As I walk underneath the bow of a pirate ship that appears to have burst through the front of a house, I hear a voice telling me to listen up. I turn to spot a pirate’s skull and crossbones informing me of the dangers that lie ahead. As a door swings open into the captain’s chambers, I have only a second or two to examine the loot around me before everything goes dark. Somewhere in the blackness, a voice is chuckling. curse of the treasure

The Curse of the Treasure is a Santa Clarita home haunt that runs about 5-8 minutes long with 2-3 people entering at a time. Based entirely on the idea of participants traversing a haunted pirate ship, this is a haunt for those who love the idea of seeing what can be done with limited space but unlimited imagination.

Photo: Thea Rivera

There is quite a bit to enjoy in this haunted maze built inside a garage. The design is comprised largely of wood pallets that work surprisingly well as the walls and floors of a haunted ship. When guests have to cross the pallets while they move up and down to replicate a ship in the midst of a storm, the genius of using such a consistent design becomes clear.

Moreover, for a small haunt, The Curse of the Treasure packs a lot of technology and scare-actors inside. The opening scene launches the attraction with a blackout, nicely performed audio, and a legitimately frightening scare that sets the tone for the experience. Expect to be surprised repeatedly as the design makes very good use of lasers, smoke, and hidden entrances to catch people off guard.

Photo: Thea Rivera

The best part of this entire haunt, however, is that it is truly created out of a family’s love for Halloween. It’s the creation of a 17-year-old named Cameron and is happily supported by the rest of the family. Cameron’s father proudly welcomes everyone to the location, his sister offers candy to anyone who survives the encounter while dressed in appropriate pirate gear, and Cameron himself works as one of the monsters inside. Having started only a few years ago, the legitimate pride that every member of the family shows for what Cameron has done is palpable when you’re waiting for your turn to enter. It’s rare to see a haunt that is so clearly something being done just for the fun of it and it makes the experience that much more enjoyable.

The Curse of the Treasure shows what someone can do when the only goal is to create an enjoyable haunt. It uses every inch of its limited space so effectively. It has a set design that’s both perfect for the theme and very cost effective. Ultimately, The Curse of the Treasure is just a really, really fun haunt and I look forward to seeing what Cameron has up his sleeve as he gains even more experience.

Photo: Thea Rivera

The Curse of the Treasure has finished its run for this year, but plans for a new haunt at the same Santa Clarita location are being readied for 2020. Check out our Event Guide for more Halloween and horror entertainment throughout the year.

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