THE BACKWOODS MAZE (CLOSED)
The Backwoods Maze is a wild and wonderful home haunt that has made a name for itself through its vibrant and original art style. A mixture of sci-fi horror and cartoony psychedelia, there’s just nothing like it.
- Located at 1912 N. Pepper Street, Burbank, California
- Walkthrough, outdoor haunted house with beautiful and complex set design
- No intentional touch from actors
- Free, with donation box placed at exit
- Great for ages 10+: minimal graphic content, but includes props and costumes that young children may find disturbing.
- Light special effects including some fog
- Guests are divided into small groups
For information on any upcoming experiences, please scroll down or check our events page, map, or calendar!
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The Backwoods Maze is both a delightful walkthrough haunt and stunning work of visual art. Created by Jeff and Taylor Gustafson, its colorful style brings to mind 90s action cartoons and comic books, and is a tastefully curated blend of original designs and references to classic horror and science fiction. The level of detail makes it one of the few LA haunts that all but requires an immediate second viewing. The Backwoods Maze is a world all its own, and it’s no wonder locals have been flocking to the Burbank home since 2003. Surprisingly, the creators manage to keep most of the haunt assembled in the backyard year round, only opening the doors for a few weekends in October.
Before entering, guests are treated to a front yard display featuring gargantuan props sure to warm any horror nerd’s heart. It’s best to attend without spoilers, as The Backwoods is full of surprises and easter eggs that make the wait in line more than bearable. Eventually, visitors are released into a narrow alley on one side of the house and into the backyard, where they enter a labyrinth of nightmarish nostalgia.
The Backwoods Maze is a great entry point for anyone interested in haunts, as the scares are not too frequent or intense. Those who feel claustrophobic in other haunts may also enjoy the open-air construction of this haunt, which offers great freedom to move and take in the beautiful set design. It’s also rather long, at around 5-10 minutes, providing a great bang for your buck (it’s free, but you brought cash for a donation, right?). While the scare actors are not aggressive in the slightest, some of the props and costumes may be slightly too frightening for very young kids (especially those with a particular fear of aliens). There is ample street parking, making Backwoods extremely convenient, especially if one arrives early in the night. Visitors should be respectful of the quiet surrounding neighborhood.
The Backwoods Maze is a one-of-a-kind haunt and visual feast that’s essential for any horror fan in LA. Experienced haunt-goers may want to make a doubleheader out of The Backwoods Maze and Rotten Apple 907, another beloved Burbank haunt close by.
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE BACKWOODS MAZE
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