The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will soon be landing on the shores of Long Beach to take over the historic nautical landmark, transforming it into a world class haunt event. The creative forces behind Dark Harbor have worked very hard to keep things relevant and fresh every year by adding to and evolving the storyline of the harbor’s haunted inhabitants.

This year promises to be a bold expansion of the storyline as characters are added and existing ones get more attention.  Creative forces have drawn on the ship’s extensive paranormal history in creating characters of Graceful Gayle, The Captain, Scary Mary, Half Hatch Henry, Samuel the Savage, The Ringmaster and the Voodoo Priestess.

Creative Director, JJ Wickam joined Dark Harbor for its 2011 season, just one year after its debut. She has guided the event to becoming one of the must see Halloween events in Southern California.

JJ’s team, including Technical Director, Adam Conger, Prop and special effects Director, Ryan Lewis, renowned Talent Director, David Wally, Co-Director Bre Combs, invited MiceChat to stop by and take a look at the work being done as the event nears its October 2nd opening.

The Event

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is a haunt event that features 7 (3 new, one revamped, and 3 returning) mazes this year along with live entertainment, food, and a host of other distractions.  New this year is the arrival of the evil Voodoo Priestess.  She has taken over the village area of the event and claimed an area all to herself.  Her wraith knows no boundaries as she wrecks havoc on all of the mortal and spirit souls at the harbor.

The Priestess has brought along her army of gypsies and witch doctors to offer a particularly New Orleans flavor to the proceedings.  In fact, the maze once called Village of the Damned has now been taken over by the dark mistress of veil and is now called Voodoo Village.  As guests enter the event through the old shopping center turned haunt venue, it will be given a distinctly New Orleans feel.

Below, we see the Priestess’ tools of vengeance as each of the Dark Harbor characters have their own voodoo doll.

Also on hand will be two massive monsters sent around the village and harbor to do the bidding of the Priestess.  These creatures are gigantic puppets that are stunning in detail.  Imagine one of these coming at you.

Inside the Voodoo Village we get an idea of just how different this maze will become.  In the lower portions of the building, Prop and special effects director, Ryan Lewis was putting the finishing touches on the new bayou scene that guests will have to wander through.

The area may not look like too much at the moment.  But, more foliage will be added, over a ton of foam dirt, low-lying fog, and lighting will kick this set into high gear.  Just look out for the monster near the shack.

Mazes

Along with Voodoo Village we will see the return of Circus and Deadrise.  Both, slightly evolved but essentially the same, they promise to entertain and terrify once again.

Onboard the ship, the team was fast at work building and constructing four other mazes.  Solumate, B340, Submerged, and the VIP Maze, Encounters.  Encounters was off-limits as we did not want to reveal the secrets held within its walls. But JJ  kindly walked us through Soulmate and B340 and explained their stories.

Soulmate

The lovely ghost, Graceful Gayle, is in a perpetual state of searching.  She is looking for the perfect man to spend eternity with and sets her sights on all that stay aboard the Queen Mary.

B340

We also got a quick look inside the brand new B340 maze based on the terrifying, real life account of Samuel the Savage.  This monstrous individual met his demise on the ship when unseen forces attacked him in his holding cell.  Taking the place of the old Hellfire maze, B340 is a cerebral, abstract journey into the mind of one of the Queen Mary’s most disturbed entities.

The maze literally begins inside the mind of Samuel the savage.  We are then treated to flashbacks of this character’s terrifying past.  A more abstract take on the normal walk through, they have worked very hard to escape the confines of the ship itself and pull you into another ghastly realm.

The Midway

Though still under construction, the event is coming together and offering a far more cohesive aesthetic.  Gone are the fairground booths with gigantic pictures of food and garish colors. Instead, theme is key here.

The new Monster Midway will offer guests a chance to tour the Freakshow attractions.  Part maze, part side show, guests will enter one portal and tour all exhibits in succession.

We are truly excited to get to Dark Harbor this Halloween Season.  From its humble beginnings in 2010 The Queen Mary has put a tremendous amount of talent and effort into getting this event up to the level of Knott’s Scary Farm and Universal Halloween Horror Nights.  By next week, this event will churning out supernatural thrills.  Will you be among those to venture to Dark Harbor?

MiceChat Queen Mary Dark Harbor VIP Event