraction fan!)