As night falls over Valencia, CA, Six Flags Magic Mountain transforms into a fog-filled nightmare, where creatures lurk around every corner. Fright Fest Extreme, SoCal’s biggest haunt, is back for 2024 with 20 terrifying attractions, including 11 mazes and 9 scare zones. This year, the spotlight is on iconic horror franchises—step into the upside-down with Stranger Things, face the deadly traps of SAW: Legacy of Terror, and beware the dangers lurking in Trick ’r Treat. Running select nights from September 7th to November 3rd, this year’s Fright Fest pulls no punches.
Below, find your guide to the frights, sights, and slider delights…
SFMM Fright Fest Extreme Houses 2024
More than half of the haunted houses this year are new and most of the new ones are also based on major film properties! It’s a major investment from Six Flags and earning a lot of attention from Halloween fans. Let’s begin with our top 5 favorites:
1. NEW! The Conjuring Universe
Strap in for a tour of the Warrens’ most hair-raising and gruesome cases, including those that inspired The Conjuring, Anabelle and The Nun. In each investigation, encounters with cursed artifacts make you the target of the possession.
The Conjuring Universe house stands out for its striking special effects and meticulously crafted set design (quite a few fully fleshed out rooms!). The clever use of space and simple yet intense scenes elevate this attraction to the top of the Fright Fest lineup. While some houses rely heavily on darkness for scares, The Conjuring Universe creates a palpable atmosphere that delivers chilling moments at every turn.
2. NEW! Trick ‘r Treat
Step into a dark, twisted candy trail, lit by jack-o-lanterns, where supernatural encounters tap into your deepest fears. Guided by Sam, the infamous Spirit of Halloween, you’ll learn the rules of the spooky season before entering a world where tricks overpower treats.
Much like The Conjuring, Trick ‘r Treat features fully immersive rooms, exceptional set design, and quaint special effects. One standout was the mirror room, where countless reflections of Sam disoriented me— karma for teasing our photographer, Mike, about getting lost in The Weeknd maze last week at Halloween Horror Nights.
Sam, the vengeful spirit of Halloween, makes a delightfully spooky addition to this year’s Fright Fest. We’re thrilled to see a fantastically campy maze brought to life with his eerie presence. He’s almost adorable—until he’s dragging his razor-sharp lollipop across your throat!
Sam is also lurking all over the park— make sure to check your candy and never blow out your Jack-o-Lantern before midnight or you may just receive a visit from this unforgiving spirit!
3. Willoughby’s Resurrected
Evil spirits roam the once-affluent Willoughby’s family mansion that now echoes with whispers and footsteps of these restless spirits, creating an atmosphere of perpetual dread.
Willoughby’s has been a staple of Fright Fest for as long as the event has existed. Even when I visited nearly a decade ago, it felt like a relic, with the original Willoughby’s Haunted Mansion dating all the way back to the first Fright Fest in 1993. Yet, its impeccably detailed sets and fully immersive atmosphere continue to make it a must-see maze. The scare actors also seem to have the most fun here— definitely a plus.
And it is a house. There are no empty dark rooms to separate scenes, just a self-guided tour through a sprawling haunted mansion filled with a variety of kooky ghouls. Willoughby’s Resurrected has a bit of that old time charm, and we love that it’s still around.
4. Vault 666 Unlocked
Demonic relics are locked in a dark and sinister antique shop, waiting to be unleashed upon anyone foolish enough to disturb their rest. Haunting and inexplicable occurrences plague those who dare to enter, for the relics do not forgive or forget.
The premise of Vault 666 is perfect for delivering a diverse array of scares. Like many other Fright Fest mazes, it’s packed with stunning set design, creating an eerie and immersive environment that elevates every fright.
5. Truth or Dare
In a warped game of Truth or Dare, guests find themselves questioning their every move. The stakes are perilously high as the dares become increasingly dangerous and the truths reveal hidden fears and dark secrets. Can you handle the pressure, or will the game unravel your sanity?
