Annabelle R.
Yelp
I've come here every Halloween season since they opened (minus the COVID year cuz they were closed), and I just can't get enough. I've even come multiple times in the same season because I like taking different people with me.
They change the show/story every year, so you're always getting something new. And it's the perfect combination of theater, haunted attraction, maze, comedy, and creative immersive experience where you interact with actors... hard to believe they can pull that off so well, and definitely one of a kind in the SF bay area. The actors are so skilled and witty, and you can tell they are passionate about what they do.
I don't want to spoil what's inside, but just know that it's multiple rooms, different levels, and atypical terrains and settings that includes walking through small openings, staircases, even going down a slide. The sets are also well made, not cheap-looking like some other places... great props, lighting, illusions, sounds, that are so realistic (with emergency exits throughout, which is explained in the beginning).
The first two years I visited (pre COVID), I liked the storylines a little better and loved the ending in the basement where we had a mission (but this is just personal preference). This year (post COVID), there were a lot more jump scares, especially since I went halloween weekend, and new quirky touches that were mesmerizing and impressive, pitch black walk-through elements, mazes that are mind boggling, and some M Night Shyamalan/ Jordan Peele kindashit, lol... I'm talking bout unexpected twists. They also have an interactive option, which allows the actors to touch you, feed you stuff, or take you away from the group momentarily while inside the attraction (it's a cool element that they get creative with and it's like you become part of the show).
A great addition this year was the Fang Bang (bar area) being open to the public, and Terror Ball after the show, to party or just have a few drinks while celebrating Halloween (Saturday before halloween day)... the open bar was totally worth it, and they had free candy (m&m's, skittles, snickers, etc), some evil clowns serving up fresh popcorn and cotton candy. They even had a caricaturist drawing up evil versions of you and the company you're with. And the costume contest presented by Peaches Christ, was awesome. I do wish there was more diverse music (I don't mind EDM, maybe more music with lyrics and not just screaming, top 40 would be great but doesn't seem like that kind of place/crowd)... I understand can't have it all :P
Bathrooms are all gender shared this year, which was great (since typically women's restrooms have longer lines). Will call/ coat check was easy but kind of slow compared to previous years. They had to look up your name, give you a start time, and bracelets for entry (an extra bracelet of different color for open bar if attending Terror Ball).
This is not your typical "haunted house"... its such a unique experience hard to put into words, and totally worth returning every year to support the people who put this together... I hope they'll continue doing their thing in years to come, cuz it's my favorite Halloween event in the bay area!