Howl-O-Scream will be returning soon to Busch Gardens Tampa for another year of terrifying fun! This year’s event begins on September 9th and runs select nights through October 31st. Nearly two months of frights and delights.
The park has been slowly dripping the news out on what the new haunted houses (we call them “Houses” and not “Mazes” in Florida) will be. We’ll share what’s known so far in the article below. And be sure to bookmark this page as we’ll continue to update it with all the reveals.
While most of the announcements so far have been for returning experiences, one of them has a horrifying new twist so big it could be considered a whole new house. Let’s take a look at what’s lurking for Halloween 2022…
Howl-O-Scream Returning Haunted Houses
Witch of the Woods
Busch Gardens describes this haunted experience:
This house was brand new in 2021 and was a big hit. We’re glad to see it back again to terrorize guests.
The Forgotten
“Victims will be drawn into a hidden world beyond the rubble and rocks of an unsuspecting quarry, where dark secrets lurk in the shadows. Just beyond a hidden gutter entrance, the legend of the human uprising is revealed as a swarm of starving vampires plot their imminent revenge. Will those who enter return to the world of the living or are they destined to become the newest minion of the Forgotten army?”
This was another house that was new for 2021 that is back with a new twist – a new vampire on the throne to rule with fear.
The Residence: Home For the Holidays
“Merriment turns murderous at this suburban family home. Christmas arrives earlier than ever this year at The Residence, and all-new horrors are eager to be unwrapped. Holidays are best when spent with loved ones, but there’s no guarantee you’ll survive this silent night.”
The Residence has been a Howl-O-Scream staple for a couple years now, but this new holiday twist pretty much makes it a whole new experience. We’re looking forward to a scary Christmas-themed house! Ho-Ho-Horrifying!
Death Water Bayou: Blood Moon – The Final Phase
“The werewolves are clawing their way back in and the blood moon is in its final phase. Beware all who enter the inescapable fate of the death water bayou.”
Death Water Bayou has been a Howl-O-Scream staple for almost a decade, going through several variations. Sounds like this year might be the final curtain call for this house.
New Haunted Houses
Stranglewood Estate
“Every town has its share of ghost stories—and this one is no different. Once a lively home filled with laughter and lavish parties is now filled with darkness and the spirit of evil. Welcome to the Stranglewood Estate.”
Scare Zones
There will be a whopping 8 scare zones(2 of th at Howl-O-Scream for 2022! This is what has been announced so far:
Raven’s Mill (New)
“Within the walls of the corn field lies a horrific nightmare you cannot awaken. The scarecrows of raven’s mill are ready for you…”
We’re excited to see what horrors this farm has grown for us.
Beyond The Veil (New)
“Along the Nairobi Path lies the depths of a dark forest. Beware of the fairies and orcs as you stroll through this organic forest.”
The Junkyard (Returning)
“You’ll find more than spare parts as you rummage through this surly scrap site. Will you make it out in one piece or be devoured by the haunted rubble?”
This scare zone is returning for its third year. We love how big this one is as it could almost be a mini-house as it’s located off the beaten path.
In The Shadows (Returning)
“Eerie legends and cryptid creaters passed down through centuries of ghost stories have gathered in the woods, turning wary skeptics into doomed believers.”
This was one of our favorite scare zones last year. The monsters in this area were both creepy and beautiful in their own twisted way. We’re excited to see it return.
Skeleton Crew (Returning)
“Rising from their watery grave, shipwrecked pirates seek to plunder the world of the living, taking all lost souls as their bounty.”
This scare zone had a lot of potential last year, but the extremely low lighting and overuse of fog made it difficult to see anything in this scare zone. But we’re curious to see what this year’s version brings.
The Shortcut (Returning)
“Cutting through the cemetery may seem like an easy way out, except when the corpses rise from the ground only to drag you back into their graves with them.”
We love this creepy scare zone and happy to see it back again.
Voodoo (Returning)
“Driven out of the bayou by ravenous werewolves, the witch doctors now practice their dark magic on you as they pursue their twisted revenge through ancient curses.”
This is another that had a lot of potential, but suffered from lighting issues last year. Hoping this year sees an improvement.
Hidden Scare Zone & Roaming Hordes
“Beware of the hidden zone and roaming hordes…just when you think you know what’s coming, untold horrors lurk in the darkness awaiting your arrival.”
The hidden scare zone is so well hidden, we’re not sure if we’ve even found it in past visits!
Howl-O-Scream Entertainment
Besides the haunted houses and scare zones, there are several entertainment options during Howl-O-Scream for when you need a break from… screaming.
Fiends
“These captivating creatures of the night will infect you with dance fever and keep your pulse pounding with their raucous dance party.”
Fiends has been around a long time. But every year they manage to keep the show fresh with new themes and jokes, even though the overall dance numbers basically remain the same. Still a fun show!
50/50: Choose Your Fate
‘No matter your choice – he wins, and you lose. Join the game show host as he decides your fate and experience the fright of a lifetime.”
This is a brand new show for 2022, so we don’t know much about it yet. But it sounds like a frightfully fun time!
Cirque X-Scream
“Cirque X-Scream features exhilarating acts and stunts, including trampoline tricks and aerial performances.”
We’re a big fan of the cirque shows Busch Gardens has put on in recent years, so we’re excited to see what Cirque X-Scream brings this year.
The Rolling Bones
howl-o-scream bush gardens tampa the rolling bones
“The live performance of this skeleton band lights up Dragon Fire Grill with epic covers of classic rock anthems.”
We caught this show last year after somehow missing it in 2020. And it was… sadly not that great. Each performance is only about 15 minutes long that’s a mishmash of classic rock and 80s hairband tunes. If you’re already at Dragon Fire Grill having a bite to eat, definitely check it out, but we don’t recommend going out of your way to see this show.
Rides In the Dark
And let’s not forget besides the frightful delights of the houses and scare zones, many of the parks iconic rides will be open for a thrilling spin in the dark, including Iron Gwazi, which opened this past spring.
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream Tickets and Information
Howl-O-Scream Tampa is a separately ticketed event that is not included with regular daytime admission. Busch Gardens promises more Howl-O-Scream announcements are coming, and we’ll update this article when new info is released.
Tickets can be purchased at the Howl-O-Scream site.
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Let’s Hear From You
Who’s ready for Halloween?! Is Howl-O-Scream a haunted holiday must for you? What sort of haunted house do you hope to see announced in the coming weeks?
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