Coffinwood Cemetery 2023

Amid the vibrant blue lights and the fog rests a cemetery and a mausoleum—and a host of creatures from the undead to the witches that reanimated them. Ever a headless horseman and an army of living pumpkin men wander the cemetery grounds. This is Coffinwood Cemetery 2023, a home haunt that has been running for over twenty-five years, is the gorgeous result of Tony Monton. The haunt itself is only a few minutes long, beginning in the front yard—the cemetery—utilizing switchbacks to optimize the scares and the footprint, until guests are brought into the garage—the mausoleum—for a final scare. It’s a great use of space, fully showcasing the charm and care put into Coffinwood Cemetery 2023.

The cemetery portion is out in the open, so guests will see skeletal creatures hiding among the tombstones. But as the lightning and thunder crash around them and they begin the journey, the placement of these ghouls is quickly forgotten, allowing for some fun scares. But it’s not just scares—the actors are fun to banter and interact with guests. The witch posed for pictures and offered us her own personal flavor of snack.

The mausoleum is impressive—a gothic scene transformed into a living quarters for the undead. A mix between The Haunted Mansion and Willoughby’s Resurrected at Six Flags, the scene is lit by dim reds and blues as two skeletons enjoying a beverage are lit by the flicker of candlelight. Lights illuminate the warmth of the drink as it pours down the emptiness of what once was flesh and skin. The portraits on the wall come to life as they transform from the living to the dead. And in a second room, a little girl dressed to perfection as Annabelle rocks in her chair, waiting to jump up and scare patrons expecting a doll. It’s a great final scare, sending participants running out the exit of this haunt.

With the actors, the sets, and the impressive sound design of the thunder Coffinwood Cemetery 2023 is a perfect blend of nostalgic Halloween, masterful tech, and passionate actors. Care is put in every inch of this haunt, and it’s a pleasure to see it evolve and grow each year. They even hand out stickers while in line—a great addition to my haunt sticker collection! While I grew up in Santa Clarita, I now live in Irvine—and this feels like a sister haunt to the impressive Boot Hill (now closed).  Make your way to Coffinwood Cemetery 2023, and keep it unburied for another year!

You can find Coffinwood Cemetery 2023 at 159 Waterford Dr. Santa Clarita, CA.  Pair it this year with Grisly Gardens, which is only a few miles away—and you’ll have a great night of haunts.

For more information about Coffinwood Cemetery 2023, check out their Facebook and Instagram pages. For information about similar events, check out our Event Calendar.

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