Welcome back to the frights! The annual Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest is back and I’m excited to have another look at the ghouls and goblins that line the walkways and mazes of this beautiful park. Last year was my first year seeing Fright Fest, which you can read about here. This time around I feel like less of a novice. For the 2022 season, there were several more scare zones added and unfortunately, I didn’t make it through them all. There was also a new maze this year and some improvements upon previous mazes which I’ll get into. Let’s start with the scare zones I encountered this year.

DEVIL’S TRIANGLE – SCARE ZONE

Description: Drift into the darkest caves of the deep blue sea where the souls of many have been lost to the Devil’s Triangle.

Thoughts: Replacing the former Demon’s Door scare zone, this felt a bit more unique. It also felt like it borrowed from the undead fish pirates of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. There was even a new stage show called THE RISING which takes place on a sunken boat ship just off the main fountain near the entrance of the park.

One thing I noticed is that the scare actors this year were much more interactive, not just with their scares, but also in conversation. I’m not sure if that’s a shift in performance this year but it was a much-appreciated addition. It was something I absolutely loved at the competing Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor that’s been missing ever since the Dark Harbor permanently closed. I hope the Devil’s Triangle returns in the future. It was a fresh take, and with it sitting right at the front of the park, a good first impression for incoming guests looking for a frightful time.

EXILE HILL – SCARE ZONE

Description: The dead have risen and are looking for new souls to take on this dark and sinister hill.

Thoughts: Last year I climbed the hill to only see one or two scare actors here, and this year was no different. In fact, if it weren’t on the map, I’d assume that this wasn’t a scare zone at all. The problem with such a big and spread-out park like Six Flags Magic Mountain is that you can’t have scare actors everywhere all the time. Alas, I thought maybe there would be improvements from last year in this area. I’d actually say it was less populated. A fog machine and one or two scare actors at most here.

THE DEADZONE – SCARE ZONE

Description: A renegade group of cyberpunk zombies feed on the flesh of unsuspected trespassers.

Thoughts: This was new last year and this year it doesn’t seem to have been improved upon much. In all honesty, though, there isn’t much to improve upon. It could always use more scare actors, but for its size, I think it’s fine to only have a handful of monsters. This scare zone sits next to the West Coast Customs attraction so the cyberpunk details seem to have been downplayed in favor of a more urban street art look. I’m not complaining as it still looks great. Nothing much else to say here, but a great addition that continues to thrill.

TERROR RISING: DARK DEVELOPMENTS – SCARE ZONE

Description: Your worst nightmares rise up from the depths of hell and prey on the
innocent who dare to enter this haunted cemetery. Beware the dark developments that could haunt you for all eternity.

Thoughts: Last year was the first year for this scare zone. Draped in red lighting, I think there is still potential for this walkway, but a lack of scare actors here didn’t do it any service. I also think that it is outperformed by the Twisted Fantasy zone and pales in comparison.

NIGHTMARES: A TWISTED FANTASY – SCARE ZONE

Description: This evil nightmare has never been so edgy as your favorite bedtime stories take on a new and twisted tale.

Thoughts: This was by far the best scare zone last year and it works so well. There is so much blacklight paint in this area that the colors just pop out at you. You definitely know you are somewhere different, and like the Devil’s Triangle scare zone, the characters here are extremely interactive. We spent around 15 minutes talking with a witch about how she was going to lure us to her home and kill us. I played along, improving ideas, and laughing along the way. While there are definitely scares here, I think it’s also a bit more playful of an area, which is much needed. I can’t express how much I loved my conversation with the witch and the beauty that this area contains.

There are three other scare zones I just didn’t get to, unfortunately: City Under Seige, TERRORtory Twisted, and another new zone, CarnivHELL. What I love about Magic Mountain is that regular-day guests are still allowed to hang out in the park during Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest hours. To get into the Mazes, you’ll need a wristband, but there is no need for a wristband to wander through the scare zones. With eight different zones throughout the park, there is plenty to do even if you don’t want to upgrade to see the mazes. I like that.

Haunted attractions can get rather pricey, and not everyone can afford them, so it’s great to have something for those who won’t be able to spend extra for the Halloween season but still want to celebrate and get frightened in a fun, safe environment. With that said, there are six mazes to see at this year’s event and I did get to see them all!

TRUTH OR DARE – MAZE

Description: In a warped game of Truth or Dare, the unknown lurking the shadows will leave you questioning your every move.

Thoughts: The newest maze at Fright Fest and from what I’d heard, this maze did not open earlier in the season. In fact, as we visited on the third weekend of Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest, it was still going through issues. When we first arrived, the line was extremely long and we learned that it had yet to open up. We returned later in the evening to find the line was moving.

