“The math just doesn’t make sense!” A scientist in a lab coat bangs his hands against the wall, a white board in front of him containing equations and chemical formulas. I step forward and he notices me. “What are you doing in here? Get to containment!” He steps aside, revealing a man in a protective suit, blood contrasted against his white suit. Mystic Terror Haunt is back with their new haunt Roswell Haunt in Garden Grove, CA.

Mystic Terror Haunt presents Roswell Haunt is a walk through home haunt in Garden Grove that explores the proposed UFO crash and the government cover up. The haunt is a five minute experience that covers three main areas, with numerous actors providing narrative and jump scares. With some impressive lighting and sound effects, the passion in this experience makes this well worth your time this Halloween season.

Mystic Terror Haunt is now in their 20th year—and 19 of those have been as an unnamed haunt company—but this year, they have branded themselves appropriately as Mystic Terror Haunt. Originally, the vision of Erin Dietz when she was in middle school, Mystic Terror Haunt has now been passed on to her younger brother, Ryan Rusin, as Erin has moved to Northern California. While this may be the last year for Mystic Terror Haunt in the Garden Grove home, follow Mystic Terror Haunt’s journey as they find a new location and grow into whatever new space they inhabit.

In this year’s theme—originally pitched by Ryan Rusin’s creative partner James Anthony—audiences enter Roswell, New Mexico to explore the rumors of UFOs, government coverups, and of course, aliens. Your job is to determine if the rumors are true—and if they are, you must expose the truth, surviving to tell the tale. You could be heroes if you do—or you could be deemed crazy, locked up in an asylum by a government who will do anything to keep this dark secret intact.

Spanning three major areas, Roswell Haunt starts in the wilderness of New Mexico, as you explore the woods surrounding a mysterious compound. But by passing loose electrical wires, you must move through the government laboratories, and find the truth deep inside. But if you come into contact with any extraterrestrial entities—you must escape, before they, or the government, stop you in your tracks.

The narrative is a strength of this experience, and multiple scenes feel theatrical in execution, focusing on acting and detail, not just the scares. Notably, a contamination room scene builds dread as you are sealed in a small, claustrophobic space, as a robotic voice overhead prepares you for decontamination. The lighting effects here are impressive and help elevate this to a strong conclusion.

There are numerous details littered throughout this experience, making this feel like a world that has come alive. From the missing posters lining the exterior of the cabin, to the cow bell that jangles loudly as you pass by the outdoor fence, to the cork board containing numerous photographs, post-it notes, and government documents all connected by string, the level of detail in this haunt showcases the passion of the Mystic Terror Haunt team.

Finally, the sound design is truly impressive. When you arrive, the music playing over the speakers really sets the mood, feeling as if it could be the soundtrack to an episode of The X-Files, or even a Steven Spielberg film of teens exploring a crash site. This is great work from a team expanding this ability with each year.

Mystic Terror Haunt’s Roswell Haunt is a theme that just screams to be made into a haunted house. The opposing forces of the government and the aliens places you in the middle of a tense conflict in every scene. And the sound, the design, the details, and lighting all help ensure that this feels like a living, breathing world. It’s an experience that I wish was longer, and I wish filled an entire warehouse. We found proof of something in that haunt, and it wasn’t aliens—it was just Mystic Terror Haunt’s talent.

Mystic Terror Haunt is located at 6721 Acacia Ave, Garden Grove CA 92845. For more information about Mystic Terror Haunt , check out their Instagram and their website.  For information about similar events, check out our Event Calendar.

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