Truth or Dare grabbed our attention with its twisted game show setting. The maze masterfully incorporates elements of the show throughout, whether you’re sneaking backstage, navigating the chaotic sets, or uncovering dark secrets lurking in the shadows. The terrified contestants aren’t the only ones in danger—the stagehands are out for blood, and the sinister host is ready to make you her next victim!
While those were our favorites, there are still 6 more mazes! Are you brave enough to do them all?
NEW! Stranger Things
The students of Hawkins High decide to team up to create a little innocent Halloween fun for their community – but things quickly turn upside down and morph into something far darker.
NEW! The SAW Franchise
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of SAW with an all-new experience honoring the franchise’s legacy of terror by plunging guests into the depths of Jigsaw’s twisted mind. Guests will endure torturous trials and come face to face with some of John Kramer’s most diabolical contraptions before time runs out.
NEW! Army of the Dead
The City of Las Vegas is under lockdown following a recent viral outbreak and survivors must look for an escape while battling the undead. Some cool trivia from the attendant— this area utilizes old set pieces from the defunct Batman stunt show!
NEW! Aftermath: Nocturnal Hunt
Three hundred years after a devastating zombie outbreak, Ash City lies in ruins. Guests will stumble into the breeding grounds of the Nocturnals, the former infected who have evolved into bioluminescent predators. In a desperate attempt to escape, will you be hunting them or are they hunting you?
Condemned Forever Damned
In this dilapidated home where the walls are alive and terror crawls in every corner, guests are left trying to escape the spirits of those who once lived there as they unleash fury on anyone who dares to trespass.
Sewer of Souls
Stumble into an underground world where the air is thick with the despair of lost souls and the darkness is alive with unseen terrors. Guests will be left to navigate through the terrifying tunnels where evil oozes and fear thrives with every step.
SFMM Fright Fest Extreme Entertainment
Sliders of the Night
Emerging from their shadowy haunts, the notorious sliders descend upon City Under Siege for a jaw-dropping display of speed and skill. Sliders of the Night is a fully choreographed stunt show, where these spark-shooting monsters showcase their agility in a series of daring feats.
Prepare to be thrilled as the sliders leap over one another, execute perfectly synchronized slides, and push the boundaries of danger with each new stunt.
This heart-pounding show may be one of the best of Fright Fest—and it’s included with admission! Don’t miss it!
Invasion
Near the entrance of the park, Invasion delivers a spooky, high-energy musical spectacle. Watch as aliens take center stage, showing off their out-of-this-world dance moves in a performance that’s equal parts eerie and entertaining.
SFMM Fright Fest Extreme Scare Zones
NEW! Underworlds of Oz
Journey through the dark side of Emerald City and the mystical realms of Oz, where twisted enchantments and ominous shadows consume the golden path, and the line between fantasy and nightmare blurs into a chilling adventure unlike any other.
NEW! Plaza de la Muerte
Step into the spectral celebration of Día de los Muertos, where vibrant colors blend with eerie shadows in an immersive dance of spirits and traditions.
NEW! Grimmlore Ridge
Enter a chilling realm where fear takes root and grows wild, leaving the daunting calls of ravens and crows echoing through the twisted branches and shadowed alleyway. Unfortunately, when I entered, I didn’t encounter ANY scare actors.
City Under Siege
The clowns are back and spreading havoc in every inconceivable manner. As their twisted grins and sinister laughter fill the air, no place is safe from their deranged antics.
Nightmares: A Twisted Fantasy
Enter a chilling realm where fear takes root and grows wild, leaving the daunting calls of ravens and crows echoing through the twisted branches and shadowed alleyway.
Devil’s Triangle
Succumb into the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean, haunted by the many souls lost to the Devil’s Triangle that prey on guests drifting by.
CarnivHELL
Visitors are invited to step right up and enter if they dare into a once thriving circus now taken over by a carnivorous band of carnies.
Exile Hill
Unimaginable sinister souls appear without warning and send chills down the spines of guests that dare to journey through this dark and ominous passage.
The Deadzone
A renegade group of cyberpunk zombies are unleashed and feed on unsuspecting visitors.