The outdoor facade was a big retro television set and music similar to the Bewitched theme song was playing. It gave the impression that we were traveling back into the 1950s or early 1960s to be a part of a game show. When we entered the first room, a TV flickered on that showcased the fictional Truth or Dare game show, then a mysterious voice took over the room and opened the door to the full maze. With such a build-up that included theme music and a pre-show, I was excited to see what was coming.

There were a few good scares including someone flying overhead or someone bungee cord jumping out, but overall this maze was made up of mostly empty space. The colorful facade and pre-show turned into far too many black and empty hallways for me. I don’t know if this is still something they are working on, but some of the scare actors weren’t even costumed. Just 20-something dudes in all black jumping around. It was strange and felt very incomplete. Hopefully, this gets improved upon because the idea is unique, but the execution was really poor.

WILLOUGHBY’S RESURRECTED – MAZE

Description: The Willoughby’s Family mansion tale unfolds before you eyes at this once-affluent Victorian mansion that’s become a haven to evil spirits.

Thoughts: One of the most detailed mazes I’ve ever walked through. It’s aesthetically pleasing and creepy. Fans of Disney’s Haunted Mansion or Tower of Terror will love this maze. What I love about it is that the scare actors rarely use jump scares. Instead they just “live” within the maze like ghosts trapped in a mansion. It allows guests time to take in the surrounding beauty of the maze. Of any maze, Fright Fest or other SoCal region haunts, this maze has to be considered one of the most beautiful. If you are coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest, this would be my one recommendation for anyone going. You have to see Willoughby’s Resurrected because it’s unlike anything you’ll see and it just has the right vibes for the Halloween season.

SEWER OF SOULS – MAZE

Description: Vanish into an underground world of lost souls and terrifying funnels where evil oozes and creatures taunt.

Thoughts: Last year I didn’t care for this maze, but this year I was given 3-D glasses prior to entry and it changed me. I also complained that there wasn’t really any signage out front and that changed this year. I think there were some great scares in this maze. The 3-D glasses made the scares feel inescapable. Added extra ideas brought the sewer theme to life for me in ways it didn’t last year too. Truly something different from the rest of the park and worth the hike up the hill to see it. I’d consider this and Willoughby’s Resurrected to be a good one-two punch as to what Fright Fest can offer and luckily they are right next to each other.

AFTERMATH 2: CHAOS RISING – MAZE

Description: The city of Ash Valley is threatened with the release of a deadly poison.

Thoughts: I loved this maze last year and this year it continued to hold up. It’s the best zombie apocalypse maze I’ve ever seen. Taking place outdoors with a set design on a massive scale, this maze hits your senses in so many ways. Fire, emergency alarms, thick fog, and a good number of zombies brought this place alive. Last year I stated that there weren’t enough scare actors, but this year they seemed to have remedied that. Truly a remarkable maze worth waiting in line for. Even without the actors, the set design is breathtaking. If I could walk through slower, I would. It’s just cool to be in this apocalyptic nightmare.

CONDEMNED: FOREVER DAMNED – MAZE

Description: Beware the souls of those who lived in this dilapidated home.

Thoughts: I had a great time in this maze last year. It’s got a classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre feel to it. A house rotting on the inside with residents that don’t seem too friendly. There were several set design choices I took notice of this year that I don’t believe existed last year. Fluffy the dog is a real treat as is the kitchen which is spoiled and filled with bugs and rats. The dinner table was disgusting to look at in all of the right ways. Whatever was added to this haunt made it that much better. I wouldn’t call it a stand-out, but it continues to be solid and worth waiting for.

VAULT 666: UNLOCKED

Description: Demonic relics and obsolete oddities are locked in an abandoned vault in this dark and sinister antique shop.

Thoughts: This happened to be our first maze of the evening and it’s another solid haunt. I don’t know if anything changed at all but nothing really needs to as you make your way through this morgue. The vault filled with hands trying to escape from tombs is a serious highlight. It serves up scares in every room and might be the most bang for your buck in terms of actors willing to frighten you. I don’t think there was a single space throughout this maze that didn’t have someone trying to scare me.

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This year’s Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest was a ton of fun. As I mentioned previously, even without the upgraded maze ticket, there is much to do for the average guest. The mazes this year, outside of TRUTH OR DARE, all met or exceeded my expectations.

SoCal is a very competitive market for Haunted Houses. For Fright Fest, they face stiff competition from places like Knott’s Scary Farm and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. I think anywhere else in the country Fright Fest would be considered the best-haunted attraction around. It does compete with those other SoCal haunts really well. This isn’t me saying it’s lesser than, but I think it does have to try harder than most places around the United States. For that reason, I think it serves as a great evening out for great value.

If you are local to the Los Angeles area and are looking to fill up an evening with scares as well as some roller coaster thrills, Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest is worth the price of admission. This event is running on select nights through October 31st. Buy your tickets at sixflags.com/magicmountain.