Back against the wall; look straight ahead. Click. Turn to your right. Click. Turn to your left. Click. A female guard urges me forward, baton in hand, through the sterile processing room. Hands up, against the wall. I notice the dirty handprints of inmates who’ve stood in the same place as me, probably just minutes before me, so I place my hands in the same spot, and spread my legs. The guard does not pat me down, but instead runs a metal detector over my body. Any weapons? I shake my head, not wanting to cause any trouble. Then get out of here. Two guards are waiting at the door for me. They let me enter first and then follow in behind me, slamming the door, locking me in a small box of a room with them. Don’t worry, Cupcake. We’ve reserved the penthouse for you. The room starts to shake as it slowly ascends towards the sky. I’ve been incarcerated for the night at Deadwater State Penitentiary .

Deadwater State Penitentiary is a haunted house produced by Hallows Eve Inc. in Lake Elsinore, CA. While the twenty-or-so minute experience is designed as a linear haunted maze, Deadwater State Penitentiary uses its space expertly, designing switchbacks and alternate paths that both control crowds and allow for some wonderful opportunities of engagement. As such, guests can expect some interaction from the guards and inmates alike and —while not on immersive levels—this is a nice change of pace from a traditional haunted house. Deadwater State Penitentiary also boasts some of the largest amount of actors we’ve seen from a haunted house: there were 30-40 the night we attended and, while we heard this number does vary nightly, it was amazing to walk into a room and see a mass of inmates ready to pounce.

As the name might suggest, Deadwater State Penitentiary is themed as a prison. Yet, Deadwater differentiates itself by taking a more realistic approach in its representation of the confinement and horror of jail. The 17^th Door has utilized a prison-theme for the past few years, but, while their guards are manifested as grotesque demons and their inmates are nightmarish swine that haunt Paula, Hallows Eve Inc has their guards dressed as realistic police officers, their faces are clearly shown and human at that. This adds a level of authenticity to the experience that already creates a level of authority—and in the current times—some level of worry or fear that is already present in us. It’s an interesting take on prison, and while it could be triggering for some, we think it works extremely well and the realism is more effective than a nightmare ever could be.

The outside façade of Deadwater State Penitentiary looks beautiful, albeit a bit modest in size, especially for what is hidden inside. Stepping through the massive doors, you move through the prison as if it was telling a story. You will experience the processing of new inmates, the cell block, death row, and ultimately solitary confinement. Each of these areas feels cohesive to the rest, yet also distinct and unique, keeping us excited to be moving forward. From the sterile walls of processing, to the chain-link fences and barred doors of the cellblock, to the pipes of the gas chamber on death row, to the small peep holes of solitary confinement, the prison feels real and massive.

The size of the prison is accomplished through switchbacks and hidden doors. The haunted house has a linear path, but at the cell block, the guards may deposit you—the new inmates—in a series of cells. Here, you can talk to the inmates and interact with them. We met a mute skeleton-masked inmate here, a cannibalistic girl who planned to eat us, a baseball bat-wielding maniac who wrote the name of every victim on her bat, and a contortionist who was mostly bent over backwards when we spoke to her. This was a highlight and it was a pleasure to interact with all of the inmates—and even some of the forbearing guards.

Deadwater State Penitentiary has some great special effects hidden within in its high walls too. While not on the same level as 17^th Door or some of the more tech-savvy experiences, this haunted attraction elevates itself above those at Knott’s Scary Farm by adding in some impressive effects. From a gas chamber that fills with gas to the elevator that raises you to your penthouse suite of a cell, it’s clear that this is a step above a traditional haunted house.

Overall, Hallows Eve Inc has created the most frighteningly fun prison I could imagine in Deadwater State Penitentiary. While it feels like a more realistic take on the jail motif, it still remains a great time at a haunted house. The massive number of actors are coming from all angles to create scares, the jail cells offer some great engagement, and the ending is a wonderful surprise. Even though we were released on good behavior, we may commit another crime just so we can get locked up in Deadwater State Penitentiary again next year.

Pair this with Temecula Terror and Manor of Lost Souls to make your trip out to the Inland Empire a fantastic exploration of some of the best haunts Southern California has to offer. For more information on Deadwater State Penitentiary or Hallows Eve Inc, check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages. To find other events similar to this one, check out our Event Catalog.

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Hallows Eve Inc brings Deadwater State Penitentiary to life this Halloween Season.