Attending Fright Fest Extreme
Fright Fest Extreme stands out from other Southern California haunted attractions by keeping the entire park open to the general public during the event. Unlike events that require a separate ticket for admission, Fright Fest allows all park-goers to enjoy the festive atmosphere and shows. However, access to the 11 haunted houses requires a separate Haunted Attraction Pass. This pass can be purchased bundled with regular park admission:
- Fright Fest Extreme Admission (park admission + haunted attractions) – $85
- Fright Fest Extreme Admission + Express Pass (park admission + Express access to haunted attractions) – $140
Alternatively, if you’ve already purchased admission (e.g. season pass), the haunted attractions pass can be purchased separately:
- Haunted Attraction Pass – $45
- Express Haunted Attractions Pass – $110
This approach is intriguing because it allows regular guests who aren’t interested in the haunted houses to still enjoy the park with an added touch of spookiness. It also offers great value for those who want to experience both a full day at Magic Mountain and Fright Fest with the same admission ticket.
However, the passholder setup can be a bit confusing. For 2024, admission to Fright Fest is included for most Six Flags passholders (but not for Cedar Fair passholders), though haunted house access requires an additional Haunted Attractions Pass. For those purchasing 2025 passes now, the Six Flags Prestige pass will include both park and haunted attraction access, while the 2025 Gold pass covers park admission only. We hope Six Flags streamlines this process for future years, as this transitional year is a unique case.
To recap:
- 2024 Gold/Platinum/Diamond, 2024 Six Plus, and Legacy Members can enter the event but not the mazes (without paying extra)
- 2025 Gold Six Flags members will need to purchase separate admission
- 2025 Prestige Six Flags members will have full access to each night of the event.
- Legacy Cedar Fair/Knott’s passholders will need to purchase event admission which includes event and maze access. This includes 2025 passholders since cross-admission does not begin until 2025.
A V.I.SCREAM Tour is offered for those who want a private guided tour featuring unlimited priority express access to all eleven haunted houses, priority express access to select rides and attractions, VIP parking, Fright Fest Extreme exclusive food and beverages, and more.
There is also a family event during the day called Kids Boo Fest – perfect for the little ones who may not fare well at the larger, more sinister evening event.
Final Thoughts
This was my first visit to Fright Fest since 2018, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much Six Flags (now merged with Cedar Fair) has invested in elevating the event. However, by licensing popular properties, Magic Mountain has unintentionally invited direct comparisons to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights—a tough benchmark. For example, Stranger Things— a standout house at Universal just last year— didn’t quite live up in the Six Flags version. It’s not a fair comparison, but inevitable nonetheless. On the other hand, Trick ‘r Treat, a property Universal has also featured in the past, turned out to be a Fright Fest favorite this year.
Unfortunately, our visit was hindered by a few technical issues. Both Trick ‘r Treat and Army of the Dead had breakdowns, requiring three attempts just to experience them fully. Other guests reported that they had trouble visiting other houses as well. While it’s understandable that attractions occasionally face operational hiccups, it was still frustrating.
Six Flags is also touting this as the “biggest haunt in California,” and technically, that’s true. Fright Fest Extreme offers more haunted houses than both Knott’s Scary Farm (10) and Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights (8), with a total of 20 haunted attractions. Although, some of the scare zones stretch the definition a bit. That said, if the newly merged Cedar Fair-Six Flags team is aiming to create the full-park Halloween immersion and value that Knott’s Scary Farm excels at, they’re moving in the right direction. I just hope that in their pursuit of being the biggest, they don’t sacrifice the quality of the experience.
Fright Fest Extreme 2024 is certainly a step forward, and if it leads to more impressive shows like Sliders of the Night, standout houses like The Conjuring Universe, and engaging scare zones like Devil’s Triangle, we’re in for more treats than tricks in the years to come.
Let’s Hear From You
What do you think of Fright Fest’s glow-up? Are you planning on attending? Do you have a haunted house you’re interested in? Let us know in the comments below.
